We shape our buildings and town then these spaces and places shape us.
Our town is always changing, even if we don’t notice. Every day, people make choices—design decisions—that shape the places around us.
These decisions might seem small or go unnoticed, but they add up and define how our town feels and how well it works for us.
Change comes to every community, whether we’re ready for it or not. Speaking up can ensure that our town is ready.
Upcoming Event! September 26th
Building Conversations: Architects and Local Leaders
This is more than a networking event; it’s an opportunity to influence how our cities grow. Architects and designers are uniquely positioned to help shape equitable, people-centered places, and this conversation is a critical step toward making design a central part of public policy.
Join us for a morning round-table bringing together local elected officials and members of the design profession for meaningful dialogue about the future of our communities.
Over a light breakfast, we’ll explore how zoning, housing policy, and planning decisions impact affordability, sustainability, walkability, and civic design, and why architects should be at the table when those decisions are made.
Date: Friday, September 26th
Time: 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: The Friday Center
100 Friday Center Drive
1Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Light Breakfast will be provided
Hosted by AIA Triangle and CityBuilder
Funded by the AIA NC ACTIVATE Grant
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”
— Alan Lakein
City Design Matters.
City design (urban planning) impacts us every day but it’s effects aren’t always obvious. You might think cities just grow naturally, like plants, but our decisions, policies, and votes impact our town. The design of our cities, communities and neighborhoods, and the buildings impact our physical, mental and emotional health.
Good town planning has practical effects on us. It can unclog our roads, prevent flooding, promote local business and more.
Leave us a note saying why you love Chapel Hill and we’ll add it to a new page detailing what Chapel Hill’s citizens think makes our town so great! You can also let us know what you think Chapel Hill needs.
Click the link below to leave us a note.
Architecture Matters.
Everywhere we go—our homes, schools, workplaces, churches, markets, even the neighborhood coffee shop—was designed by someone. But most of the time, we don’t stop to notice. When we overlook our buildings, we miss the chance to care for them, improve them, and make them even more meaningful to our lives. Architecture isn’t just about structures; it’s about the places where our stories unfold.
Our public buildings are especially powerful because they bring people together, shaping how we connect with each other and with our town.
It all adds up to something.
Most people deeply care about where they live. They value the quality of their neighborhoods and are invested in maintaining the value of their homes and the well-being of their community. We won’t all agree on what is best for our city but lively discussions surrounding how we address these concerns with regulations, standards, and policies help make sure that thoughtful and vetted options rise to the surface.
We all have experiences in our town, which means we all have insights that needs to be heard.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CHAPEL HILL?
Leave us a note about what you love about Chapel Hill. We are looking to collect comments about all the parts of this town that people love. Look for that on an upcoming new page!
Inspired to get involved?
Here is how you can!
1 | BE IN THE KNOW
LEARN ABOUT LOCAL PROJECTS AND EVENTS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW
Get plugged in through Chapel Hill’s Digital Engagement Hub and other organizations, blogs and resources that can fill you in on the latest issues our community faces as record growth happens in our town and across North Carolina.
Do you have an established blog you’d like to see featured? Let us know!
2 | HELP WRITE OUR TOWN’S REGULATIONS
BE PART OF REWRITING OUR LAND USE ORDINANCE
Understand the process and let your voice be heard.
The Town of Chapel Hill has made it easier to understand how the rules and regulations that shape our town are crafted and implemented.
Click on the link below for materials explaining the basics of zoning decisions and our Land Use Management Ordinance (which is regularly updated as growth happens).
3 | JOIN A COMMITTEE
YOU CAN BE ONE OF THE VOICES SETTING THE TONE FOR HOW WE GROW
Be in the room when things are happening.
If you have time to offer your city that can be the greatest way to make an impact. There are numerous boards and commissions where volunteer citizens can get involved in the decisions that are shaping Chapel Hill.
Click the links below to see how you can join an effort.
4 | MENTOR STUDENTS
RESOURCES FOR LOCAL TEACHERS ON DESIGN AND PLANNING
Find free resources and connect with architects, planners and contractors to speak to your students.
Local groups like the American Institute of Architecture, ACE Mentors (Architects, Contractors & Engineers), Diversity Architecture offer free books, connections to area professionals, and even lesson plans for your curriculum.
Click the links below to connect with a group.
MANY GROUPS ARE PROMOTING GOOD GROWTH HABITS FOR OUR NC CITIES.
The following groups have been part of this web-based outreach.
