Urban Resilience Forum: Building the Next 250

AIA Philadelphia, Green Building United, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and ULI Philadelphia present the fourth annual Urban Resilience Forum to be held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at The Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center. 

The Urban Resilience Forum brings 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. 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. 

The program will include lunch and a post event networking reception. AIA, APA, GBCI credit information forthcoming.

EVENT AGENDA 

12:00 PM Doors Open, Registration, Lunch  

12:45 PM  Welcome & Opening Remarks – (10 min + 5 mins to introduce first panel transition) 

1:00 PM PANEL 1 Building Resilient Supportive Housing in Historic Urban Contexts  

Speakers: 

• Michael Caine, Old First Reformed Church, Pastor 
• Mark Halstead, Domus, Chief Estimator 
• Troy Hannigan, Community Ventures, Executive Director 
• Kathy Lent, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate and Project Manager, O Z Collaborative 

10 minutes break and transition to next panel 

2:00 PM PANEL 2 Enhancing The Region’s Residential Resilience Through Collaboration: Challenges and Opportunities  

Speakers: 

• Liz Compitello, AICP, DVRPC, Manager, Office of Sustainable Energy 
• Alison Nemirow, AECOM, Principal  
• Katie Vorce, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties, Chief Operations Officer 
• Liz Marx, PA Utility Law Project, Executive Director 

10 minutes break and transition to next panel 

3:00 PM CASE STUDY SERIES 

Reframing Managed Retreat: A Statewide Approach to Housing Stability and Climate Adaptation  
Presenter: Marybeth Groff, CFM, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Hazard Mitigation and Climate adaptation Coordinator 

Heat, Hazards & High-Rises: Climate-Proofing Philly's Multi-Family Buildings  
Presenter: Kara Oldhouser, Oldhouser Consulting 

The Current State of Play for Hazard Mitigation Planning 
Presenter: Thomas S. Hughes PEMA, Director, EM Mitigation, Insurance & Resilient Communities Office. VP for FEMA Region 3 Regional Advisory Council. 

3 – 10-minute presentations 

1 – 10-minute Q&A 

5 minutes break and transition to next panel 

4:00 PM  PANEL 3 Rebuilding Community: Resilience and Neighborhood Transformation in Sharswood, Philadelphia  

Speakers: 

• Taylor Shinal, Pennrose, Corporate Responsibility and Operations Associate 
• Lindsey, Samsi, Pennrose, Regional Vice President  
• Darnetta, Arce, Lower North Philadelphia Community Development Corporation, Executive Director 
• Woo Kim, WRT, Principal  

4:45 PM  CLOSING REMARKS 

5:00 PM  NETWORKING RECEPTION 

6:00 PM  ADJOURN 

Members of partner organizations: AIA Philadelphia, Green Building United, and Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, email [email protected] to receive discount code for registration to register at the member rate. 

Align your Company with Supporting Urban Resilience Across the Region. Sponsorship provides brand recognition in front of 100+ industry leaders, networking opportunities, and more. Public agencies & non-profit organizations are eligible for a 50% discount on Supporting level benefits. View Sponsorship Options.