A term Steffan says he coined, "ruggedization," is something he believes all cities should be familiar with. And it means having a plan for failure, "being able to take a beating under a large degree of disaster," he said. Steffan cited another Phoenix-relatable example: "Many cities dramatically overbuilt for the auto and now we are seeing a reduction in that trend. People are wanting walkability. There is a shift from that dream house to the dream neighborhood, where they can walk to their stores and restaurants and nightlife. We can do this. We can create design solutions for this. If you use density right, you can change things for the better."

Steffan stressed that collaboration and innovation are key in changing the way cities are planned and built, and he emphasized working with the younger generations on solutions.

"The way to connect is through imagination. We need to build something new. Something that lasts and works," said Steffan. "What are you going to build with the next generation?"