Urban Planning

Nov 10 2025 Past Event Overbuilt: Book Talk and Conversation with Erick Guerra Speakers:  Erick Guerra Urban Development
Fellow in Urban Leadership Jeremy Morton
Penn IUR Fellow in Urban Leadership
Urban Development
Annual Report August 6, 2025 Ideas, Inquiry, & Impact: Celebrating 20 Years of Urban Research Penn IUR is pleased to announce its 2024-2025 Penn IUR Annual Report, Ideas, Inquiry, & Impact: Celebrating 20 Years of Urban Research Urban Development
Article May 22, 2025 Doctoral Symposium Celebrates New Urban Research at Penn The Penn Institute for Urban Research celebrated the university’s urban scholars at the 18th Annual Urban Doctoral Symposium & Poster session, highlighting the dissertation work of three newly minted urban PhDs. Urban Development
Headshot of affiliated scholar Stephanie Rivera-Kumar
Affiliated PhD Student Stephanie Rivera-Kumar
City and Regional Planning Ph.D. Candidate and Fontaine Fellow, University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design
Urban Development
Research Paper April 23, 2025 Integrating Urban and Subnational Priorities into Country Platforms: Strengthening Global Commitments Climate Change & Resilience State & Local Finance
Article April 14, 2025 Seventh Annual Jeremy Nowak Memorial Lecture Reunites Founders to Reflect on Roots of Mission-Driven Finance The Seventh Annual Jeremy Nowak Memorial Lecture—hosted by the Reinvestment Fund and the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR)—reunited the founders of the Reinvestment Fund to reflect on the powerful relationships, social movements, and vision that laid its foundation. Urban Development
Apr 25 2025 Past Event 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum: Urban Leadership for the 21st Century Speakers:  Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr Patrick Harker Enrique Peñalosa Urban Development
Article March 26, 2025 Urban Perspectives in Practice: Fellows in Urban Leadership Visit Washington, D.C. Penn IUR’s Urban Research Fellows traveled to Washington, D.C. for a day-long, immersive experience exploring the intersection of urban policy, advocacy, and community development.  Urban Development
Article March 26, 2025 John MacDonald on Addressing Abandoned Housing to Improve Public Safety John MacDonald's article, “Lessons Learned from a Citywide Abandoned Housing Experiment,” offers valuable insights into the relationship between the built environment and community wellbeing. Housing
Article March 26, 2025 Navigating Uncertainty in Federal Transportation Policy With significant policy reversals, staffing cuts, and the suspension of previously awarded federal funds, cities are being forced to reconsider how they plan, finance, and operate public transportation. State & Local Finance
News March 19, 2025 Highway to Hell: Inside PennDOT’s Plan to Widen I-95 Through South Philly Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Erick Guerra was featured in Philadelphia Magazine speaking about the upcoming I-95 expansion. Urban Development
Apr 11 2025 Past Event Seventh Annual Nowak Memorial Lecture | Founding Visions: A Journey of Collaboration and Impact Speakers:  Patricia L. Smith Eva Gladstein Joyce Wilkerson Dr. Katherine O’Regan Urban Development
Article February 26, 2025 Megan Ryerson on Resilient, Environmentally-efficient Transportation Megan Ryerson's scholarship examines the interplay between transportation networks, urban development, energy efficiency and resilience. Urban Development
Announcement February 26, 2025 Photo Contest | Gather: The Power of Place-based Connection The Penn Institute for Urban Research invites photographers and visual storytellers worldwide to participate in our ninth annual photo contest, Gather: The Power of Place-based Connection.  Urban Development
Mar 18 2025 Past Event Special Briefing: The Future of Mass Transportation under Trump and the GOP Speakers:  Kurt Forsgren David Greising Randy Iwasaki Leslie Richards Polly Trottenberg Eugénie L. Birch William Glasgall State & Local Finance
Research Paper February 6, 2025 Megapolitan America Revisited: Demographic Trends to 2040 This report updates Nelson and Lang’s original analysis to provide demographic projections for all 23 megapolitan areas through 2040. This information, in turn, should be used by policymakers and planners to inform decisions about infrastructure investments, economic development opportunities, and housing demands. Arthur C. Nelson David Damore Urban Development Housing
Apr 24 2025 Past Event Opportunities & Challenges of Climate Action Planning in Indian Cities: A Case of Mumbai City Speakers:  Lubaina Rangwala Climate Change & Resilience Urban Development
Affiliated PhD Student Shengao Yi
PhD Student, City & Regional Planning
Climate Change & Resilience Urban Development
Article November 18, 2024 Dennis Culhane on The Emerging Crisis of Aged Homelessness Dennis Culhane’s current research examines the relationship between homelessness and the aging of the “Baby Boom” cohort. Dennis Culhane Housing

Don’t miss the latest from Penn IUR. Subscribe to Urban Link.

Providing expert commentary on urban topics and highlighting Penn IUR's research in the context of pressing urban issues.

scholarly voices cover dark blue with light blue lines
Urban Scholarship Penn Scholars Inspiring Urban Policy
greening vacant lots PHS
From Research to Action Philadelphia’s Green Transformation
2025 urban leadership awardees with president jameson
Celebrating Urban Leadership 2025 Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize Winners