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Highlights from CNU
2025 CNU Board of Directors Election! Between now and February 6th all members in good standing, can self nominate to run for a member elected seat on the CNU Board of Directors. Information on requirements, deadlines, and more can be found here. CNU member-elected board positions serve a three year term and are eligible to run again for a second term.
To apply, you may usethis form, which will require:
Contact information
Information about your affiliation with CNU
A professional bio and headshot
Your pitch for candidacy
Three references and/or letters of support that explicitly support your candidacy. These must be compiled into a single PDF.
Though it is only January, it’s never too early to get excited about - and get ready for - CNU 33 New England at Providence. In just a few weeks, we will be launching registration and unveiling a program highlighting regionalism and resilience including over 30 tours to get you out of the hotel and into Providence and surrounding towns. In the meantime, don’t snooze on ourtwo hotel blocks: the Omni Providence, which is our main Congress hotel, and the nearby Graduate Hilton, the historic (formerly Biltmore) Hotel. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Learn more about opportunitiesfor that here.
CNU Lifetime Member Spotlight
Architect Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz is spearheading new urbanism on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. Ricardo is a true student of urban patterns, both around the globe as well as in his own backyard in Puerto Rico. He has been weaving that knowledge into his own practice for three decades, with extraordinary enthusiasm for each new opportunity to improve people's lives -- through his work, his advocacy, and his volunteerism. Learn more about Ricardo below.
How long have you been a member of CNU? I have been aware of CNU since 1993. However, it wasn't until a few years ago that I decided to fully commit as a Lifetime member. What brought you the New Urbanism movement share your journey with us. I typically avoid labels, but I've always viewed myself as a student of what is known as New Urbanism. This perspective has shaped my work since my student days in the early 1990s at the University of Notre Dame. My experiences as an employee, business founder, teacher, and writer have all been influenced by its principles. What is a typical day like for you? Each day presents an array of meetings, from inspiring design sessions with team members to impactful gatherings with government officials, investors, developers, bankers, NGOs, and community leaders. Every day is a unique opportunity for engagement and growth! What do you/did you love the most about your job? Creating a thriving design business that inspires change and makes a positive impact on the world. What would you tell your student self about your profession? The profession must also be focused on entrepreneurship; ultimately allowing architects to control their own destiny and design their own developments. What is one of the biggest challenges to your profession? Insufficient business skills and a limited understanding of real estate development are significant barriers to success. What is the most important trend you see in the industry? I would describe technology and the use of AI not just as a trend, but as a major disruption. AI and technology are already influencing every aspect of our lives and it will disrupt architecture, urban planning, construction, management, real estate, and building operations. This represents one of the most significant disruptions in our industry since the invention of the printing press.
Who is one of your role models and why? My wife, Cristina Villalon, is my role model. She has been involved in various sustainability issues long before they became trendy or part of the public ethos. She is thoughtful, humble, and a servant leader with a great heart. What are 3 fun facts about you? I love playing the drums, collecting rare books, and traveling with my family. What would you tell someone interested in joining CNU? I would tell them that by becoming a member, you give yourself the opportunity to learn, teach, and share with people from diverse backgrounds, united by a single goal: to leave the world better than we found it.
Submissions are Open for Sustainable Design’s Most Significant Prize
The world’s most significant competition for sustainable design is calling for entries. The Swiss-based Holcim Foundation seeks commissioned projects of all scales in the late-stage design phase, to be recognized from a global prize pool of USD 1M split between 20 winning entries.
The competition is free to enter and is open to client-supported projects of all scales at the detailed design phase that have yet to be realized. Projects already under construction are eligible, provided construction is not completed before February 11, 2025.
The entry window is open until February 11, 2025, with the Awards Ceremony taking place at the Foundation’s Venice Forum event on November 20, 2025. https://awards.holcimfoundation.org/home
Does your organization, Chapter, or local government have big things happening in 2025? Don't forget to share events like panels, webinars, and conferences with the CNU community. Send your events to cnuinfo@cnu.org and check out our Events page for upcoming opportunities.
The strategic plan for a commercial district with an international identity offers a new approach to suburban retrofit based on a string of parking lot transformations.
As always, CNU'sJobs and RFPs page lists the latest professional opportunities for individuals, plus design and planning RFPs for firms. Visit today and browse at no charge for up-to-date listings.
Have an opportunity to share? Your membership entitles you to free or discounted listings for jobs and RFP postings. As always, don't forget to log in to CNU's Member Portal to update your information for your listing in CNU's online member directory.
