CM FutureLab

At CM FutureLab, we explore innovative designs for buildings and neighborhoods with an eye towards lasting social impact and ecological resilience. We work with partners and clients under flexible agreements that are tailored to acknowledge the unique needs of certain projects.

What We Do

  • Master Planning for Sustainability and Resilience

  • Climate Adaptive Strategies for Structures and for Communities

  • Wellness Architecture

  • Engineering Innovation

  • Novel Methods and Materials

Our Values

  • Inclusivity: We recognize the importance of including diverse perspectives in the design process, as this collaboration leads to more effective and innovative outcomes.

  • Resilience: We design with the future in mind, creating adaptable spaces that can withstand and recover from social, environmental, and economic challenges.

  • Sustainability: We are committed to environmentally responsible practices that promote the health of our planet and communities.

  • Innovation: We embrace creativity and experimentation to challenge business-as-usual approaches and improve building performance and longevity in a changing world.

CM FutureLabs seeks collaborative opportunities on projects that will make a positive and lasting impact on the community. We are interested in a wide range of project types (including conceptual projects) that align with our goal of finding creative solutions to enhance the built environment.

Collaboration

Track Record

  • Ted Caplow and Nathalie Manzano introduced their sustainable vision for Florida with the Miami Science Barge, which was the winner of the inaugural Knight Cities Challenge and donated to Frost Science in 2016. The Science Barge is a self-sustaining solar powered ecosystem built on an engineless steel barge to showcase all of the uses critical to the future of South Florida. The Miami Science Barge places an emphasis on marine science, conservation, and sustainable aquaculture.

    Photo by Jenna Abreu

  • Ted and Nathalie are joint developers of the Inventors-in-Residence Program at Frost Science, which is dedicated to developing solutions in the environmental and health sectors. The program announced its inaugural prize winners in 2016, which included coral reef restoration technology and a Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Detector that has since been donated to a local school in Coconut Grove to continue research on the Bay.

    Photo by Emily Michot, Miami Herald

  • The New York Science Barge was the first floating urban farm and environmental education center created by Ted Caplow in 2004. The Barge grows fresh produce using a hydroponic greenhouse that is powered by solar panels, wind turbines, and biofuels. Crops are irrigated by captured rainwater, operating fully off the grid. In 2008, the Science Barge permanently docked in Yonkers, New York and serves as a public education tool.

    Photo by Tyrone Turner, National Geographic

  • New York Sun Works is a non-profit that builds innovative science labs in urban schools. Through the use of hydroponic farming technology, students and teachers are educated about the science of sustainability. As of June 2024, NY Sun Works has more than 320 partner schools with completed Hydroponic Classrooms.

    Photo by Ari Burling

  • BrightFarms gives people access to fresh, tasteful, clean, and responsibly grown produce. These greens are grown year-round using local hydroponic greenhouses which use 80% less water, 90% land, and 95% less shipping fuel than long-distance field grown produce.

    Photo by BrightFarms