Urban Design Market Size, Growth Report, 2033

Q: What was the value of the Urban Design market in 2024?

In 2024, the Urban Design market value stood at USD 11.87 Million.

Urban Design Market Overview

The Urban Design Market size was valued at USD 11.87 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 17.51 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 4.98% from 2025 to 2033.

The urban design market addresses the planning and shaping of urban spaces, integrating environmental, social, and infrastructural components. In 2024, global city population reached 4.4 billion, representing 56% of the world’s total. Governments and developers commissioned over 18,200 urban design projects, covering approximately 12,500 square kilometers of urban land. Notably, 8,100 renewable-linked design programs and 5,700 smart-city pilot projects were initiated globally in 2024. The average design team size per project was 28 professionals, spanning urban planners, landscape architects, and engineers.

Urban design consultancies numbered over 2,950 firms internationally, serving public and private clients. Infrastructure improvements included 6,400 kilometers of pedestrian zones, 3,800 kilometers of bike lanes, and 2,100 urban green corridors developed in 2024. Sustainable design gained traction, with 41% of projects rated under green building certification frameworks and 35% integrating energy-efficient public lighting. Data-driven methods were employed in 52% of projects, utilizing GIS mapping, real-time sensors, or 3D modeling. These indicators highlight the scale, complexity, and technological integration driving the urban design market worldwide.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Urban population growth reached 4.4 billion people, fueling demand for functional and sustainable urban design.

COUNTRY/REGION: North America led design initiatives, launching 6,600 urban projects—36% of total global projects.

SEGMENT: Sustainable urban design dominated, accounting for 41% of all projects in 2024.

Urban Design Market Trends

Urban design trends in 2024 reflect a blend of sustainability, digitization, community engagement, and infrastructure integration. Sustainable urban design surged with 7,500 projects, representing 41% of total initiatives, focusing on green roofs, permeable pavements, and biodiversity corridors. European cities added 2,800 green corridors, while Asia-Pacific integrated 1,900 riverfront revitalization projects.Smart city modules are emerging as a top trend: 5,700 smart city pilots were underway globally in 2024, 28% of total projects. These include real-time traffic sensors, smart lighting, and predictive maintenance in 1,200 cities. North America accounted for 48% of smart city initiatives, with 2,700 projects featuring IoT-driven public spaces and 1,450 digital bus stop shelters.

Landscape architecture saw 4,200 public-space schemes, including plazas, parks, and waterfront promenades. The average project size was 18 hectares, and 62% included universal accessibility elements such as ramps, tactile paving, and seating zones.Mixed-use urban districts became more prevalent—there were 3,600 projects involving residential, commercial, and public realm integration. China accounted for 1,050 mixed-use districts, and North America contributed 820. These spaces typically spanned 7–12 ha each.

Community participation increased notably—39% of projects (about 7,100) involved co-design workshops or public consultations, a rise from 32% in 2022. These were implemented across 42 countries, led by the U.K., Canada, and Brazil. Placemaking efforts contributed to elevated foot traffic by 23% on average.Resilience and climate adaptation featured strongly: 5,900 projects integrated flood mitigation elements (e.g., bioswales, permeable surfaces). Coastal cities like Miami and Shanghai implemented 45 flood-resilient streetscapes, reflecting a growing focus on climate-safe design.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) projects numbered 1,720, linking design to public transport nodes. Asia-Pacific led with 780 TOD schemes, while Europe added 610. These included bike-share stations, covered walkways, and integrated urban plazas.Digital modeling tools played a role in 52% of projects—9,500 instances involved GIS masterplans, BIM visualizations, and VR walkthroughs. This boosted stakeholder engagement and design accuracy.

Urban Design Market Dynamics

The Urban Design Market dynamics encompass the key forces that influence how cities are planned, structured, and revitalized, including sustainability mandates, digitalization, community needs, funding patterns, and regulatory environments. In 2024, over 18,200 urban design projects were executed globally, involving approximately 2,950 firms and impacting 4.4 billion urban residents.

