Jose Gelabert-Navia is an architect, teacher and artist. Residing in Miami, Florida
Mr. Gelabert-Navia has over thirty-seven years of experience as an architect and is

Regional Director for Latin America of Perkins+Will, Architects, AIA. Mr. Gelabert-
Navia is currently a Professor of Architecture and formerly the Dean of the School of

Architecture at the University of Miami.
A graduate of Cornell University, Mr. Gelabert-Navia’s primary teaching focus is
Architectural Design and History of Colonialism and Globalization in Architecture. He
was the founder of the University of Miami School of Architecture’s Rome Program and
teaches a course in Italian Culture. He is the author of many publications, including
CUBA Memories of Travel/Recuerdos de Viaje.
As the child of two architects, Mr. Gelabert-Navia was immersed in the world of
architecture practically from birth. His earliest memories of life in Cuba and later of
Puerto Rico, consist of driving from building to building to visit their growing practice.
Exile from Cuba shaped the path of Mr. Gelabert-Navia’s career. He developed a
global curiosity, moving from country to country, learning from each new location. This
experience afforded him a level of comfort when he made Miami his home – he found
he could easily relate to the diverse cultures that make Miami so unique.
Mr. Gelabert-Navia has dedicated his career to projects with a positive social impact.
When analyzing new opportunities, he asks how they can improve the quality of life for
their future inhabitants.
Mr. Gelabert-Navia previously held the position of Dean at the University of Miami’s
School of Architecture where he started the school’s architecture program in Italy. He
credits the trips to Italy and other parts of Europe as being transformative to his career.
These experiences helped to place what the Miami studio of Perkins + Will does
architecturally into a broader historical and cultural context.