The 80th National Session of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design (MICD) took place March 19-21, 2025 in Long Beach, CA, hosted by Mayor Rex Richardson. The event convened seven mayors and seven design leaders in a collaborative workshop to discuss the most pressing design and development issues in each of their cities.

Seven experts in architecture, landscape architecture, arts and culture, transportation, urban planning, real estate development, and economic development joined the mayors for two and a half days of discussions at the Port of Long Beach Administration Building, exchanging ideas and offering pragmatic advice for each project. The participating mayors brought a range of projects to this session, seeking to address a wide array of challenges and opportunities through improvements to the built environment.

Throughout the session, mayors explored frameworks for catalyzing mixed-use redevelopment of legacy industrial and commercial districts, investing in a vibrant and connected public realm, uplifting local cultural assets for social and economic vibrancy, and designing for health and wellness. Participants left with strengthened aspirations and a new set of tools for leading with design.