URBAN DESIGNERS from AROUND the WORLD DISCUSS CITIES AFTER OIL Rom November 7-8, 2008, the Aim Was to Refocus Urban Rockefeller Foundation, Charged Frederick S

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URBAN DESIGNERS from AROUND the WORLD DISCUSS CITIES AFTER OIL Rom November 7-8, 2008, the Aim Was to Refocus Urban Rockefeller Foundation, Charged Frederick S PENN INSTITUTE for URBAN RESEARCH NEWS Winter 2009 | No. 9 The Green Issue URBAN DESIGNERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD DISCUSS CITIES AFTER OIL rom November 7-8, 2008, The aim was to refocus urban Rockefeller Foundation, charged Frederick S. Pardee Center for Penn IUR and PennDe- design discourse and rethink ur- the participants to “organize the Study of the Longer-Range F sign, with support from ban design education in light of cityscapes around people and Future and Professor of Interna- The Rockefeller Foundation, current conditions. While the communities, not just cars and tional Relations and Geography convened a two-day symposium, symposium was definitively for- roads, as oil becomes increas- and the Environment, and David “Re-Imagining Cities: Urban ward-looking, it also commemo- ingly scarce and costly, and as Orr, Paul Sears Distinguished Design After the Age of Oil,” rated the 50th anniversary of the the global climate crisis worsens. Professor of Environmental on the Penn campus. An inter- Penn-Rockefeller “Conference Together, we must plan and build Studies and Politics, followed national group of scholars and on Urban Design Criticism,” a an energy- and environmental- with a discussion that framed practitioners from many design groundbreaking event, whose ly-sustainable urban future that the problem of environmental fields, journalists and policy- participants included Jane Ja- promotes equitable economic change. Later, breakout sessions makers discussed how energy cobs, Louis Kahn, Kevin Lynch, growth and supports dynamism, focused on topics from megare- and environmental concerns Ian McHarg, Lewis Mumford, density, and diversity.” gions to product design. Peter promise to change lives at every and I.M. Pei, that helped shape Head, Global Leader of Planning scale—from individual build- urban design in the 20th century. Elizabeth Kolbert, staff writer and Project Director of Eco-City ings to the systems that deliver for The New Yorker and author Master Planning at Arup, pre- essential services and networks In Friday’s opening plenary, of Field Notes from a Catastro- viewed the firm’s innovative in- that connect cities and regions. Judith Rodin, President, The phe, Adil Najam, Director of the continued on page 4 Urban design educators from around the world discuss the future of urban design edu- cation. Left to Right: Rodrigo Pérez de Arce (Pontifical Catholic University of Chile), An accompanying exhibition was powered by a mobile solar generator and featured Ding Wowo (Nanjing University, China), Marilyn Jordan Taylor (PennDesign), Taner over 40 sustainable projects from around the world. More than 500 visitors viewed the Oc (The University of Nottingham), Sudeshna Chatterjee (School of Planning exhibition, which opened during the symposium in the Lower Gallery of Meyerson Hall. and Design, New Dehli, India), and Douglas Kelbaugh (University of Michigan) VISITING Professor AND PENN IUR Fellow Paul BrophY HEADS TEAM to BRIEF NEW HUD SecretarY enn’s Institute for Ur- Designate. Joined by Rachel Partnerships who heads the and Eugenie Birch, Lawrence ban Research is playing Godsil, Eleanor Bontecou Pro- Task Force on Anchor Institu- C. Nussdorf Professor of Ur- P a role in helping to brief fessor of Law, Seton Hall Uni- tions as Drivers of Neighbor- ban Research who is serving incoming HUD Secretary-Des- versity, Brophy is heading a hood Economic Development; on the anchors group. Brophy ignate Shaun Donovan. Un- group of 50 experts who are Wendell Pritchett, Professor and Godsil and their associates der the leadership of Paul C. focusing on re-positioning the of Law, who heads the Task are working on a fast schedule, Brophy, a Penn City Planning agency to meet today’s needs. Force on Strengthening Amer- anticipating completion of the alumnus and a Visiting Lectur- ica’s Neighborhoods; Susan report by mid January. Short- er at the Department, Penn IUR The initiative involves sev- Wachter, Richard Worley Pro- ly thereafter, Penn IUR will has organized ten task forces eral Penn faculty, including Ira fessor of Finance (and former schedule an event in the Penn that are