The Century of Cities

J. Byron Brazier, lead developer of Woodlawn Central, joins The Century of Cities to share a powerful model for building cities with communities, not around them. Rooted in Chicago's South Side and shaped by a legacy of civil rights leadership, Byron reflects on how cities have moved from an era defined by human connection and hard-won social progress to one shaped by technology, design, and global visibility. 
Through the Woodlawn 2060 plan, Byron is redefining urban regeneration by placing ownership, culture, and economic participation back in the hands of residents. From mixed-income housing and local job creation to cultural districts and vertical farming, his approach challenges traditional development models that often lead to displacement. He shares that the future of cities depends on accountability at the community level, alignment across institutions, and a commitment to regeneration that builds wealth, identity, and opportunity across generations.

Ami Kotecha, Co-Founder and Group President at Amro Partners, joins The Century of Cities to trace the evolution of cities through the lens of migration, capital, and lived experience. Reflecting on her upbringing in Mumbai and her work across European markets, she describes the shift from cities shaped by scarcity and informality to today's global urban economies, where growth has been powered by talent, mobility, and relentless expansion.
Ami argues that the next phase of urban change will be defined not by growth, but by demographics. As population peaks and workforces age, cities must rethink how they sustain productivity, from designing healthier, more accessible environments to embracing migration as a long-term economic necessity. Her perspective is grounded and direct: resilience will depend on how well cities adapt to changing populations, support independence across the life cycle, and remain open to the flows of people and ideas that drive prosperity.

Lisette van Doorn, Former Chief Executive at Urban Land Institute Europe, joins The Century of Cities to explore how real estate has shifted from a local, owner-led activity to a global, highly financialized industry, and what that means for cities. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, she reflects on how global capital and new investment models have reshaped the built environment, unlocking growth while also creating distance between financial value and lived experience.
Lisette argues for a rebalancing, where buildings are seen not only as assets, but as the environments that shape daily life. As cities face climate risk, economic uncertainty, and rising complexity, she emphasizes the need for long-term thinking, better alignment between stakeholders, and a more holistic approach to value. Her message is clear: stronger collaboration and a shift beyond short-term returns are essential to building more resilient, inclusive cities.

The Century of Cities welcomes Sowmya Parthasarathy, an Architect and Urban Designer leading Arup's Masterplanning and Urban Design team in London, who examines how city planning has shifted from centralized, top-down systems toward more people-centred and regenerative approaches. Drawing on her experience in 1980s New Delhi and her work across the UK, US, Middle East, and India, she reflects on how rapid urbanization outpaced planning capacity, and how climate risk and housing affordability now define urban priorities.
Looking to 2080, she argues that cities must move beyond net zero toward regenerative models that align human and natural systems. Drawing on her work with the UK's New Towns Task Force, she explores densification, retrofit, and the role of new towns, emphasizing that long-term success depends on integrating housing, infrastructure, placemaking, and stewardship into a single, sustained civic vision.

The Century of Cities welcomes Chris Fair, futurist and President & CEO of Resonance, who explores how cities are moving beyond a single model of the "global city" toward more divergent forms of urban development. Drawing on decades of research and the evaluation of hundreds of cities worldwide, he reflects on how places once shaped by globalization are now differentiating through culture, governance, and lived experience. From Copenhagen's reinvention to the contrasting trajectories of São Paulo and Toronto, the discussion highlights the growing gap between performance and perception, and why it matters.
Chris challenges conventional approaches to city branding, reframing it as civic identity grounded in authenticity, institutional capacity, and local aspiration. He argues that cities at different stages of growth or decline face distinct priorities, from placemaking and infrastructure to institutional alignment. As urbanization fragments across regions, the cities best positioned for the future will be those that clearly understand who they are, what they offer, and how to turn identity into long-term opportunity.