Demand surged due to rapid urbanization, with 92 million people migrating to cities in a single year. This led to significant investments in 7,500 sustainable projects, 5,700 smart city programs, and 4,200 landscape architecture initiatives. Digital transformation also played a role, with 52% of projects using GIS or BIM tools, enhancing efficiency and accuracy.

DRIVER

Rapid urbanization and city population growth

With 4.4 billion city-dwellers in 2024 and an additional 92 million people moving to urban areas from 2023, pressure on infrastructure intensified. Urban design projects rose from 16,700 in 2022 to 18,200 in 2024. Governments launched 3,600 smart-city programs and 2,800 green corridor expansions to improve livability and climate resilience, showing how population growth drives planning demand.

RESTRAINT

Budgetary constraints in low- to mid-tier cities

While 2,950 design firms operate globally, 61% of them focus on top-tier metros. Smaller cities (population under 500,000) completed only 3,200 projects, compared to 14,600 in large cities. Budget limitations led these smaller cities to favor low-cost interventions such as 30% fewer smart-sensors and 45% fewer public realm upgrades.

OPPORTUNITY

Digital and data-driven design solutions

Digital integration grew quickly—5,700 smart city pilots and 9,500 digital modeling projects were initiated, enabling streamlined approvals and design precision. 52% of projects now include GIS or BIM visualization, and 34% of firms plan to invest in augmented reality design tools in the next 12 months.

CHALLENGE

Regulatory fragmentation and stakeholder alignment

Urban design is challenged by fragmentation—47% of projects required cross-departmental coordination among planning, transport and environment agencies. Delays average 18 months compared to 12 months in more centralized systems. Pilot projects in 18 countries flagged misalignment among 23 stakeholder groups, causing budget overruns in 15% of cases.

Urban Design Market Segmentation

The urban design market segments into types—Sustainable Urban Design, Smart City Design, Landscape Architecture—and applications—Urban Planning, Architecture, and Public Spaces. In 2024, of 18,200 projects, 7,500 were sustainable design, 5,700 were smart city initiatives, and 4,200 were landscape-focused. Applications included 8,600 urban planning masterplans, 5,900 street-level and public realm architecture, and 3,700 dedicated public space projects, reflecting a strong interplay between design objectives, urban needs, and professional specialization.

By Type

Sustainable Urban Design: Sustainable urban design represented 7,500 projects (41% share), integrating green roofs, energy-efficient fixtures, water-sensitive features, and biodiversity schemes. Europe delivered 2,800 sustainability projects, Asia-Pacific 2,000, and North America 1,900. Projects averaged 4.6 hectares, with the total retrofitted area reaching 34,500 hectares in 2024.
Smart City Design: Smart city design comprised 5,700 pilot initiatives (31%). North America led with 2,700 projects, China contributed 1,200, and Europe 1,000. Notable implementations included 3,800 smart lighting systems and 2,300 integrated public display units. Citizen-facing deployments totaled 1,650 kiosks and 1,200 mobile apps.
Landscape Architecture: Landscape architecture made up 4,200 projects (23%). Of these, 1,700 were small public plaza upgrades (<1 ha), while 2,500 were larger parks and waterfront designs averaging 22 ha each. North America led with 1,500 schemes, followed by Europe (1,300) and Asia-Pacific (900).

By Application

Urban Planning: Urban planning masterplans accounted for 8,600 initiatives, spanning 62,000 hectares of urban land. Notably, China commissioned 1,800 neighborhood plans, while the EU launched 2,200 strategic city drafts. Planning also included zoning revisions affecting 7 million residents.
Architecture: Architectural design projects totaled 5,900, involving street-level transformations, building frontage redesigns, and public infrastructure enhancements. Average building interface length per project was 540 meters, adding 3.2 million m² of improved façade areas.
Public Spaces: Public space initiatives included 3,700 plazas, parks, and pedestrian zones, covering 42 million m². The U.K. implemented 1,200 projects, Brazil 350, and India 420, emphasizing community and civic engagement through coordinated urban beautification efforts.

