Urban Planning

Visiting Scholar Bochuan Zhao
Ph.D. Candidate, Urban and Rural Planning, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University
Urban Development
Visiting Scholar Lu Ye
Professor, College of Architecture, Soochow University
Urban Development
News August 15, 2025 Eugenie L. Birch to receive the 2025 Above and Beyond Award from the Regional Plan Association RPA will recognize Dr. Birch for her many contributions to urban planning and policy here and abroad in October 2025.  Urban Development
Leslie Richards headshot crossed arms
Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards
Professor of Practice, City & Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design Founder and Director, Transportation Initiative at Penn
Leslie S. Richards is a Penn IUR Faculty Fellow, the former CEO and General Manager of SEPTA, and founder of the Transportation Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania (TRIP). Urban Development
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

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