Breakout Builders: Future of Cities
100 National & Local Catalysts.
Building the future of cities, together.
November 11 - 13, 2026
Breakout Builders: Future of Cities is a multi-day experience for community innovators focused on the economic and real estate development ecosystem.
We are bringing together developers, investors & philanthropic funders, entrepreneurs, cultural workers, community builders, and innovation leaders working to build thriving communities.
Through city-wide site visits, hands-on working sessions, and intimate dinners, attendees get access to Atlanta’s most innovative spaces and people.
Why Atlanta?
Atlanta is undergoing one of the most ambitious waves of infrastructure and mixed-use development in the country. Capital, policy, technology, and community converge in this city that is changing right before our eyes.
Atlanta creates culture. From civil rights to hip-hop to entrepreneurship, this city has always exported the ideas, movements, and models the rest of the world adopts. That same energy drives how Atlanta builds.
In Atlanta, legacy industry, cutting-edge research, and local innovation come together to test new models that other cities can learn from.
OUR PARTNERS
FOCUS AREAS
01
Innovation in capital deployment
02
Transit-oriented and affordable housing development
03
Investment in arts, culture, and placemaking
04
AI/ Technology solutions for communities
What to Expect
❋ Curated & Mission-driven
Breakout Builders: Future of Cities is a multi-day, cross-sector experience that explores the intersection of community, development, and innovation for the public good. By bringing the full economic development ecosystem together in shared space and amplifying emerging voices shaping our cities, we can break down the walls that keep industries apart.
❋ Immersive & Action-oriented
We blend ideation sessions, city-based exploration, storytelling, and skills-based workshops, accelerating real projects and fostering lasting connections with other builders.
❋ Expert Facilitation
Led by industry experts, community leaders, and experienced guides who know how to hold space, encourage participation, and keep things moving with purpose.
❋ Open & Intersdisciplinary
Breakout is a platform for collaboration across organizations, sectors, and communities. We surface and support projects that can grow, connecting grassroots builders with national funders, and local leaders with new partners.
What a Day Could Feel LikeSample Agenda
Pullman Yards welcome in a former railroad repair facility turned cultural venue along the BeltLine.
KickoffState of Development & PPP with Brian McGowan of Centennial Yards.
Group ActivityHalf-day immersion at…
Center for Civic Innovation, with CCI’s fellows workshopping what it takes to develop a healthy community.
Tour Georgia Tech’s Kendeda Building, Georgia’s first Living Building Challenge project, to explore bringing regenerative design to neighborhoods.
Westside Atlanta and the Guild to explore strategic investments made into affordable housing, workforce training, and guaranteed income programs.
Castleberry Hill walkthrough with Russell Development and ZuCot Gallery on missing middle development and art in place.
Choose Your Own Adventure Hosted dinners across the city with the people building Atlanta from the inside out, like Tim Barrett Designs and Huagabrooks Art Gallery.
DinnerFrequently Asked Questions
“Where entrepreneurs and leaders create change. This conference was less conference and more a meeting of the minds that empowered you to be the change you want to see in the world.”
— Forbes