PROGRAM
The RUDC Symposium is a packed, fast-paced two-day event. Day 1 is a series of speakers addressing our 2025 theme: URBAN MORPHOSIS: Reimagining Cities through Adaptation. Day 2 builds on the discussions from Day 1 with a series of morning tours for attendees to select based on their interests, followed by an afternoon of speakers focused on Dallas-specific urban design challenges and solutions.
Cities are reinventing themselves in real time. Post-pandemic work patterns, generative AI economies, accelerating climate disaster impact events, and a nationwide affordability crisis are disrupting and, at the same time, opening new pathways to a more resilient urban future. The 2025 RUDC Symposium asks: What design, policy, and financial innovations can turn today's volatility and challenges in cities into a durable and sustainable urban form for the future?
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Up to 11 continuing education credits (AIA / ASLA / AICP) available across both days of programming. Continuing education credits are under review and approval is pending.
Day 1, Tuesday, October 28
​(All in Central Daylight Time.)
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8:00am Breakfast + Networking
9:00am Welcome
9:15am Panel A
Intervening at All Scales: Pinpoint Urbanism to Citywide Strategies
10:30am Break
10:45am Morning Keynote
Prof. Hans E. Butzer, Architect, FAIA, LEED AP
11:30am Exhibition Introduction
Communities by Design (CxD) + Dallas Architect and Design Foundation
12:00pm Lunch + Networking
1:00pm Panel B
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Ambitions + Shortfalls
2:00pm Break
2:15pm Panel C
Dissecting Housing: Missing Middle + Affordability
3:15pm Afternoon Keynote
Shane Phillips
4:00pm Break
4:15pm Panel D
Urban Design for Public Health and Inclusive Design
5:30pm RUDC Reception​
Day 2, Wednesday, October 29
​(All in Central Daylight Time.)
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9:00am Walking Tours 1A / 1B
1A - The Commercial Heart of Dallas: Main Street District
- OR -
1B - From Mansions to Museums to Deck Over Park: Arts District
- OR -
1C - Where Dallas Got Started: West End District
10:45am Walking Tours 2A / 2B
2A - The Commercial Heart of Dallas: Main Street District
- OR -
2B - From Mansions to Museums to Deck Over Park: Arts District
- OR -
2C - From Pavement to Paradise: The Rise of Downtown Dallas Parks
12:15pm Lunch + Networking
1:15pm Welcome Speaker
Emily Liu, FAICP
1:45pm Panel E
Exploring Urban Design in Dallas
2:45pm Break
3:00pm RUDC Texas Roundtable
AIA Austin + AIA Dallas + AIA Houston
3:45pm Closing Keynote​
Donna Kacmar, FAIA
4:30pm Closing Remarks
4:45pm AIA Dallas Reception