Penn IUR Co-Director Eugénie L. Birch Receives International Planning History Society’s Highest Honor for Lifetime Achievement

PHILADELPHIA— The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) at the University of Pennsylvania congratulates Co-Director Eugénie L. Birch on receiving the 2026 Sir Peter Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement in Planning History, the highest honor bestowed by the International Planning History Society (IPHS) on Wednesday, July 22 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Presented biennially at the IPHS Conference, the Sir Peter Hall Award recognizes scholars whose lifetime body of work has fundamentally advanced the field of planning history while demonstrating its enduring relevance to contemporary planning policy and practice. Widely regarded as the Society's most prestigious distinction, the award honors sustained scholarly excellence, the breadth and quality of published research, influence on planning practice and policy and international impact.

Birch, the Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research and Education, Graduate Group Chair in City and Regional Planning at the Weitzman School of Design, and founding Co-Director of Penn IUR, has spent decades shaping the study of planning history while bridging historical scholarship with complex urban challenges, including sustainable development, housing, climate resilience, urban governance and global city diplomacy.

"Eugenie Birch’s powerful, persuasive, and considered approach to engaging with emerging and seasoned scholars reflects her character as a supportive colleague and as an acknowledged ambassador for values disseminated through planning and planning history," said Robert Freestone, Professor of Arts, Design and Architecture at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), who presented the award.

Over the course of her career, Birch has produced a distinguished body of scholarship spanning planning history, urban revitalization, global urbanization, sustainability, governance, and finance. Her work has combined rigorous historical analysis with practical insights for policymakers, helping establish planning history as an essential lens for addressing contemporary urban issues. She has authored and edited numerous books, journal articles, reports, and policy publications while also co-editing the University of Pennsylvania Press's City in the 21st Century series with Penn IUR Co-Director Susan Wachter of the Wharton School.

Beyond her scholarship, Birch has played a transformative leadership role within the planning profession. She previously served as President of the International Planning History Society, President of the Society for American City and Regional Planning History, President of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, Editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association, and Chair of the Planning Accreditation Board. Her public service has included membership on the New York City Planning Commission, leadership within UN-Habitat's World Urban Campaign, and service as President of the General Assembly of Partners supporting implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Today, she serves on the Executive Committee of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and as Co-Director of the Secretariat for the SDSN Global Commission on Urban SDG Finance.

The Sir Peter Hall Award adds to a distinguished list of honors Birch has received throughout her career, including the Lawrence C. Gerckens Award in Planning History, the Martin Meyerson Distinguished Educator Award, the Jay Chatterjee Award for Distinguished Service, the Margarita McCoy Award, the American Planning Association President's Award, and the Regional Plan Association's Above and Beyond Award. 

The International Planning History Society established the Sir Peter Hall Award in 2018 to recognize individuals whose published work has made exceptional contributions to international planning history scholarship. Previous recipients include Shun-ichi Watanabe (2018), Helen Meller (2020), Stephen Ward (2022), and Donatella Calabi (2024).

Penn IUR is a university-wide institute that advances interdisciplinary research, education, and public engagement on the most pressing challenges facing cities worldwide. Under Drs. Birch and Wachter’s leadership, Penn IUR has become an internationally recognized hub for scholarship that connects academic research with urban policy and practice across disciplines and continents.