As we move into May, our focus turns to two key moments for RUDC this year—our upcoming RUDC Symposium this fall, developed in partnership with the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and its Intersections Conference, with the Call for Speakers now open, and our gathering next month at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 in San Diego. Both represent important opportunities to elevate the role of urban design across practice, research, and civic engagement.
RUDC Symposium 2026 — Call for Speakers
We are pleased to share that the Call for Speakers is now open for the RUDC Symposium, taking place October 1–3, 2026, in New York City, in partnership with ACSA and its Intersections Conference focusing on Urban Design Matters.
This year’s Symposium will bring together practitioners, academics, and civic leaders to explore the evolving role of urban design at the intersection of architecture, planning, policy, and the public realm. We are seeking proposals that reflect the depth and diversity of work happening across our community—from built projects and applied research to innovative processes and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Submissions are due June 17. We encourage you to share your work and perspective and be part of shaping this year’s program in New York City.
Learn more and submit your proposal:
RUDC Symposium Call for Speakers
RUDC at AIA’26 — Two Ways to Engage
As we look ahead to AIA’26, RUDC will be engaged in two programs that reflect our commitment to both dialogue and practice.
On Thursday, we will convene the RUDC Open Forum as part of the Community Hub conversations—an interactive session focused on “The Future of Cities: Why Urban Design Matters.” This format emphasizes peer exchange, small-group discussion, and shared learning around the forces shaping cities today.
On Saturday, we will collaborate with the AIA Foundation’s Communities by Design program, in partnership with AIA San Diego and local stakeholders, through an Urban Studio Workshop focused on the redevelopment of San Diego’s Civic Center. This immersive session brings architects and urban designers into a real-world civic process—exploring design strategies, community engagement approaches, and implementation considerations alongside local leaders.
Together, these sessions reflect the full spectrum of RUDC’s work—from convening ideas to contributing directly to the processes that shape our cities.
RUDC Leader Insights — Featured This Month
This month’s RUDC Leader Insights features Ashlee Dingler, AICP, RHDFP, RPC, whose work brings an important and timely perspective to the evolving role of urban design in shaping community-centered outcomes.
Ashlee’s article explores how planning, policy, and development frameworks intersect with design to influence the long-term performance and identity of our cities. Drawing from her experience at the intersection of housing, resilience, and public-private collaboration, she highlights the importance of aligning design intent with implementation strategies that are both equitable and achievable. Her perspective underscores the need for architects and urban designers to engage more deeply in the systems that shape development—ensuring that design is not only responsive to community needs, but also positioned to guide meaningful, lasting change.
We are pleased to share this contribution as part of our ongoing effort to elevate thought leadership across the RUDC network.
Engage, Contribute, and Join the Conversation
As we move toward the summer months, we encourage you to stay engaged—whether by submitting a proposal for the RUDC Symposium, joining us at AIA’26 in San Diego, or participating in the ongoing dialogue across our network. The strength of RUDC lies in the collective expertise and commitment of its members, and each of these opportunities is a chance to contribute to a broader conversation about how we shape our cities.
We look forward to continuing the conversation on why Urban Design Matters—and to seeing many of you in San Diego.
Peter Darby, AIA
Chair, AIA Regional & Urban Design Committee (RUDC)