As we wrap up an eventful year, I have some positive news to share with you. Starting in the current 2024-25 academic year, two new required courses – replacing two previous ones – further highlight the MSUP program’s long-standing focus on social justice as an important value in the planning process across different spatial scales of urban change, and our increasing strength in critical applications of urban technologies and their intersections with planning institutions. The two new courses are Urban Political Economy; Urban Technologies, Innovations, and Planning Institutions. In addition, to retain the function of the concentrations but also to stay responsive to emerging issues of the time, we are now using a more agile structure in the form of curriculum clusters. Each cluster is a group of related electives, similar to concentration courses; presenting a set of clusters to students each semester during registration periods continues to help students in making course selections.

Beyond the curriculum, it’s exciting to launch an exchange program with the Bartlett School of Planning (BSP) at University College London, as well as a new dual-degree program between MSUP and MSCDP (Computational Design Practices), GSAPP’s newest master’s program. Each Spring, up to four (4) first-year students in the MSUP program can participate in the exchange program to study for one term at BSP, a comprehensive and globally oriented school. Academically, such students consider what the MSUP program requires and what’s available at BSP. In particular, they will gain the same kind of competency in key knowledge areas and tools covered in required MSUP courses. Reciprocally, select second-year students from BSP’s MPlan program will be studying here in the MSUP program during the Spring semester.

Best wishes for a restful holiday season,

Weiping

A big welcome goes to our new adjuncts who joined us this Fall: Regina Myer, Chief Executive Officer of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership; Michael Perles, Senior Project Manager at Public Housing Network; and Emily Tolbert, Planner at BFJ. In Spring 2025, more colleagues will be joining us as adjunct faculty: David Gilford, Head of Policy and Strategic Partnerships, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners; Amelia Guise, City Storage Systems Real Estate Development; and Clarence Radin, Principal, Hudson Point Partners.

For the Spring, we will have several new and reimagined courses:

Built Environment Disruption: Partnerships and Urban Technology, Kate Wittels and David Gilford

How can city builders leverage the benefits and minimize the negative externalities of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to build more attractive, equitable, and dynamic places? And how can tech companies best engage city leaders, developers, and the public as they seek to shape the urban built environment? Catering to both aspiring policymakers and budding entrepreneurs, this course provides a high-intensity introduction to the challenges and opportunities of technological innovation in cities. Over the course of the semester, students will engage with academic perspectives on the social, economic, historical, and political dimensions of “smart cities” and “urban tech,” as well as lectures from industry leaders and practitioners on how technology is shaping the way we live, work, consume, and play in cities. The class is organized into three parts. First, the course will establish key themes and concepts, including the role of innovation in local economic development, the diverse nature of partnerships between cities and tech companies, and the range of actors involved in fostering innovation ecosystems. Second, the course will explore how tech companies are disrupting the specific asset classes – from the home to the workplace – that comprise urban real estate markets. In closing, the course will zoom out to explore how urban systems – from city streets to broadband infrastructure – are being reshaped by new technologies and the evolving demands of 21st century city dwellers. Throughout, we will interrogate the implications for diversity, equity, and democracy in the city, as well as how rapid changes such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread adoption of AI are accelerating or disrupting relevant economic and demographic trends.

Real Estate Finance and Development, Amelia Guise and Clarence Radin

This course explores the process of transforming concepts into tangible real estate developments. It delves into how to assemble and coordinate the key resources—people, materials, finances, and regulatory frameworks—necessary for successful real estate projects. The curriculum is structured around the stages of development, starting with market analysis and identifying gaps, needs, or opportunities within a city. The course also covers financial feasibility, including an in-depth analysis of the financial mechanisms involved in development—from understanding the capital stack to structures such as REITs. A significant focus will be placed on how to interpret and create financial reports for real estate projects. While the coursework is largely centered on New York, case studies will be incorporated to highlight the challenges and opportunities in real estate development in different geographies.

Urban Political Economy, Tom Slater

This course scans and explores some salient features of social division, inequality, and troubling transformation in a range of metropolitan contexts. Each session will be anchored by major readings, supported by an assortment of books and articles that are discussed and dissected with a view towards identifying the strengths and weaknesses of contending perspectives on urban inequality. As we proceed, we probe the parameters, weigh the concepts, and scope the concerns of contemporary urban studies, asking 1) what is distinctive about it as a form of inquiry and consciousness, 2) what it contributes to our understanding of deeply unequal urban conditions, and 3) what planners might do to contribute to the collective goal of achieving social justice in urban contexts.

