The Queen City just dished out its latest accolades for urban design excellence. Last Thursday, the City of Charlotte celebrated the winners of the 2025 Urban Design Awards, affectionately dubbed the Urbies, with a ceremony that put a spotlight on the best of the city's built environment. Held at the Charlotte Urban Design Center (UDC), the event lauded designers, architects, and community advocates whose projects have left a mark on the city's landscape.
This year's Urbies covered an array of categories, showing that innovation isn't just being recognized in the city's center, but also its suburbs and transit-accessible developments; take The Pass snagging the Great Development Near Transit award, and Montford Park being applauded for its Great Suburban Design, meanwhile, community figureheads like Dave Walters and Rickey Hall didn't go unnoticed, earning accolades as Great Urban Design Champion and Great Neighborhood Champion, respectively. Leading the pack for people-powered design was Camp North End, grabbing the People's Choice Award for Great Urban Design, in a ceremony that not only recognized burgeoning talent but also established city shapers, according to a report by the City of Charlotte's website.
The Urbies aren't just your average pat on the back—they're seen as a beacon to spur city-wide conversations about what makes a space not just functional, but meaningful to those who traverse its sidewalks, frequent its parks, or pass by its buildings. The jury, composed of ten urban design professionals, made their selection from a pool of public nominations signaling a process influenced as much by peer recognition as by community needs and desires. Among the award recipients celebrated for their contributions were Belmont for Great Walkable Neighborhood, the Rail Trail for Great Public Space, and The Collective for Great Urban Architecture, as detailed on the City of Charlotte's website.
Monica Holmes, the Interim Director of the Charlotte Planning, Design & Development Department, reflected on the city's growing pains and the significance of urban design in nurturing community well-being, “As Charlotte continues to grow, thoughtful urban design plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for all residents”; she continued to describe how the Urbies "celebrate the people, projects, and partnerships that make our city’s spaces more vibrant and people-focused," as mentioned on the City of Charlotte website. Holmes also encouraged locals to experience the winning projects firsthand, which may inspire the next generation of design within their own neighborhoods—showcasing the ingenuity that thrusts Charlotte into the limelight. Those interested in the depth of urban design in Charlotte can explore the Urban Design Center website and its People Make Cities blog for more insights and information about these prestigious awards.
