We connect and inspire New Yorkers to design, build, and care for a better city.

Current Initiatives

Global Exchange

Big Swings (2025)
What can New York City learn from global cities to create safe, dignified, and stable homes for every New Yorker?

Public Works
Public Works sparks conversations with civic leaders on built environment initiatives shaping the public good.

New City Critics
In our writers fellowship with The Architectural League, we seek to empower a new generation of urban critics.
Forefront

Living Routes
Our tenth Forefront Fellowship explores how to transform public spaces into living, adaptive, and sustaining landscapes of care.
Community Design

The Local Center
A new community design network in partnership with the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development
Next New York

Rewire
New York City must reshape its buildings and public spaces as engines for a climate positive city.

Upcoming Events

04.17.26

Global Ideas for Housing Every New Yorker

Event Big Swings (2025)
Join the 2025-26 Global Exchange Fellows to explore “big swings” to address New York City’s housing crisis, inspired by cities across the world.
04.28.26

When Form Follows Funding

Event Public Works
Join us for a conversation on the role of incentives in shaping where and how we build housing, with Tricia Dietz, Justin Pelsinger, Toby Snyder, and Aida Stoddard.
05.05.26

Soft Infrastructure: Adaptive Reuse and Ecological Restoration in Mexico

Event Big Swings (2025)
Join us for a conversation about Mexico City’s Lake Texcoco Ecological Park with architect and landscape urbanist Iñaki Echeverria.
10.05.26

Study Trip to Mexico City

Event Fast Forward
Join Urban Design Forum October 5-9 to learn from Mexico City’s innovative approaches to mobility, housing, and the public realm.

News

Forum News

New York City Design Organizations Launch the Public Design Alliance
An evolving network of the city’s cultural nonprofits seeks to expand opportunities for shared resources and collective impact.
Posted — June 27, 2025
Forum News

Caring for Our Neighbors: a Letter from Executive Director Dan McPhee
I may never know this country, but I have loved knowing this city for the past fifteen years.
Posted — November 7, 2024
Forum News

Urban Design Forum Selects 48 Leaders as Fellows for Global Exchange Program to Tackle the Housing Crisis
Urban Design Forum is thrilled to announce the 48 Fellows in the inaugural Global Exchange cohort: our new fellowship for mid-career executives who will survey the world to take a big swing at New York City’s housing crisis.
Posted — August 6, 2024

Join the Forum

Individual Membership
Our Members are developers, architects, planners, builders, public officials, scholars, lawyers, and journalists who are building dynamic, equitable and resilient cities.

Company Memberships
Our company membership program gives your organization unparalleled access to our global network of design, planning, and development leaders

Support Us
Our work would not be possible without the generous support of civic leaders and design champions. Whether you are interested in joining our Director’s Circle or making a one-time contribution to support our work, we welcome your support.