Urban Technologies, Innovations, and Planning Institutions, Anthony Vanky

Planning interventions evolve, and technological change increasingly intersects with that evolution. This course examines how existing planning laws and institutional interactions are (in)adequate in light of technological change. It also considers how emerging urban technologies may disrupt traditional planning. We will identify the opportunities, challenges, and discontents related to novel practices and shifting institutional relationships. Framing the course discussions is an examination of the interactions between three primary groups—the government (public sector, policymakers, and politicians), capital (private sector), and citizens—and related institutions. For instance, the emergence of new actors through the use of digital technology has changed how the provisioning of urban infrastructure is realized. Together, we will consider how planners, developers, landowners, advocates, residents, and other actors negotiate competing claims and, ultimately, realize their vision of “better” urban environments. We will especially focus on how “innovation” has emerged through these negotiations in various planning contexts and examine whether and how digital technology has (or has not) changed the planning process. Readings about the law and the interactions between these various institutions provide the foundation for class discussions, as well as precedents and case studies from New York City, North America, and internationally.

We anticipate an exciting lineup of studio projects in the Spring and we are thrilled about having travel studios again:

• Section 001: Home in Manahatta: Planning to Affirm the Continued Lenape Presence in Lenapehoking, Anthony Borelli and Sybil Wa
  

• Section 002: Revitalizing Ciutat Vella, Barcelona for a Just and Green Urban Future, Ebru Gencer and Javier Lopez
  

• Section 003: Planning for Change in Renca, Santiago de Chile, Jose Luis Vallejo & Ryan Devlin
  

• Section 004: Addressing Affordable Housing Challenges in Washington Heights, Ali Estefam & Michael Perles
  

• Section 005: Joint RED/UP, Performance Zoning in Central Harlem: A Physical Analog to a Democratic Process, Adam Lubinsky & Calvin Brown
  

This October, Urban China Network (UCN) collaborated with WanderLens Lab to organize the Urban China Network 2024 Workshop, “Reimagining Global Chinatowns in Megacities: A Multidisciplinary Workshop on Innovative Local Storytelling.” The workshop included a gamified walking tour in Manhattan’s Chinatown on October 20 and a panel discussion at Columbia GSAPP on October 25. The workshop explored multimedia technologies and narratives in Chinatown, examining global connections through narrative ethnography. The walking tour featured visits to Kimlau War Memorial, Columbus Park, and Mott Street, followed by discussions with local community members. The panel had two sessions: Session A (community engagement) with Dr. Bayer Lee, Commissioner Wellington Z. Chen, Mr. Bennie Yee, and Prof. Richard Pieper, and Session B (multimedia narratives) with Mr. Bud Glick, Ms. Yuet-fung Ho, Ms. Barrie Adleberg, Ms. Claire Jervert, and Ms. Sarita Sun. Coordinators included Daoxin Chen, Joanna Chen, Mengyao Chen, Fei Deng, Hongqian Li, Weijie Sun, Miaojing (Mina) Wei, and Zihao Zhang. This event was supported by the UP program, UCN, WanderLens Lab, and Urban China Magazine.

Urban Planning Program Council welcomed Ayanna Sharma, Christian Harvey, Sarah Kameli, Lucas Seibold, Steven Shi, and Wayne Chen who were selected as the First-Year Program Council Representatives. They joined Riley Chan, Steven Duncan, and Jane Cole who continued to serve as Second-Year Program Council Representatives. Together, they attended monthly faculty meetings to provide student input and perspective. At the beginning of the semester, the Program Council hosted the Welcome Picnic in Central Park — a chance for incoming students to meet with second-years as classes got underway, as well as the annual UP Thanksgiving lunch in November.

URBAN Magazine is created, edited, and published by students of GSAPP’s Urban Planning program. This year, they received a record number of over 30 submissions! URBAN’s Vol. 35, to be released later next spring, will feature writing, interviews, photo essays, and other work related to urban planning and city living from our students and peers. This year’s Senior Editors are Jessica Gonzales (Outreach), Jane Cole (Design), and Jaron Kaplan (Content). This year’s Junior Editors are Otis Emslie, Steven Duncan, Olivia McCloy, Benedetta von Palombini, Wayne Chen, Yerandy Pacheco, Anna Carl, Ayomikun Oluyadi, Jane Hutton, Luca Antoni Marcelli, Erma Swartz, and Alyson Zhou. Keep an eye out for updates on the forthcoming issue. To continue the conversation, follow URBAN Magazine on Instagram @columbiaurbanmag and read last semester’s Vol. 34 online.

One of the experiences our students are encouraged to undertake while enrolled is spending time at an internship. See below for examples of where some of this year’s students have been working so far.

• Ryan Clark (M.S. UP ‘25), Downtown Brooklyn Alliance
• Jane Cole (M.S. UP ‘25), WXY
• Otis Elmslie (M.S. UP ‘25), BJH
• Jaron Kaplan (M.S. UP ‘25), Garment District Alliance
• Olivia McCloy (M.S. UP ‘25), WSP
• August Nastasi (M.S. UP ‘25), Urban Cartographics
• Saumil Sanghavi (M.S. UP ‘25), Equitable Cities
• Andrea Sze (M.S. UP ‘25), Sam Schwartz

More than 40 alumni joined our current cohort of first- and second-year students for an informal networking event at Row House in Harlem on November 22, a popular chance to connect with working professionals in the field and catch up with friends. We will be hosting another event in April. Watch out for updates on time and place.

