For the opening of Future Fest 2022, we welcomed Andre Brumfield, global leader of Gensler’s Cities & Urban Design practice, to introduce our theme for Week 1: The Future of Cities. Our cities and urban environments are facing a series of challenges. Downtown growth has stalled or declined in many cities, and competitive districts have emerged. Affordable housing is scarce, and the cost of rental housing has risen by double digits in most cities.
Select neighborhoods, specifically our distressed Black and Brown neighborhoods, continue to suffer from both disinvestment and threats of gentrification. All the while, with every passing season, we see climate change continue to impact our cities, regardless of location. Through the lens of urban design, master planning, and architecture, this session will focus on how we are addressing these current challenges to better shape our urban environment and create a more balanced city.
During this talk, you’ll learn:
- How urban planning and design can address downtown growth
- Where investment is imperative for distressed communities
- How urban planning and design can assist with the fight against climate change
About Andre Brumfield
Andre is a global leader of Gensler’s Cities & Urban Design practice. A Design Director in the firm’s Chicago office, he is focused on and committed to revitalizing and repositioning urban environments through urban design, master planning and architecture. Andre’s broad career experience includes: redevelopment in emerging urban districts; neighborhood and community revitalization; high-density, urban-infill; city-wide master planning; corporate campuses; and industrial centers.
Andre has extensive experience in mixed-income housing and has crafted visionary, yet realistic revitalization plans that have been implemented in economically challenged urban areas. A true urban strategist, Andre has worked with multiple public agencies, private sector clients and non-profit organizations to develop master plans that shape the future of neighborhoods and cities. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, working with the ULI|National League of Cities’ Rose Center for Public Leadership in Land Use, and as the Vice Chair of the ULI’s national Urban Revitalization Council.
Check out more work by Gensler on their Architizer firm profile:
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