OGLM 2090 - Structuring urban infrastructure projects

Cities cannot function, let alone thrive, without robust infrastructure systems such as transport, water, waste management, and energy. As a result, anyone involved in shaping large metropolises will inevitably be confronted with this challenge: how to design, structure, and deliver infrastructure projects that are both effective and sustainable?

This workshop provides students with the foundational tools to understand how such projects are conceived and implemented. We begin by examining the “mechanics” of infrastructure delivery, with particular attention to the allocation of responsibilities between public authorities and private actors. We then explore how to evaluate the relevance, feasibility, and long‑term viability of infrastructure investments. A central focus will be the political‑economic question of pricing: who should pay for essential services, and according to which principles?

Finally, through case studies, we will analyse strategies for addressing the persistent gap between the demand for high‑quality infrastructure and the limited supply of viable and useful projects.

The objective is for students, both as future urban professionals and as citizens, to grasp the core concepts of the systems that form a city’s backbone.

Assessment will be based on students’ participation in discussions of the course material and the case studies. The class will be divided into subgroups, each responsible for delivering a brief presentation of its analysis of the assigned case.

As this is a workshop, active participation is essential.