What if we didn’t just preserve the great cities of the past – but set out to build their modern counterparts?

This talk is a call to reimagine what’s possible in our lifetime. It begins with a simple truth: the way we build today is broken. Our built environment is driving loneliness, cultural erosion, fragility, and ecological harm. It isolates rather than connects, exhausts rather than inspires. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

“Building the Next Florence” walks through the why, how, and what of constructing a place where human flourishing is the goal – and everything else follows. We’ll explore what made historic cities like Florence so enduring and beloved, then dig into the practical, systemic changes needed to make that kind of beauty and vitality possible again: from zoning and fire codes to architecture schools, engineering paradigms, city bureaucracy, and investor strategy.

Far from a utopian dream, this is about real work – decades of it. But Florence wasn’t built by accident. It was the result of long-term thinking, good governance, skilled trades, and a cultural commitment to craft and meaning. We can do that again. And we must.

This session offers both a compelling vision and an actionable roadmap – equal parts critique, strategy, and invitation.

Austin Tunnell is the founder of Building Culture, a holistic real estate development company creating walkable, human-scaled neighborhoods that enrich communities. Committed to long-term stewardship, he blends traditional design and construction with modern innovation to craft resilient, thriving places.

A former CPA, Peace Corps volunteer, and masonry apprentice turned designer, builder, and developer, Austin brings a multidisciplinary approach to the human habitat – fusing the liberal arts with construction and real estate.

He also hosts the Building Culture Podcast and writes a newsletter exploring how we can build a more beautiful, resilient, and people-centered world.