People are the lifeblood of any city, and they define the urban environment that we covet. Our cities have always been alive and dynamic. How do we keep them that way? One answer: ground-floor activation. When the right spatial considerations are met, cities stay dynamic and, in turn, help us all thrive. The design tactics we use at the ground level are second nature—energized, active frontages; mixed-use developments that open onto streets or plazas; punctuated by pedestrian-friendly design with clear signage and plenty of greenery.

Berkeley, California, is emerging as a hub for life sciences and technology firms, with new developments opening in the West Berkeley neighborhood. In June, ULI San Francisco hosted a walking tour through two campuses targeting life sciences research and development tenants at the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay: theLAB Berkeley and Berkeley Commons.

The ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing has announced three finalists for this year’s Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award and eight finalists for the Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing.

Move over IndyCar. Formula 1 racing is finally gaining traction in the United States. Places as diverse as Las Vegas, Austin, and Miami (and their respective states) are reaping major economic windfalls from permanent and temporary grand prix racetracks, along with first-class fan amenities and facilities, for this international sport.

Aging railroad relic getting new life as a vibrant entertainment hub

The winners of the second ULI Hines Student Competition for the Asia Pacific region faced a dual challenge: create a compelling urban development proposal and follow in the footsteps of classmates who won the inaugural contest.

In a period short on opportunities and long on challenges, design matters even more. Good design principles are always worth employing, whatever the development climate, but three key design aspects pertain in particular: alliance, resilience, and quality.

Ten projects deliver compact residential spaces that offer more affordable city living options, foster community, and minimize environmental impacts.

Experts speak about the near-term prospects for converting office buildings into multifamily housing, best practices for evaluating conversion potential, innovative ways the public sector can support these projects, and other related trends.

A redevelopment plan for a Seattle site presented by a team of Georgia Institute of Technology students has taken top honors in the 22nd annual ULI/Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition. The competition was created with a generous endowment from long-time ULI leader Gerald D. Hines, founder of the Hines real estate organization.

After developer Bruce Etkin, a past ULI Trustee and a current member of the ULI Foundation board, sold all of his company’s properties in 2021, he channeled his energy and attention to different challenges—one of them homelessness.

A team from ESSEC Business School in France has been named the winner in this year’s prestigious ULI Hines Student Competition – Europe. The results were announced by ULI and Hines, the global real estate investor, developer, and property manager, following the final of the fifth annual pan-European competition for integrated and multidisciplinary urban regeneration.