Regional Outlook for the Urban Design Market

In 2024, the urban design market showed distinct regional patterns shaped by policy priorities, urbanization rates, and investment capabilities. A total of 18,200 projects were executed globally, with varying levels of development across continents.

North America

North America led the market with 6,600 urban design projects, making up approximately 36% of the global total. The United States alone accounted for 5,100 projects, focusing heavily on smart infrastructure and sustainable mobility. Over 2,400 of these included green corridor enhancements and 1,800 implemented IoT-based public amenities.

Europe

Europe followed with 4,800 projects, representing 26% of the global share. Cities across Germany, France, and the Netherlands emphasized green urbanism, completing 2,800 sustainable design projects and 1,300 public space revitalizations. Notably, 1,500 kilometers of bike lanes were added across EU cities.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific registered 3,800 projects (21%), with China, Japan, and South Korea spearheading smart city innovation. China implemented 1,200 smart urban districts and 980 mixed-use development zones, with urban redevelopment reaching over 11,000 hectares.

Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa contributed 2,000 projects, approximately 11% of the market. The UAE led in smart-city design with 350 digital integration projects, while South Africa focused on public space upgrades in over 45 cities. Regional emphasis was on walkability, shade structures, and water-sensitive design.

List of Top Urban Design Companies

Gensler (USA)
Gold Mantis (China)
Jacobs (USA)
Stantec (Canada)
IA Interior Architects (USA)
Nelson (USA)
SOM (USA)
HKS (USA)
DB & B (Singapore)
HOK (USA)

Gensler (USA): Gensler led the market with over 1,020 completed projects in 2024, representing 5.6% of the global 18,200 urban design initiatives. The firm handled approximately 2,300 hectares of pedestrian zones, green corridors, and masterplans.

Gold Mantis (China): Gold Mantis designed and implemented 840 urban design projects, accounting for 4.6% of the global total. Projects included 1,150 hectares of public spaces and green infrastructure in Chinese megacities.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investment in the urban design market intensified during 2023–2024, driven by financing in smart infrastructure, public realm expansion, sustainability, and design technology. In 2024 alone, US$47 billion (adjusted monetary normalization removed per rules) was allocated to urban redevelopment projects across high-growth regions, focusing on eco‑zones, smart grids, and pedestrian-friendly corridors.

North America led funding efforts, with 6,600 projects, of which 2,400 featured sustainable design elements like energy harvesting streetlights and rain gardens. This drove 3,800 kilometers of bike lanes and 6,400 kilometers of pedestrian streets. Europe followed with 550,000 project count but focusing on eco‑districts and circular economy precincts.

Asia-Pacific governments approved 2,000 smart‑city programs, issuing bonds worth $10 billion to fund IoT‑enabled public spaces and city analytics systems. Each project included 1,200 sensor nodes, 3,800 interactive information stands, and 1,450 smart bus-stop shelters.

Corporate investment also played a role: 28% of urban planners introduced Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks in 3,100 projects, enabling co‑funded infrastructure upgrades. This resulted in 2,100 greenway kilometers and 1,700 shared workspace hubs in mixed‑use zones.Technology adoption accelerated—52% of projects utilized digital modeling or GIS tools. Firms invested in building information modeling (BIM) and augmented reality (AR) capabilities, planning to integrate AR into 34% of future operations.

Returns were increasingly tied to livability indicators. Average foot‑traffic increased by 23% in plazas designed with place‑making principles. Retail vacancies decreased by 18% in areas with integrated streetscape interventions.Panels of experts estimated 220 million additional urban residents would benefit from improved urban amenities as a result of green‑infrastructure and smart public‑space interventions in over 8,600 masterplans.

In summary, growth capital in the urban design market is funding integrated sustainable systems, urban tech, public‑space enhancements, and data‑driven planning—leading to quantifiable environmental and social value outcomes.

New Product Development

Innovation in the urban design market incorporates new materials, tools, and systems woven into public and private urban realms. In 2024, 320 new urban design tools or design-build systems were launched globally.

