San Francisco’s chief economist has estimated that it would be take another 100,000 units of housing to stabilize rents. However, physical and political constraints on the city’s built form make it difficult to find the space for this housing. The newest exhibition at the SPUR Urban Center, in partnership with the California College of the
What are the big planning issues facing our region today? Can we balance affordable housing, effective transportation and sustainable growth? Join the planning directors of San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland for a rare conversation about how our cities are planned and what lies ahead for the Bay Area's three central cities. + Rachel Flynn
With significant new housing developments planned across San Francisco by 2040, the expected population growth of families and children will significantly impact our public schools and their current capacity. How will the San Francisco Unified School District, and the city, plan for this anticipated increase in students in the near future? Myong Leigh / San
What makes a family choose to live in the city? One of the most important — and often missing — factors is quality housing suitable to a family’s needs. Can we make our housing family-friendly by design? Given that there are many ways to define a family in San Francisco, how can our housing reflect the
Many newer architectural practices in the Bay Area are establishing compelling trajectories in their work through the utilization of new thinking and innovative design mediums. How will these efforts shape the built future of our cities? In this two-part series, come hear these firms debate the links between research, practice and culture while challenging the
Currently under construction, the Transbay Transit Center will serve as a nexus for transit in the Bay Area. With more than 1 million square feet of space, 11 transportation systems and direct connections to the city around it, the facility is poised to become the “Grand Central Station of the West.” Join SPUR for a
While long-distance buses that head south from San Francisco to Silicon Valley have caught the media’s attention, growing tech companies within the city are also trying to solve transportation problems for their employees. Come learn about the solutions that these employers are developing, and how changes and investments in the city’s transportation system may be
Government services too often fail to put customers first, but a revolutionary movement is changing that, and recent legislation has created an opportunity for the government to reinvent workforce training at the state and local level. Join us to hear how a pioneer in the human-centered design movement is leading a redesign in how we
What is the future of the city’s buses and light rail? The SFMTA recently developed two new strategies: one that details what it will take for every San Franciscan to have access to a high level of light rail service, and one that looks at how Muni can better meet the needs of all of
SPUR is now in three cities: San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland! We invite SPUR members from all over the Bay Area to mingle at our three summer parties! The SPUR Member Parties reach across the Bay Area, bringing together a community of urbanists to celebrate city life — and SPUR! Our wildly popular parties offer a unique opportunity to meet
When we think about the workplace of the future, are we thinking about the right things? What if we expanded our imaginings to include things like artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing or even the influence of Star Wars? Join us for thinking well beyond the cubicle. + Allison Arieff / SPUR + Nicholas de
Zero Net Energy is hotter than a solar panel on a summer’s day. Homeowners have been putting photovoltaics on their rooftops for decades, but now that costs have dropped, schools are getting into the game. Find out how the San Francisco Unified School District plans to use solar power and other means to reduce its
