Molly O'Neill Robinson
Career-line Instructor, University of Utah, College of Architecture & Planning
Department of City & Metropolitan Planning
Molly O’Neill Robinson is an urban designer and planner, founder of MOR Design & Planning, and a career-line instructor at the University of Utah’s College of Architecture and Planning. With nine years leading Salt Lake City’s urban design efforts, she spearheaded the Downtown Plan, reframing public engagement to include previously marginalized communities and establishing urban policy that supports downtown as a vibrant, livable neighborhood. Previously, she worked with award-winning teams at OLIN and Sasaki and holds an MS in Planning from the University of British Columbia and a BS in Natural Resource Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the editor of the forthcoming Routledge Handbook of Urban Design Practice (2025), which brings together global voices to reimagine the future of urban design.
Session(s):
Take Back the Streets: Reimagining Streets as Public Space »
2025 APA UT Fall Conference, October 10, 2025 1:45 pmPublic streets are our most abundant shared spaces—but are they serving people or just vehicles? Join us for a walking tour of Salt Lake City’s downtown to explore how streets are being reclaimed as civic and social space. Through on-the-ground examples, including the SLC Green Loop and Main Street pedestrianization project, participants will examine how the city is rethinking the right-of-way to better support community life. A collaborative exercise challenges participants to reimagine a street, considering real-world constraints (e.g., fire access, utility conflicts, funding limitations) and exploring ideas that support public life.
Trees are Infrastructure Too: How to Plan Ahead Before They’re Gone »
2025 APA UT Fall Conference, October 10, 2025 11:30 amIn cities across Utah, cities are cutting down mature trees due to reactive planning, policy gaps, or infrastructure conflicts. This session explores how to prevent those losses by treating trees as essential infrastructure, worthy of preservation, coordination, and long-range investment. We’ll open with a fast-paced “Winners & Losers” game to see who wins when trees clash with development. A spotlight on a recent case of tree loss in Logan, Utah, will challenge attendees to test tree-protection policies and planning efforts. Panelists will offer real-world strategies for embedding tree protection into zoning, engineering, and long-range plans.
A Way Forward: Urban Design Roles, Tools, and Imaginations »
2025 APA UT Fall Conference, October 9, 2025 1:45 pmUrban design practice is changing rapidly, and planners are part of that shift. This session explores the expanding definition of the “urban designer” to include planners, policymakers, data scientists, and community advocates. Panelists will share how they’re integrating regenerative design, DEI commitments, and emerging technologies to harness the power of public imagination in shaping future-ready cities. Participants will reflect on their roles as “indirect designers” and consider how their work informs the design of the city, whether through zoning, infrastructure investment, or community engagement. It’s time to embrace design as a shared responsibility—and a powerful tool for change.
= Keynote
