The City of Charlotte Urban Design Center and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte School of Architecture presented the city’s first Urban Design Awards, or “Urbies,” last week to elevate the importance of excellent urban design. The goal of the annual awards program is to recognize and celebrate quality urban design in Charlotte while encouraging continued community discussion around what makes for unique and great places.

Award recipients were honored at the Charlotte Urban Design Center on Thursday, September 23rd with an intimate outdoor ceremony.

The celebration continued Friday, September 24th, with a public panel discussion about the award recipients and their projects at the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City. Sekou Cooke moderated the conversation with “Urbies” jurors Beth Poovey of LandDesign, Ike Heard from UNC Charlotte professor and practicing economic developer, Clayton Sealey of CLT Development, and UNC Charlotte Professor Deb Ryan, awards jury chair. A recording of the panel is now available for those who couldn’t attend in person or stream in real-time.

Earlier in the week, former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt and Damon Hemmerdinger of ATCO Properties (the developers behind Camp North End) and UNC Charlotte Professor Deb Ryan were interviewed on the Future Charlotte Podcast by podcast host and jury member, Ely Portillo. The two Urbie winners and awards jury chair spoke about the Urbies, how design in Charlotte is getting better, what’s still holding us back — and what we can do about it.
The Inaugural Charlotte Urban Design Awards were considered successful in bringing the conversation of urban design in Charlotte to the forefront. The Urban Design Center and the University will continue to grow and host the awards annually. If you or your organization is interested in volunteer or sponsorship opportunities at next year’s awards, please email us at udc@charlottenc.gov.