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June 2018
Urban Design Forum Happy Hour + Discourse
Come have a beer, geek out on current urban issues in our region and get involved with the Urban Design Forum. Read more
July 2018
SDCI Forum: Feedback Needed on Pre-Approved DADU Plans
The City of Seattle has expressed interest in developing sets of pre-approved plans for Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs) to make them less expensive and quicker to build. Recently, Mayor Jenny Durkan issued a press release touting the idea. At this Forum, Seattle’s Office of Planning and Community Development and its Department of Construction & Inspections will present the City’s current work on ADUs/DADUs and seek input from attendees on how such a program might work and what concerns architects…
Downtown Parks Tour with Urban Design Forum
Come join Seattle Parks and Urban Design Forum on a sunny walk through Belltown and Denny Triangle to explore the past, present and future of this rapidly-developing area’s urban parks. Read more
August 2018
Urban Design Forum Happy Hour Brainstorm
Join Urban Design Forum for a summer Brainstorm! Anyone with thoughts regarding topics, speakers or a particular curiosity regarding urban design in our region is welcome to join us for libation, discourse and the shaping of upcoming forums. Read more
September 2018
Autonomous Seattle: The Robot Car in the Emerald City
The initial rollout of autonomous vehicles (AV) is predicted to begin around 2025, gaining public acceptance by 2030 & largely replacing non-autonomous vehicles by 2040-2045.Many tout the AV as a silver bullet, allowing drastic reductions in car ownership and parking, electric vehicle fleets, “working commutes,” and so on. But an AV is more accurately described as a “disruptor” rather than a “silver bullet,” potentially increasing both sprawl and traffic, and eviscerating mass transit use.We must shape our cities, regions, and policies to guide the use of AVs in a sustainable manner to minimize—among other things—the developmental sprawl they could enable. What are policymakers doing to prepare for and shape the impacts of AVs in our region? Read more
October 2018
UDF: Urbanizing the Suburbs
Presented by AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum As global population becomes ever more urban, America continues to dabble with city life. After a two decades of revitalizing the urban core and experiencing an urban lifestyle, many people are being priced out of the center city, carrying with them the desire to continue traits of this urban lifestyle such as mixed-use neighborhoods, transit access, reduced car dependence, convenience, walkability, bikability, rich culture, creative food and nightlife. Seeking to meet demand, many…
January 2019
UDF: Town Centers and Urban Villages
Presented by AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum An urban village can be described as a more diverse part of an urban area comprising of denser residential and mixed-use zoning, with a higher priority given to transit and pedestrianization. A town center is characterized as being the commercial or retail core of a neighborhood or town. These terms can be quite analogous. However, sometimes an urban village is seen as more organic in its development and phasing, whilst a town center…
April 2019
CANCELED: Urban Design Forum Happy Hour + Committee Meeting
Come have a beer, geek out on current urban issues in our region and get involved with the Urban Design Forum. Read more
RESCHEDULED: UDF: Neighborhoods for All: Revisiting Single Family Zoning + HH w/ The Urbanist
Cast aside your political comfort zones and join the conversation regarding increased access to the single family areas of Seattle. Read more
May 2019
Housing Transformations: Density Done Right
Design professionals in the urban built environment often advocate for “good density.” But what exactly does that look like, and how specifically can the planning, design, and construction of housing options support vibrant communities? How can the integration of new housing center equity, sustainability and livability in rapidly changing neighborhoods? Join us for a full day program exploring housing transformations that advance density done right. For registration to the concluding keynote and happy hour ONLY, visit the keynote event page.…
NEW DATE & LOCATION: Urban Design Forum Happy Hour + Committee Meeting
Come have a beer, geek out on current urban issues in our region and get involved with the Urban Design Forum. Read more
July 2019
UDF: Suburban Renaissance Tour / Kenmore & Bothell, WA
Urban Design Forum presents a tour of Kenmore and Bothell, two Seattle suburbs working to build a more sustainable, urbanized future. Read more
August 2019
UDF: Curating the Street Level Experience – Graham Baba Architects in Pike/Pine
Join us as Jim Graham, principle of Graham Baba Architects, shares his vision for breathing life into urban streetscapes as elicited by the firm’s thoughtful work in one of the city’s most dynamic and culturally-exciting neighborhoods. Read more
September 2019
UDF: New Urbanism, History and Urbanism – Single Family in Seattle
Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for a discussion on land-use constraints in the city’s single-family neighborhoods. Read more
October 2019
UDF: Waterfront Seattle – A Post-Viaduct, Public Space Megaproject Tour
Urban Design Forum welcomes Waterfront Seattle for a walking tour of its vision for a new Alaskan Way, after the viaduct is gone. Read more
November 2019
NEW DATE & LOCATION: Urban Design Forum Happy Hour + Committee Meeting
