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Urban Planning
With the recent announcement of the Obama stimulus plan, which pledges one tenth of a whopping $767 billion US for environmentally sensitive development, the need for qualified urban planners and land use specialists well versed in sustainability increases. There is some concern among environmental groups that the rapid influx of stimulus dollars will result in hastily considered development. Urban and land use planners are will work with state and local officials to ensure that standards are met and that projects are thoroughly planned.
The projected growth rate for urban planners is higher than the national average over the next ten years, with a 15% increase between 2006 and 2016. Urban planners and land use specialists with green training and experience contribute to the sustainable and viable development of cities, towns and related spaces.
A leading urban planning firm in the United States is Jonathan Rose Companies LLC – a multidisciplinary team of real estate development, planning, consulting, investment, and green urban solutions professionals – founded by Jonathan F.P. Rose in 1989. Rose is a contributor to media including CNN and The New York Times and the author of several works including “Green Urbanism: Developing Restorative Urban Biophelia” recently published in the book Biophilic Design. Jonathan Rose graduated from Yale with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania.
Managing Partner of Perry Rose LLC – a subsidiary of Jonathan Rose Companies – Chuck J. Perry is a national authority in sustainable planning and multipurpose community space design. After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree, Perry earned a Ph.D in Urban and Regional Planning with a concentration in Citizen Participation, Land Use and Environmental Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Some urban planning firms are relatively small outfits. A good example of a smaller consulting and urban planning firm is MVH Urban Planning and Design, named for the founder and president, Michael von Hausen. MVH specializes in sustainable urban design, sensitive land use and community collaboration. Michael von Hausen earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Harvard University in Urban Design, with a concentration on land development economics.
Urban planners are eligible to apply for LEED certification – a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – that is quickly becoming an international standard. LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – encourages sustainable green building and development practices that incorporates five central principles: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality.
Most employers in the urban planning industry hire LEED certified professionals. From business planning to construction initiatives, planners consult with government and city officials and ensure that industry standards are achieved. Urban and land use planners earn an average entry-level salary between $37,000 and $55,000 USD per year.
EDUCATION SIDEBAR: Professional careers in urban planning typically begin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning and Design, Architecture, Environmental Science, Engineering or Construction Management. Master’s Degrees are beneficial for professional advance.
Urban Planning is complemented with LEED certification.
The American Institute of Certified Planners – a wing of the American Planning Association – offers certification for professions who demonstrate educational training, workplace experience and who successfully complete an exam.
As environmental initiatives shift from a left wing to a center stage concern, urban planning is undergoing a green revolution. While urban planning has long been a university staple, the discipline has often been subsumed within the larger scope of civil engineering. As the demand for well-trained green professionals expands, urban planning is developing as a discipline in its own right.
The highest ranked universities offering progressive urban planning programs include:
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Cornell University
• Harvard University
• University of California, LA
• University of Southern California
• Rutgers University
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