Congress for the New Urbanism gathering features 2 keynotes in May

Harvard University professor Raj Chetty and scholar and sociologist Eric Klinenberg will be the keynote speakers for the 34th Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 34), its annual gathering of leaders in urban design, planning and housing.

More than 1,500 architects, urban planners and real estate executives are expected to attend CNU 34 from May 12-16 in Northwest Arkansas, which will include panels and workshops along with the keynotes. This will be CNU’s first Congress in Arkansas. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit is dedicated to creating walkable, sustainable and inclusive communities worldwide.

Chetty is the William A. Ackman Professor of Economics at Harvard University and the director of Opportunity Insights, which uses data to study the science of economic opportunity, focusing on how to give children from all backgrounds better chances of succeeding.

Chetty will provide the opening keynote at 4 p.m. May 13 at the Ozark Ballroom at Fayetteville Town Center. He will speak about connecting quality of place to economic opportunity.

Klinenberg is an author, sociologist and Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. His newest book, “2020,” tells the stories of New Yorkers’ experiences during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. He previously wrote “Palaces for the People,” which suggests that social infrastructure, or the places and organizations where people interact, is key to building a democracy that works for everyone.

Klinenberg will deliver the closing keynote at 10 a.m. May 15 at First Baptist Church in downtown Bentonville. He will speak about measuring the impact of place on social connectivity.

CNU 34 begins at 8:30 a.m. May 12 with programs in Fayetteville for government leaders, developers and emerging professionals, before expanding into a multi-city program spanning Fayetteville and Bentonville. It ends May 16 with an open house and town hall from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Fayetteville.

“Bringing our annual event to Northwest Arkansas is a point of pride for the organization,” CNU President Mallory Baches said. “This Congress creates an opportunity for anyone interested in how the region gets built to collaborate with CNU’s network of expert practitioners in identifying the best ideas for fostering safe, walkable places, for ensuring businesses and residents can thrive, and for providing a future that the communities across this truly unique place can remain proud of.”

Sessions throughout the event include looking at the future of urbanism, unlocking housing supply, zoning and code innovation, regional growth strategies, and case studies such as the Razorback Greenway corridor plan. The event will also include the charter awards ceremony, which recognizes projects in urban design and planning, including several from Northwest Arkansas.

Fayetteville-based High Street Real Estate and Development said it received a 2026 Charter Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism for The 1907 Block in downtown Rogers.

Fayetteville-based design studio Blockwright received a 2026 Charter Award for its work on the Razorback Greenway Corridor Plan, a new vision to connect communities through the 40-mile regional trail. The award coincided with Blockwright’s rebrand from MBL Planning, an affiliate of MBL Architecture.

Blockwright worked as a housing consultant on the multiphase plan for the Razorback Greenway and focused on how the trail shapes trailside neighborhoods. The company worked to innovate how new building types can transform the trail.

The company evaluated housing patterns, growth potential and neighborhood connectivity to ensure the trail not only “links parks and amenities but also strengthens the residential communities along its route, creating vibrant, desirable neighborhoods,” according to a news release. The corridor plan was created for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission in partnership with Field Operations.

Blockwright President Matt Hoffman said the award covers the first phase of the plan, which was the regional framework. Work on the plan’s second phase has yet to be announced. Blockwright has two full-time urban designers and shares staff and administration with MBL Architecture, comprising an additional 17 staff. Hoffman is also president and co-founder of Pattern Zones Co., which is a key external partner to Blockwright.

“Blockwright represents both our roots and our future,” Hoffman said. “We plan cities, design buildings, and grow neighborhoods where people feel a sense of belonging, and the Razorback Greenway is a perfect example of that philosophy in action.”