Urban De-Code

Congress for New Urbanism

Exciting news! We’ve rebranded Place Summits to Urban De-Code. While the name has changed, our mission remains the same. Urban De-Codes dive deep into the essence of city spaces, unraveling neighborhoods unique stories and hidden dynamics. Join us as we explore and de-code the rich layers of urban life, revealing what makes each neighborhood distinct and thriving

Urban De-Codes: What are they?

Urban De-Codes - previously called "Place Summits" - are mini-conferences in which emerging professionals, students, and other city advocates can unpack the processes that create developments, improvements, and policies in a particular city.

To de-code urbanism means delving into the intricate layers of urban environments, analyzing how urban spaces function, how they impact their inhabitants, and how thoughtful design and community engagement can enhance our collective experience of city life.Projects highlighted include particular developments, city-wide codes, street improvement projects, and more.

Attendees have the opportunity to explore these concepts with like-minded individuals and network with professionals, fostering meaningful connections and collaborative insights into the future of urban development.

WHEN?

Urban De-Codes occur bi-annually in our established hubs—cities with a strong ENU presence. Scheduled for early spring and fall (March and September), this year's events in Atlanta, Washington, DC, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco facilitated vibrant exchanges and lasting connections among professionals.

New locations are welcomed and may be scheduled throughout the of the calendar year. If a new location proves to have a strong ENU presence, it’ll be designated a bi-annual hub.

See below for our next Urban De-Code!

Past Locations include:

Exploring Our Goals

For ENU, Urban De-Code and the ideas it sparks are powerful catalysts for future engagement. It marks the beginning of inviting emerging professionals to the table, providing them with educational opportunities, and connecting them with peers and mentors. Urban De-Code also serves as a platform for those within and adjacent to the New Urbanist movement to network with fellow professionals and advocates.

Fostering a Thriving Community

What happens when groups of passionate individuals from across the country gather with the opportunity to talk about any and all New-Urbanism-adjacent topics? How can emerging professionals in real estate, planning, urban design, landscape architecture, economics, transportation, and architecture contribute to the ever-evolving movement of New Urbanism? What can come of individuals being inspired by the passion projects, initiatives, and studies of others?

At the ENU Urban De-Code, inaugurated October of 2021, we ask these questions of ourselves. The takeaways? Education and empowerment. Learning motivates us and exploring inspires us.

Urban De-Code DMV- Fall 2026

Join us & "De-Code" transformative projects alongside the visionaries behind them.

Urban De-Code DMV is an immersive, two-day experience exploring how housing, density, and urban design shape neighborhoods across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.

Mark your calendars for September 12-13, 2026!

Blending a guided workshop with an on-the-ground walking tour, this program invites participants to examine the full spectrum of housing, from single-family homes to mid-rise and mixed-use development through the lens of the “missing middle.” Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how thoughtful design and planning strategies can introduce density while maintaining neighborhood character.

The experience begins with a collaborative session at Torti Gallas + Partners in Washington, DC, followed by a guided exploration into Arlington, VA via the Washington Metro. Along the way, participants will engage directly with real-world examples of housing diversity, learning to “read” the built environment and better understand how density works in practice.

Day two shifts into a hands-on urban walk audit in Washington, DC, where participants will analyze an existing neighborhood and sketch ideas for improving walkability, housing integration, and the public realm.

Whether you’re a planner, designer, developer, student, or simply curious about the future of Urban Design in the DMV area, Urban De-Code DMV offers a unique opportunity to explore, observe, and reimagine the region’s evolving urban fabric.

Registration link coming soon!

Urban De-Code Recap: Project Tempe - Fall 2024

Experience Car-Free Living & Urban Innovation

Members of the Emerging New Urbanists explored Culdesac Tempe during a two-day Urban De-Code focused on the future of walkable, car-free urban living. The experience immersed attendees in the principles of New Urbanism through guided tours, conversations with project leaders, and discussions centered on sustainable community design.

Throughout the event, members toured the innovative car-free development alongside the architects and developers behind the project, gaining firsthand insight into the planning, design, and implementation of one of the nation’s most notable people-first communities. Q&A sessions allowed attendees to learn more about the challenges and successes of developing a neighborhood designed around walkability, transit access, and community connection rather than automobiles.

The Urban De-Code also created opportunities for networking and collaboration among planners, architects, developers, and urbanists passionate about creating more equitable and sustainable cities. Learning sessions explored emerging trends in New Urbanism, housing, mobility, and community-oriented development, leaving attendees inspired by the possibilities of human-centered urban design.