Call for Submissions + Save the Date: 2026 Urban Resilience Forum

AIA Philadelphia, Green Building United, Preservation Alliance and ULI Philadelphia present the fourth annual Urban Resilience Forum to be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The Forum will bring together over 100 practitioners from across the real estate industry, including development, architecture, design, nonprofit, and government sectors to share and learn best practices for a more resilient and sustainable Philadelphia.

Building the Next 250

As Philadelphia looks toward the next 250 years and prepares to welcome the world in 2026, the Urban Resilience Forum asks what it means to build buildings, neighborhoods, and systems that continue to serve communities long after the celebration, under changing climate and resource conditions. 

The 2026 Urban Resilience Forum will focus on real examples of work that already incorporate resilience and adaptability, particularly at the intersection of building performance, energy systems, housing, and long-term stewardship. The Forum seeks to inform the design community by highlighting projects and studies that demonstrate how resilience can be embedded into the built environment today. 

What We Are Seeking

We invite submissions that present planning studies, research papers, built projects, or implemented policies that demonstrate how resilience and adaptability are being integrated into buildings, sites, neighborhoods, or systems to support future climate conditions. 

Submissions may represent completed work, projects under construction, or advanced planning or research efforts. Work may be presented at a variety of scales, from individual buildings and sites to districts, corridors, or systems. Submissions are not expected to address every hazard or issue, but should describe the future climate, energy, or resource conditions the work is preparing for, the specific strategies used to improve long-term resilience, and lessons that can be applied or scaled across the Philadelphia region. 

Suggested Submission Topics

Submissions should relate to one or more of the following topic areas through a specific planning effort, paper, policy, or project example. Submissions are open to national, regional, and local perspectives.

• Energy as Core Resilience Infrastructure 
• Housing Stability Under Climate Stress 
• Retrofitting and Adaptive Reuse of Existing Buildings 
• Designing for Long-Term Performance, Not Just Code 

Submission Formats

The Planning Committee will consider the following formats:

• Panel Session (up to 45-min session followed by 15-min Q&A)
• 10-15-minute topic/case study presentation (event organizers will group presentations)
• Poster boards (30×42; easels will be provided)

Key Dates

Submission Deadline: Friday, May 29, 2026 

Submission decisions: June 2026

2026 Urban Resilience Forum: Thursday, September 24, 12pm – 6pm

Preliminary Event Schedule

• Doors open at 12:00 PM 
• Networking lunch 
• Presentations interspersed with networking breaks 
• Networking happy hour and social 

Sponsorship Opportunities

Additional information on sponsorship opportunities will be released soon for organizations interested in supporting the Forum and sharing their work and perspective. 

Submission FAQ

How many speakers can a session have?
For panel sessions, no more than 4. You are allowed 3 speakers plus a moderator.

Can I submit multiple sessions?
Yes. Submitters can submit multiple sessions for review.

Can I edit a previous submission?
Yes. Additional details through the CVENT platform.

• Speakers are responsible for their own hotel accommodations and travel.

If you have further questions, email forum@greenbuildingunited.org  

Interested in attending the Forum? 

Sign up to receive information for the 2026 Urban Resilience Forum event, including speaker and session announcements and online registration.  

Read the event summary from the 2025 Urban Resilience Forum here.