Come have a beer, geek out on current urban issues in our region and get involved with the Urban Design Forum. Read more
January 2020
UDF+COHO: Seattle 2100 – Homelessness & Informal Communities
Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for a discussion of informal communities and their potential to change how homelessness is addressed in the U.S. Read more
February 2020
Urban Design Forum Committee Meeting
Come have a beer, geek out on current urban issues in our region and get involved with the Urban Design Forum. Read more
April 2020
WEBINAR: Virtual Collaborative Spaces with Sheryl Cababa
Join AIA Seattle for a short, live webinar on how to facilitate creative collaboration virtually. Read more
WEBINAR: Digital Firm Management Solutions with Carlos Obando
Join AIA Seattle for a live webinar on technological solutions for remote firm management and client relationships. Read more
ONLINE – Urban Design Forum ‘Remote’ Happy Hour + Committee Meeting
**April meeting is online only.** Grab a beer and connect with us on the impact of COVID on urban issues in our region. Read more
WEBINAR: Coping With Coronavirus – Design Firm Challenges
Join AIA Seattle sponsors AP | Hall & Company for a webinar on insurance- and legal-related challenges from COVID-19. Read more
May 2020
UDF + COTE: Seattle 2100 – Sci-Fact Future – PNW
Rescheduled: Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum and Committee on the Environment for a discussion on the true future of the region, looking dystopian, utopian, or apocalyptic. Read more
June 2020
ONLINE – Urban Design Forum – Committee Meeting: Planning + Racial Injustice
What does the Black Lives Matter and racial injustice movement require of urban design and planning? Read more
November 2020
DATE CHANGE: Urban Design Forum Committee Meeting
Come have a beer, geek out on current urban issues in our region and get involved with the Urban Design Forum. Read more
December 2020
CANCELLED – Urban Design Forum Committee Meeting
**The December UDF meeting is CANCELLED.** Come have a beer, geek out on current urban issues in our region and get involved with the Urban Design Forum. Read more
January 2021
UDF: Equitable TOD w/ King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci
Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for a unique discussion with King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci to discuss equitable transit-oriented development. Read more
February 2021
Committee Meeting: Urban Design Forum
Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for its monthly planning meeting, every fourth Wednesday. Open to architects and allied professionals. Read more
March 2021
UDF: Post-COVID Urbanism
Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for an investigation of which changes to our urban form might remain after the COVID-19 crisis recedes. Read more
June 2021
Housing Innovation in the 15-Minute City
How can we help transition housing policy and urban design to be 1) more equitable for all residents by incorporating people-centered development that responds to community needs and desires; and 2) focused on holistic sustainability by designing compact, complete neighborhoods that deemphasize car use and enhance environmental sustainability, resident health, and economic vibrancy? From missing middle to infill housing, new housing designs and careful planning around existing communities can provide the density to support amenities such as restaurants, services, work…
15-Minute Cities for People | Housing Innovation in the 15-Minute City
AIA Seattle presents Housing Innovation in the 15-Minute City, the kick-off event of AIA Seattle’s new series, 15-Minute Seattle: Creating Livable Places for All. Join us online, June 7-8, 2021 to examine the concept of complete neighborhoods as an urban design framework, and explore how Seattle can support full-service neighborhoods by providing a mix of housing options for homeowners, renters, and people of different ages and walks of life. The program will open with Kristian Skovbakke Villadsen’s keynote presentation, 15-Minute Cities for…
CANCELLED – Committee Meeting: Urban Design Forum
Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for its monthly planning meeting, every fourth Wednesday. Open to architects and allied professionals. Read more
Equity Considerations in the 15-Minute City
In line with its comprehensive plan, Seattle has focused most of its job and housing growth into roughly 30 “Urban Villages” and “Urban Centers” over the past 25 years. While the Urban Village growth strategy has increased density and walkability in these areas and organized an increasingly connected transit network, it has also contributed to displacement in these areas of focused growth while contributing to skyrocketing housing costs and inadequately addressing the large swaths of Seattle that remain auto dependent.…
July 2021
UDF: Development That Serves People
Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for a virtual panel discussion with TraeAnna Holiday of Africatown and Ceara O’Leary of Detroit Collaborative Design Center, exploring developments that prioritize communities over profit in two cities with similar problems and different pressures. Read more
November 2021
**NEW DATE** Committee Meeting: Urban Design Forum
**NEW DATE** Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for its monthly planning meeting, every fourth Wednesday. Open to architects and allied professionals. Read more
December 2021
CANCELLED – Committee Meeting: Urban Design Forum
**December meeting is CANCELLED** Join AIA Seattle’s Urban Design Forum for its monthly planning meeting, every fourth Wednesday. Open to architects and allied professionals. Read more