“Architects create spaces where people interact — and that helps rebuild social trust in a world that desperately needs it.” AIA25 Keynote Pete Buttigieg argued that in our increasingly post-fact world, we have agency as architects and designers to help shape change. When we gather in person, in the tangible reality of physical spaces, we acknowledge a shared presence, a shared existence, and a shared respect for one another. While buildings are often designed for specific groups, the spaces between them — the urban spaces we as urban designers engage — are truly democratic: places where we can encounter one another, share experiences, and discover the unique contributions each of us brings to a collective society.
At the 2025 AIA Conference on Architecture & Design, I was inspired. The Regional and Urban Design Forum was both exciting and, in the best way, a bit chaotic. We hosted a series of ten “lightning talks” highlighting a range of urban design ideas and projects, including:
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A retrospective on how urban design has changed (or not) over the last thirty years
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How architects and urban designers can more directly influence communities and policy
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The reuse of a decommissioned power plant as a community of regeneration
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Lessons learned from community engagement on an award-winning public housing plan
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Reinventing courtyards as sustainable and vital gathering spaces in dense cities
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The role and fate of queer businesses in resisting displacement
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Using observational data to understand place more deeply and meaningfully
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Rethinking how a hospital campus can center on a park to promote healthy spaces
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Exploring creative adaptation and long-term retreat for coastal communities
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How public art and wayfinding can create provocative, place-based storytelling
I left feeling inspired — and I hope the 200+ other attendees did as well! Thanks to our dynamic speakers, we explored a remarkable range of issues facing urban designers across the country. Equally important, we gathered in person to forge new connections and share ideas, fulfilling Mayor Pete’s challenge to see the power of shared presence.
Throughout the conference, one theme stood out: architects and designers are, by necessity, optimists. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t take on projects that often span years — or decades — to complete. We build for future generations, knowing we may never see the full impact of our decisions. Whether it’s grappling with the promise and challenges of AI, caring for our communities through more sustainable design, navigating the uncertainties of the political climate, engaging with social injustices, or addressing the economic instability of our times, we must remain engaged. That engagement may look different for each of us, but the potential impact of the 100,000+ architects — and the many more city-builders who collaborate with us — is profound.
As RUDC, we will continue this conversation through a variety of ways. Our next in-person event will be in October in Dallas at the RUDC Symposium. We hope you can join us! See y’all there!
With optimism,
Scott Archer, AIA, AICP, LEED AP ND
2025 RUDC Chair