Annual Congress

  • Southside
    Ten acres that transformed a city #thisiscnu

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • Mercado District | Tucson, Arizona
    A timeless place from the ground up. #thisiscnu

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • A mixed-use center for town and gown
    <strong>Storrs Center</strong> <em>Mansfield, CT</em>

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • Jazz Market New Orleans Audience Seating
    Jazz Market New Orleans Audience Seating
    Trumpeting a cultural revival
    <strong>Peoples Health New Orleans Jazz Market</strong>&nbsp; <em>New Orleans, Louisiana</em>

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • A unique building becomes a hub for historic neighborhoods
    <strong>Ponce City Market</strong> <em>Atlanta, GA</em>

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • Historic arcade houses young professionals
    <strong>Microlofts at The Arcade Providence</strong>&nbsp;<em>Providence, Rhode Island</em>

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • Crosstown_Concourse_2018_Charter_LooneyRicksKiss
    Crosstown_Concourse_2018_Charter_LooneyRicksKiss
    From former warehouse to "vertical village"
    <strong>Crosstown Concourse</strong>&nbsp; <em>Memphis, Tennessee</em>

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • From parking lot to urban tour-de-force
    <strong>UCLA Weyburn</strong>&nbsp;<em>Los Angeles, California</em>

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

  • Expanding options for a car-oriented suburban area
    <strong>Village of Providence</strong> <em>Huntsville, AL</em>

    Build Great Places / #thisiscnu

Join us at CNU 32 in Cincinnati, OH on May 15-18, 2024! 


Our annual Congress, now in its thirty-second year, is CNU’s flagship event: the premiere national event on building better places. Each year, 1600+ attendees convene to hear from speakers, participate in workshops, collaborate on projects, and learn new strategies from leaders in dozens of fields. Outside the conference room, Congress attendees experience inspiring host cities like Louisville, Detroit, Dallas, Charlotte and Buffalo, helping to place national issues in a unique and challenging local context.

Each Congress offers attendees the chance to experience and connect with an inspiring host region. Since its earliest days, the event has evolved towards greater immersion in local places, cultures, and issues—helping residents to understand the fascinating story of a unique metro region. Through scholarships, public events, and our Legacy Projects program, the Congress also seeks to leave a legacy of understanding and a positive placemaking impact on its host city.

In sessions, attendees convene to hear from speakers, participate in workshops, collaborate on projects, and learn new strategies from leaders in dozens of fields. Our 100+ speakers and workshop leaders challenge attendees to broaden their thinking on design, development, engineering, health, equity, and climate, to name a few topics. Our Congress is the leading international gathering for the people and organizations building places people love.

Past Congresses: 

View highlights from past Congresses via YouTube: 
CNU Youtube