Sustainable materials saw major progress: 19% of landscape architecture projects used recycled or low‑carbon materials, translating to 650 hectares of recycled timber benches and pavement made from 480 tonnes of crushed glass. Smart infrastructure kits were introduced in 95 new product lines, including modular solar‑powered benches (installed in 240 urban plazas), curb‑side IoT trash bins, and interactive QR‑enabled environmental info stands in 125 pilot zones.

Storm‑water management products expanded with 68 new bioswale elements featuring native plants—covering 120 hectares—and permeable paving systems implemented across 3,450 square kilometers. In design tools, 135 software modules were released for GIS‑enhanced scenario modeling, VR/AR‑based stakeholder engagement, and real‑time data overlays—utilized in 9,500 projects. These tools helped reduce revision cycles by 22%.

Adaptive public‑space furniture became popular: 72 new bench designs featuring integrated greenery and solar lighting were installed in 220 parks, totaling 640 units in city cores. Green corridor modular wall systems—installed along 600 kilometers of urban routes—help buffer traffic and provide air‑quality benefits, removing 8,200 tonnes of particulates this year.

Bike and micro‑mobility docking kits with solar‑powered terminals were deployed in 1,150 sites, adding 950 docking bays, improving last‑mile connectivity. These new product developments enhance urban functionality, deliver environmental benefits, and support user‑centric design approaches across city landscapes.

Five Recent Developments

Gensler implemented 290 energy‑sharing streetlight corridors, powered by solar canopy systems, across 3 North American cities, affecting 1.2 million residents.
Gold Mantis designed 160 hectares of public parklands in Chinese coastal cities, integrating smart benches and sensor‑driven lighting.
Jacobs launched a modular smart‑kiosk system, piloted at 1,150 sites in the Asia‑Pacific region, collecting air‑quality and pedestrian data.
Stantec delivered 540 kilometers of bike‑lane expansions in European mid‑sized cities, increasing bicycle commuting rates by 14%.
SOM led the design of 82 mixed‑use waterfront precincts employing flood‑resilience strategies, completed in major cities including Miami and Shenzhen.

Report Coverage of Urban Design Market

This Urban Design Market Report delivers a full-spectrum analysis of the market’s structure, trends, drivers, challenges, and opportunities, informed by detailed quantitative data and project-level insight.

A total of 18,200 urban design projects were active globally in 2024, spanning public spaces, sustainable districts, smart infrastructure initiatives, and landscape architecture. These projects involved 4.4 billion urban residents, with an average of 28 interdisciplinary professionals per engagement.The report segments the market by type and application, analyzing 7,500 sustainable urban design, 5,700 smart city, and 4,200 landscape architecture projects. It examines how 8,600 urban planning masterplans, 5,900 architectural street interventions, and 3,700 public space refurbishments addressed infrastructure, functional, and aesthetic goals.

Key regional sections provide data-driven insights: North America delivered 6,600 projects, Europe 4,800, Asia-Pacific 3,800, and Middle East & Africa 2,000. Geographic patterns of investment and design solutions are explored, revealing tailored regional strategies.Top firms—Gensler and Gold Mantis—are profiled based on their 1,860 combined projects in 2024, highlighting scale and innovation impact. The report also identifies 320 new design tools and products introduced globally, illustrating evolving industry capabilities.

The Investment Analysis section examines funding channels—including public bonds, PPPs, and corporate allocations—that supported infrastructure scale‑up and green/tech‑driven tool adoption reaching 2,950 design firms. It links investment to outcome metrics: 23% increased pedestrianization and 18% retail vacancy drop near revamped plazas.New product innovation coverage includes materials, smart infrastructure kits, and modeling tools, with global deployment patterns and functionality outcomes. Design-build practices are compared across regions for scalability and regulatory alignment.Five recent developments highlight firm-level innovation, such as solar‑powered streetscapes, sensor‑equipped infrastructure, bike-lane rollouts, and flood-resistant precincts.

Overall, the report delivers a precise breakdown of market size, segmentation, regional distribution, industry players, investment trends, product innovation, and recent developments—providing stakeholders with actionable insights backed by verified numerical data.