The CNU Charter Awards recognize exemplary work by CNU members and their allies who design and build places people love. The winners not only embody and advance the principles of the Charter of the New Urbanism, they make a difference in people's lives.
The Charter identifies three major scales of geography for design and policy purposes. The largest scale is composed of regions. The middle scale is made up of neighborhoods, districts, and corridors. The smallest scale is composed of blocks, streets, and buildings.
The Charter Awards are given to projects at each scale, with special recognition reserved for the best projects at the professional and student levels. The CNU Charter Awards, given annually since 2001, are the world's preeminent award for urban design, placemaking, and community building.
2025 Charter Award Winners:
Merit Award
- Zone 3, Boston, Massachusetts—Harvard University
- Preserving History: Assessments and Climate Adaptations at The House of the Seven Gables, Salem, Massachusetts—Union Studio Architecture & Community Design
- The Shockoe Project, Richmond, Virginia—Baskervill
- Tyler Station, Dallas, Texas—Options Real Estate Investments
Student Merit Award
- Regenerative Conservation: Centering Preservation Philosophy within Urban Planning Policy, Denver, Colorado—Sean Gaouette, University of Notre Dame
- Construyendo Guatemala: Tradition and Technology, Antigua, Guatemala—Deisy Velasquez, University of Maryland
Honorable Mention
- Groveland Dark Sky Initiative, Groveland, Florida—City of Groveland
View the project videos from the 2024 ceremony here.
