He received his first architectural commission at age 19 when he was selected to design the new wing of the Abdin Palace in Cairo by Tewfik Pasha.

Urban studied architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna under Karl von Hasenauer.

His many designs provided the opera company with a cohesive production style throughout the tenure of General Manager Giulio Gatti-Casazza.

Urban went to work creating a stunning night-club with glass balconies, a moving stage, and rainbow lighting effects.

Urban had success after success in his creating of the Follies' sets, and William Randolph Hearst, a media tycoon, took notice and wanted to hire Urban to work on his films starring Marion Davies, his mistress, and previous Follies starlet.

Urban died July 10, 1933, of a heart attack at his apartment at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan, where he had been convalescing following surgery in May.