Overview
The oldest capital city in the Americas, Mexico City was built on a former lakebed by the Mexica People during the Aztec Period and originally named Tenochtitlan. Today, Mexico City shares many modern-day challenges with New York City, including stark inequality, gentrification, and serious climate risks. It also offers bold and creative examples for how a city can transform its mobility networks to create new public transit, connect peripheral neighborhoods, and plan for micromobility. The city is transforming the public realm through expanded pedestrian zones, parks, and bike lanes, including large car-free initiatives along major corridors. And the local government is working to address housing shortages and inequality through gentle density, adaptation, and upgrades to self-built settlements.
Join Urban Design Forum October 5-9 to learn from Mexico City’s noteworthy approaches to mobility, housing, and the public realm.
What You’ll Experience and Learn
Mobility Highlights
- Experience multimodal connections across the Integrated Mobility System of Mexico City, including the Mexico City Metro, Bus Rapid Transit, the Metrobús, RTP, the trolleybus, and the Xochimilco Light Rail and cable cars.
- See how people benefit from pedestrian zones, bike lanes, and streets reclaimed from cars.
- Learn how Metrobús Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) moves massive passenger volumes affordably and at scale.
Public Realm Highlights
- Experience streets and public space as civic infrastructure – with room for vending and retail, festivals, protests, and vibrant street life.
- See how transit stations serve as community hubs, markets as cultural and social anchors, and parks as spaces for climate adaptation and recreation.
- Learn from place-based initiatives like PILARES and UTOPIAS: neighborhood-embedded public facilities providing education, cultural, and community programming as essential infrastructure.
Housing Highlights
- Experience how mixed-use buildings and vibrant public spaces support livability in dense, low-income neighborhoods
- See how adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of historic neighborhoods supports density without demolition.
- Learn from the city’s anti-gentrification movement and implementation of inflation-linked rent regulation.
- Learn from self-built communities employing climate adaptation and water management strategies.
This trip has been approved for 12 AIA LU and 12 AIA LU | HSW.
Schedule & Tuition
The trip will take place from October 5-9, 2026.
Over the course of five days, participants will meet with government agencies, visit design and development firms, talk with community leaders, and visit projects across the greater city. Participants will be broken into smaller groups on most days to learn more deeply about housing, public realm, and mobility projects and policies. We will conclude with a closing reception with our Mexico City hosts to reflect on lessons learned from the study trip.
We will review applications on a rolling basis. If you register before June 30, the study trip tuition is $4,125. If you register after June 30, tuition will increase to $4,500. The additional costs of travel and accommodation for the study trip are assumed by the participants. Urban Design Forum will share a list of recommended hotels, airport, and ground transportation with accepted applicants.
Who Should Apply
This study trip is open to Urban Design Forum members and urban leaders from outside New York City who are interested in immersive learning from a global perspective. Applicants at every stage of their careers will be considered, though preference will be given to existing members of the Forum and leaders with 10+ years of professional experience. We are looking to engage a wide range of participants, from architects, planners, engineers and civic leaders to advocates, policymakers, journalists, and more.
Application
If you are interested in joining our trip, please fill out this application. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning in March. Once accepted, payments must be made in full by June 30 to secure the $4,125 tuition.
Apply NowQuestions?
If you have any questions, please contact Miranda Bellizia, Director of Member Engagement Miranda@urbandesignforum.org.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. If you have any specific needs we might accommodate, please contact Miranda.
Support
This study trip is part of Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange program that connects New York City’s civic community to the world’s foremost urban leaders and inspires creative change around shared challenges, from housing and infrastructure to health and resilience. Global Exchange is made possible through support of our Global Circle: a distinguished group of senior civic, industry and philanthropic leaders who have helped to launch this program and drive the international conversation.