Friday, October 2 · 9:00–10:30 AM
What Urban Design Is Today: Productive Tensions, Expanding Roles, and the Disciplinary In-BetweenThe City College of New York · Shepard Hall · 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 100312026 Intersections Research ConferenceIn partnership with ACSA and UDAC
2026 conference partners & hosts
5 RUDC sessions across two days
View sessionsThe 2026 Symposium
Practice and research meet in New York.
AIA’s Regional & Urban Design Knowledge Community brings architects, urban designers, planners, landscape architects, policymakers, academics, and allied professionals together to explore the forces shaping cities and regions.
For 2026, the RUDC Symposium is presented within the ACSA Intersections Research Conference, creating a rare exchange between professional practice, education, research, and public life.
5RUDC sessions
20confirmed presenters
7.5approved AIA/CES HSW hours
3New York host venues
Continuing education
Approved for up to 7.5 AIA/CES HSW hours.
The five RUDC sessions are approved for up to 7.5 HSW continuing education hours in total. Additional continuing education hours are available through ticketed New York tours organized by AIA New York. Tour registration, availability, and final credit details are maintained by ACSA. Registered attendees must submit ACSA’s online form for AIA/CES credit and/or an attendance certificate by November 9, 2026. ACSA Intersections — CEU information and follow-up
AIA RUDC + ACSA Intersections
One conference. A wider urban conversation.
The RUDC Symposium’s practice-focused speaker series meets ACSA’s academic and research program in a shared three-day New York gathering.
The five-part RUDC sequence
Five steps through urban design today.
A concise guide to the symposium’s progression—from defining the field to putting urban design into accountable action.
Friday, October 2 · 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
From Building to Territory: Public Space, Infrastructure, and Urban TransformationThe City College of New York · Shepard Hall · 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031
Friday, October 2 · 2:30–4:00 PM
Pedagogy as Practice: Placekeeping, Territory, and Community-Based MethodsThe City College of New York · Shepard Hall · 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031
Rubén García RubioTulane UniversityNew Orleans, LA
Scott ArcherDAVID RUBIN Land Collective + Virginia Tech WAACWashington, DC
Ifeoma EboCreative Urban Alchemy + CCNYBrooklyn, NY + Abuja, Nigeria
Brandon SurtainTulane University · Small Center for Collaborative DesignNew Orleans, LA
Manuel Sanchez-RuizSession 03 ModeratorMAS Urban Design ConsultingMiami, FLSaturday, October 3 · 9:00–10:30 AM
Climate Infrastructure in Practice: Carbon, Urban Repair, and StewardshipNew York Institute of Technology · 16 West 61st Street, New York, NY 10023
Jennifer BolstadDriftless Landscape Architecture + NYUNew York, NY
Sravani GanduUrban Carbon + Clean Air ZoneNew York, NY
Anna AnisovUrban Architect + AIA San Fernando ValleyNewport Beach, CA
Liz Martin-MalikianMiami UniversityOxford, OH
Juana Salcedo OrtizUT Austin School of ArchitectureAustin, TX
Danielle DiLeo KimSession 04 ModeratorDDK Urban ConsultingPhiladelphia, PASaturday, October 3 · 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Urban Design Methods for Implementation: Health, Performance, Housing, and Public LifeNew York Institute of Technology · 16 West 61st Street, New York, NY 10023
New York City
CCNY Friday by day. AIA New York Friday evening. NYIT Saturday.
Travel from CCNY between 4:00 and 5:30 PM for the 5:30–7:30 PM reception followed by the Erich Bilal + Matthew Lister keynote panel at the Center for Architecture in Greenwich Village. See every street address before you arrive.
October 1–3, 2026
Join us in New York City.
One conference registration includes RUDC sessions, ACSA research presentations, keynotes, receptions, and continuing education opportunities.
Register Today
Continue the conversation
#RUDC26#UrbanDesignMatters#IntersectionsResearchConference#UrbanDesign#AIARUDC
Share ideas from Urban Design Matters and connect with the AIA Regional & Urban Design Committee.