Parametric digital tools have been commonplace in architectural practice for nearly two decades, combining the designer’s expert intuition with computer processing allowing us to investigate more options in less time. Only recently have these tools have been used at the urban scale. The results suggest that they are clearly powerful and offer a promising future for urban design. But what do they offer the urban designer? And, given the plural nature of urban design, how can these tools help the practitioner effectively engage an increasingly diverse range of stakeholders?

Representatives from the two leading software companies who have focused specifically on the urban scale—Esri (City Engine and ArcGIS Urban) and Sidewalk Labs (Delve)—will describe their applications, approaches, and what they see as the future for generative urban design.

Siqi Zhu, Associate Director, Planning & Delivery, Sidewalk Labs
Brian Ho, Senior Design Lead, Sidewalk Labs
Renia Kagkou, Solution Engineer and Urban Designer, Smart Cities at ESRI

The first of a two-part series on digital design and visualization tools for urban design, this event is co-sponsored by the Design Visualization and the Urban Design Knowledge Communities.