One of the central formats of the Academy is the annual ACROSS Placemaking Safari — a curated executive experience tour designed to explore innovative retail and mixed-use destinations directly on site.
Each Safari focuses on projects that illustrate different approaches to placemaking, repositioning and destination development. Through guided visits and discussions with developers, operators and industry experts, participants gain insight into the strategic thinking behind these environments.
The 2026 Placemaking Safari is planned for November 2026 and will bring together a small group of developers, landlords, retailers and industry leaders to examine some of the city’s most transformative retail environments and next-generation concepts.
The three-day program combines project visits, presentations by developers and operators, keynote talks and curated networking opportunities.