We continued our office tours this semester with visits to NYC Emergency Management, HR&A, and the Department of City Planning. Among the alums who helped coordinate the visits, we would like to thank the following:

• Aroosa Ajani (M.S. UP ‘24)
• Natalie Bartfay (M.S. UP ‘23)
• Hilary Ho (M.S. UP ‘23)
• Gertie Ma (M.S. UP ‘24)
• Alex Moscovitz (M.S. UP ‘19)
• Rebecca Noble (M.S. UP ‘18)
• Heather Roiter (M.S. UP ‘07)
• Laura Semeraro (M.S. UP ‘18)

Our mentorship program has continued to grow over the past several years and this year we have a record thirty-six students and their alumni mentors participating. Many thanks to all.

If you would like to participate, or would like more information, please contact Douglas Woodward at dw38@columbia.edu.

• Justin Barton (M.S. UP ’21), Assistant Project Director, WinnCompanies
• Matt Bauer (M.S. UP ’92), President, Madison Avenue BID; Adjunct Associate Professor, Urban Planning
• Suprima Bhele (M.S. UP ‘19), AVP Data Strategy, Morgan Stanley
• Lisa Blake (M.S. UP ‘12), Hazard Mitigation Planning Manager, Michael Baker International
• Anthony Borelli (M.S. UP ’96), Sr. VP Planning & Development, Edison Properties; Adjunct Associate Professor, Urban Planning
• Riley Burchell (M.S. UP & MSW ‘21), Project Manager, L+M Development Partners LLC.
• Renata Dermangi (M.S. UP ‘10), Senior City Planner, City of Los Angeles
• Tim Douglas (M.S. UP ’16), Planner III, STV
• Tara Heidger (M.S. UP ’19), Managing Director, M&C Saatchi World Services
• Yi Jiang (M.S. UP ‘18 and M.Arch ‘21), Intermediate Architect, SOM
• Tatiana Kopelman (M.S. UP ’18), Housing & Urban Development Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank
• Nick Kunz (M.S. UP ’19), PhD Student, Cornell University
• Geon Woo Lee (M.S. UP ’21), Senior Analyst, HR&A
• Moses Levich (M.S. UP ‘22), Environmental Planner, VHB
• Lorraine Liao (M.S. UP ‘20), Engineer/Planner, Fehr & Peers
• Mollye Liu (M.S. UP ‘23), Project Manager, Bronx Pro
• Sarah Mawdsley (M.S. UP ‘22), Transportation Planner, Sam Schwartz
• Brady Meixell (M.S. UP ’22), Government Services & Business Services Manager, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corp.
• Heather Roiter (M.S. UP ’07), Deputy Commissioner, Risk Reduction & Recovery, NYC Emergency Management
• Eve Passman (M.S. UP ‘22), AVP, Rockabill Consulting & Rockabill Development
• James Piacentini (M.S. UP & M.Arch ’20), Senior Map Designer, Mapbox; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Urban Planning
• Justin Romeo (M.S. UP ’18), Managing Director Urban Analytics, Center for Neighborhood Technology
• Kovid Saksena (M.S. UP ‘04), Vice President & Practice Manager, Environmental, TYLin | Sam Schwartz City Solutions
• Matt Schwartz (M.S. UP ‘09), Director, Strategic Planning, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Headquarters
• Zeineb Sellami (M.S. UP ‘21), Director, Karp Strategies
• Stephanie Shelloe (M.S. UP ’13), Director, Environmental Division, NYC DCP
• Kat Sibel (M.S. UP ‘22), Community Climate Resiliency Coordinator, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Ron Slangen (M.S. UP ’05), Deputy Country Director, Asian Development Bank
• Howard Slatkin (M.S. UP ’00), Executive Director, Citizens Housing & Planning Council
• Charlie Stewart (M.S. UP ‘17), Vice President, CAMBA Housing Ventures, Inc.
• Kevin Thurman (M.S. UP ‘10), Corporate Counsel & Project Manager at Lemle & Wolff, Inc.
• Caroline Thompson (M.S. UP ‘20), Planner, DLR Group
• Marla Weinstein (M.S. UP ’13), Urban Planner, Google
• Savannah Wu (M.S. UP ’20), Development Manager, Northeast Region, Reactivate
• Claire Yang (M.S. UP ’20), Chief of Staff, Silicon Harlem

We are also grateful to alums who volunteered to be matched, including Michael Montilla (M.S. UP ‘19), Jonathan Marty (M.S. UP ‘22), Sanjukta Hazarika (M.S. UP ‘21), Gizem Karagoz (M.S. UP & M.Arch ‘22), and Elaine Hsieh (M.S. UP ‘21). We look forward to drawing on their experience for a future cohort.