CNU 33 New England at Providence

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Have questions about this event? Contact Sarah Chen-Kim at [email protected].

Our annual Congress, now in its thirty-third year, is CNU’s flagship event: the premiere national event on building better places. Each year, 1500+ attendees convene to hear from speakers, participate in workshops, collaborate on projects, and learn new strategies from leaders in dozens of fields.

New England is home to some of our country’s oldest urbanism - villages, towns, and cities that have evolved through centuries of change: From economic peaks and valleys, periods of population growth and decline, and the demands of housing driven by shifting industries. Now, the region faces critical challenges as the increasingly severe impacts brought on by a changing climate lap at the shores of coastal communities and threaten flooding of inland waterways.

CNU 33 will allow attendees to examine how the region has adapted, explore the values of interdependence and community, and establish a hopeful vision for the future based on the power of New Urbanist solutions.

The central stage for this Congress will be Providence, Rhode Island: A city that has grown and changed immensely since last hosting CNU in 2006. The evolution of downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods, the transformation of the 195 corridor, the reclamation of street space for pedestrians and bikes, and innovative techniques to protect the city from coastal flooding will all be on display.

• Read More About What to Expect at CNU 33 from the Local Host Committee Here
• Examine the Evolution of Downcity Since the 2006 Congress Here

Providence is no stranger to CNU. As many recall, in 2006, the city was the host of CNU 14. Since then, Providence has not been idle despite the Great Recession and a historic pandemic. Throughout Downtown and many of the city's neighborhoods, progress continues. After a slow start, steady progress is occurring to infill the downtown parcels made available after the removal of the I-195 highway interchange. Downcity continues to heal from its 1980's nadir with infill projects and adaptive reuse of all stripes, including creating over 500 new apartments. Plans are in place for a complete reimagining of the State's most important civic space, Kennedy Plaza. And the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority has begun working towards a complete overhaul of its Providence transit operations.

The creation of city-wide bike lanes, an award-winning pedestrian bridge, public art programs, and waterfront parks have all occurred since the city last hosted the Congress. But Providence still faces its share of problems, including persistent challenges around race and equity, lack of affordable housing, and particular vulnerability to sea-level rise and climate change. Providence is on the verge of improving its economy and leveraging innovations in governance and public process to accelerate the city's improvements even further. The timing is exceptional to host CNU as Providence needs the insight and expertise that occurs with a gathering of the world's leading urbanists, architects, policymakers, engineers, and associated professionals. The 33rd Congress will be one focused on progress and hope, an event to roll up our sleeves and work together to advance the New Urbanist movement.

Host or Publisher Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU)