By José Antonio Torre
Cities are not only physical spaces, they are also a reflection of our collective decisions: how we move, how we live, how we coexist. And amid that complexity, I am convinced that urban transformation is possible, as long as we have the most valuable tools to make it happen: knowledge, collaboration, and a long-term vision.
That’s why the opening of the new headquarters of the Center for the Future of Cities at the Mexico City Campus of Tecnológico de Monterrey marks a very special milestone for me. Since I assumed the directorship of the Center in December 2022, we have worked with the conviction that changing the urban model in Mexico is not a utopia, but an urgent task that requires sustained effort, openness to multiple disciplines, and, above all, strong coordination with those who make decisions in the territories.
This new space will allow us to be closer to many of the country’s most complex urban realities, and also closer to those who live in and manage them. Mexico City—and particularly the southern area of the capital, from the Tlalpan District—offers us a vibrant ecosystem where initiatives, projects, and communities are already working toward building a fairer, more resilient, and more inclusive city.
At the Center, we have continuously sought to build bridges, with governments, with companies, with civil society organizations, and with other universities. More and more stakeholders are joining this collective effort. And that’s essential, because urban problems cannot be solved from a single front.
We take interdisciplinarity very seriously. We know that understanding a city requires many perspectives: from urban planning to design, from economics to mobility, from technology to art. That blend of knowledge is what fuels our research. And if there’s one thing we aim for from this new headquarters, it’s that our research doesn’t just remain on paper, it must serve to inform better decisions, influence public policy, and inspire new ways of shaping cities.
Because yes, data matters. Rigorous, well-contextualized information is a powerful tool for transforming realities. We need to know what works, where the gaps are, how people feel in their environments, and what kinds of interventions generate well-being. Only then can we move toward a more equitable city, with opportunities for everyone.
In this new chapter from Mexico City, we reaffirm our commitment: to continue being a center for thought and action, with our feet grounded in the territory and our eyes set on the long term.
Thank you to everyone who has made this step possible, what comes next is just the beginning.
José Antonio Torre is Director of the Center for the Future of Cities at Tecnológico de Monterrey
