Why UrbanPlan?

Where and how will we live, work, shop, and commute impacts the character and vibrancy of our neighborhoods. Yet, our students are rarely educated about the interactions of local government with our market economy, and how these forces join to create the built environment — the foundation for any informed land use discussion. Our program provides our future leaders with the necessary skills and understanding to meet the challenges of accommodating growth and improving quality of life. That’s the power of UrbanPlan.

UrbanPlan is implemented in three formats, for three unique audiences.

• High Schools: through a 15 class-hour project-based learning curriculum unit for high school juniors and seniors in economics and government classes. Student development teams respond to an RFP to redevelop a 5 ½ block site from a mythical city. Through the process, they discover the dynamic fundamental challenges of development – how the forces of our market economy clash and collaborate with the forces of our representative democracy to create the built environment.

• Universities: through a 12-15 class-hour project-based learning curriculum unit for undergraduate or graduate students typically in land use focused disciplines: urban planning, real estate, architecture, urban design, law, etc. Student development teams respond to an RFP to redevelop a 5 ½ block site from a mythical city. Through the process, they discover the dynamic fundamental challenges of development – how the forces of our market economy clash and collaborate with the forces of our representative democracy to create the built environment.

• Public Officials: through one-day, hands-on  workshops, which are ideal for local decision makers who would like to learn more about the fundamental forces that shape and affect the built environment and the important leadership roles that elected and appointed officials play in the real estate development process.