As spring equinox arrives, it ushers in a season of renewal, growth, and fresh perspective—a moment to spring forward with new energy for urban design. Across our cities and regions, spring signals not just a change in weather but a chance to reimagine how we shape the built environment, strengthen communities, and design for resilience and connection. For RUDC, this sense of renewal reflects the work we do every day—advancing ideas, fostering collaboration, and cultivating leadership across a network now more than 10,500 members strong.
Save the Date: 2026 RUDC Symposium – New York City
We are pleased to share a Save the Date for the 2026 RUDC Symposium, to be held in New York City from October 1–3, 2026. This year’s symposium will be held in partnership with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) as part of their Intersections Research Conference, with a shared focus on advancing urban design through both research and practice. This collaboration creates a meaningful bridge between academia and professional work, bringing together educators, practitioners, and thought leaders to explore the evolving role of urban design in shaping our cities. You can learn more about the conference framework through ACSA’s 2026 Intersections Research Conference: Urban Design Matters. Additional details, including themes and speakers, as well as the opportunity to submit a proposal through our call for presenters, will be shared in the coming months, and we hope you will plan to join us.
AIA26 Conference & RUDC Forum
We also look ahead to the AIA26 Conference on Architecture & Design 2026, taking place June 10–13 in San Diego, and encourage you to join us for the RUDC Forum as part of AIA’s Community Hub programming. The session, EV323 – Regional and Urban Design Open Forum, will be held on Thursday, June 11, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in the Sails Pavilion at the San Diego Convention Center. The forum will bring together architects and conference attendees to explore and elevate the architect’s role in urban design and planning, highlighting the importance of architectural leadership within this interdisciplinary field. Hosted by RUDC, the session will offer a lively and engaging exchange focused on advancing design excellence, planning, and public policy, and we hope you will join fellow urbanists in this important conversation.
New Monthly Feature: RUDC Leader Insights
We are also introducing a new monthly feature highlighting thought leadership from our RUDC’s national leadership team. These articles will explore important topics influencing urban design today while offering perspectives from those actively shaping the conversation within our community. This month, RUDC Vice Chair Rex Cabaniss, AIA, AICP, shares insights on advancing urban design principles within architectural practice, emphasizing the importance of integrating planning, policy, and design to create more cohesive and impactful environments. His article reflects on architects' roles as both designers and civic leaders, encouraging a more intentional, collaborative approach to shaping our cities.
Curated Links & Community Engagement
In addition, our communications team is curating a selection of relevant articles, research, and resources each month to support ongoing learning and engagement across the RUDC network, with special thanks to Ashlee Dingler, AICP, and Abigail Gillin, Assoc. AIA, for their leadership in this effort. We encourage you to explore these resources and participate in the RUDC Community Blog and Discussion Board to connect with fellow members and share your perspectives.
Looking Ahead
Rex Cabaniss and I also had the opportunity to attend the AIA Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, in mid-February, where we engaged with national knowledge community chairs, national chapter leaders, and peers from across the country. These conversations are already informing next steps for RUDC, and we look forward to sharing more about key takeaways and upcoming action in the April newsletter. In the meantime, Happy Spring Equinox, and thank you for being part of the RUDC community.
Warm regards,
Peter Darby, AIA
Chair, AIA Regional & Urban Design Knowledge Community