Lukas Pauer is a licensed architect, urbanist, historian, educator, and the Founding Director of the Vertical Geopolitics Lab, an investigative practice and think-tank at the intersections of architecture, geography, politology, and media, dedicated to exposing intangible systems and hidden agendas within the built environment.

At the University of Toronto (U of T), Lukas is an Assistant Professor of Architecture, Inaugural 2022-2024 Emerging Architect Fellow. There, his contribution at disciplinary intersections is reflected in his engagements as a Faculty Affiliate in Urban Studies at the School of Cities as well as a Faculty Affiliate in Global Affairs and Public Policy at the Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies in the Munk School.

From the Architectural Association in London, he holds a PhD AD on political imaginaries in architectural and urban design history with a focus on how imperial-colonial expansion has been performed architecturally throughout history. Pauer holds an MAUD from Harvard University and an MSc Arch from ETH Zurich. Among widespread international recognition, he has been selected as an Ambassadorial Scholar by the Rotary Foundation, a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, and an Emerging Leader by the European Forum Alpbach — leadership programs committed to change-making impact within local communities. In the industry, Pauer has extensive technical experience in construction gained at globally renowned architectural and landscape architectural design practices including Herzog & de Meuron Architekten and LCLA Office.

In the academy, Pauer is a Fellow of the British Higher Education Academy. Most notably in the realm of international teaching awards, he has been recognized for having devised, co-ordinated, conducted, and assessed courses and workshops including thesis supervision and examination at leading institutions in Europe, the Americas, and Oceania.

In 2024, during his appointment as inaugural Emerging Architect Fellow for advancing integrated practice, research, and teaching at the U of T Daniels Faculty, he concurrently held a AIAS/ACSA New Faculty Teaching Award, the most prestigious teaching award for emerging educators in the field across North America. He has spoken publicly at organizations such as the World Bank, has served as an editor and editorial advisor for periodicals at ETH, Columbia, Harvard, and U of T, and has curated and convened public programs at venues including the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Pauer welcomes inquiries from media outlets, practitioners, scholars, or students from all disciplines within and beyond the university. This could entail expressions of interest for opportunities such as collaborative and visiting engagements, grant applications, thesis supervision, research assistantships, scholarships, or fellowships. Ideas for potential research topics may focus on but do not have to be limited to space and power dynamics in the built environment.