MCD Great Books 2026

How do we build cities that flourish in a world of constant change?

On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, we are hosting special edition of the MCD Great Books event. We are pleased to welcome internationally renowned urban strategist Arun Jain to TU Delft for a presentation. This includes an exploration of the background and origins of his newest book: Reframing Cities for Resilience: Embracing Complex & Uncertain Futures as well as an open discussion with other urban development professionals. 

Arun Jain is a multidisciplinary urban designer and strategist with over four decades of experience across professional practice, academia, institutions, city executive roles, and the UN. His professional contributions span 165 cities across 46 countries, impacting over 90 public and private sector urban development projects. Arun enjoys cooking and is an avid collector of books and music. 

Why is static planning no longer as effective as it once was, and how do we create room for adaptation? What can we learn from biology and behavioral sciences for urban design? And how can we strengthen the roles of finance and governance to support both the physical and social foundations of the city? During this event, we will join Arun Jain to explore radical resilience, interdisciplinary thinking, and strategic investment linked to urban restructuring.

The MCD Great Books is a gathering for all urban development professionals who wish to dive deep into the subject. The personal presence of Arun Jain offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with the author about the complex challenges we face in the Netherlands. This event is a collaboration between the MCD program, the 'MCD Kennisnetwerk', and the Stichting Kennis Gebiedsontwikkeling.

Featured speaker

Evening programme

Walk-in - 18:00 - 19:00

Keynote & Discussion - 19:00 - 20:30

Debrief - 20:30 - 21:30

Breakout

Pulse - TU Delft (Building 33)

Landbergstraat 19

2628 CE

Delft

Parking P1 TU Delft (Van der Waalsweg 1, 2628 CH Delft)