Global Conference 2021

The Future of Cities

The pandemic has challenged most cities to respond to massive, sudden shifts in health care, public safety, housing, transportation, and more. Now, as cities shift from response to recovery, and as civic leaders reconsider the role of the city, it's clear that the traditional "urban core" is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic uses. Too often, previous urban paradigms have prioritized automotive-first transportation and commercial downtown centers as the economic center. Given the changing needs and demands, there is an opportunity to reshape how a city serves its constituents. Crucially, this could include designing new infrastructure to accommodate families, accommodate the unhoused, and provide an environment that allows local businesses and emerging creative talent to flourish. Panelists will explore modular and creative community infrastructure and how it might reshape the city as we know it.