preparing recommen- Harkavy, Founding Director, HUD Assistant Secretary) on IUR Public Interest Series to dations to the HUD Secretary Netter Center for Community the housing finance task force; discuss the results. Penn IUR HOSTS NATIONAL CONFERENCE: THE SHAPE OF THE NEW AMERICAN CITY cholars and policy makers Andrew Haughwout from the discussed the complex re- Federal Reserve, Saskia Sassen Slations between economic from the London School of Eco- shifts, demographic patterns, and nomics, Robert Cervero from the the spatial arrangement of Ameri- University of California, Berke- can cities at “The Shape of the ley, John Landis, Susan Wachter, New American City”—a confer- and Genie Birch from the Univer- ence Penn IUR hosted on October sity of Pennsylvania, Douglas S. 24-25 to highlight the latest social Massey of Princeton University, science research on the nation’s and Ingrid Gould Ellen and Rae cities and suburbs. The confer- Zimmerman from New York Uni- ence was co-sponsored by the versity. The speakers addressed American Academy of Political four key issues: employment and and Social Science and its pro- international economic competi- ceedings will provide the basis tiveness, immigration and urban for a special volume of The An- demographics, sprawl and re-ur- nals of the American Academy of banization, and infrastructure and The conference concluded in front of a packed audience with a discussion on the role Political and Social Science on service delivery. of media in shaping urban policy. From Left to Right: Ashwin Shandilya and David Lei the forces which are transforming (both editors for The Daily Pennsylvanian), Howard Fineman (Newsweek), Chris Mat- thews (MSNBC), and Susan Wachter and Genie Birch (Penn IUR Co-Directors) the American city. The presentations emphasized both the centrality of the nation’s immigration, or from the aging Chris Matthews,” and Howard The conference opened on Friday cities to its overall socioeconomic baby-boom population—likely Fineman, a senior Washington with remarks from Camille Cates health as well as the vulnerability to affect the nation’s cities? How correspondent and columnist for Barnett, the Managing Direc- and instability of our urban envi- cities can be made both prosper- Newsweek, were joined by two tor for the City of Philadelphia. ronments. Cities are the engines ous and inclusive? How might student journalists, David Lei, Barnett spoke about the budget of metropolitan growth in the U.S. transportation systems mitigate editor-in-chief of The Daily Penn- struggles cities face, particularly economy, responsible for 85% of sprawl? What changes are needed sylvanian, and Ashwin Shandilya, in light of recent financial turmoil the national GDP. This crucial to ensure a safe and functional who currently serves as the editor and increasing demands on vital economic role, however, is threat- infrastructure or reliable service for The Daily Pennsylvanian’s services. Barnett was followed ened by the demographic, envi- delivery? editorial page. Before a capacity by Kenneth T. Jackson, Jacques ronmental and political challeng- crowd of conference-goers, stu- Barzun Professor of History and es the panelists explored. How Saturday’s session brought to- dents, and Penn parents, the panel the Social Sciences at Colum- does the perception of the preva- gether expert and student jour- offered their insights about the bia University. Jackson offered lence of urban crime affect the nalists to discuss the role of the role of urban issues in the 2008 a candid discussion of race and size of a city’s population? How media in shaping urban policy presidential campaign. urban areas. Panelists were drawn can successful forms of density be and the place of urban policy in from a range of key academic and encouraged? How are large-scale national politics. Chris Matthews, For the full program, video and audio podcasts, and event photographs, visit policy institutions. They included demographic fluctuations—from host of MSNBC’s “Hardball with www.upenn.edu/penniur/newcity. PENN PRESS CITY IN THE 21st CENTURY SERIES Planetizen America’s names Waterfront Revival Growing and Divided Cities Greener Cities now available in as notable The City in the 21st book in 2008 Century series For more information or to purchase books, please visit www.upenn.edu/pennpress/series/C21.html 2 Penn Institute for Urban Research Newsletter / Winter 2009 PETER HENDEE BROWN’S AMERICA’S BROOKINGS PUBLISHES FACULTY WATERFRONT REVIVAL APPEARS IN CITY IN FORUM RESEARCH ON IMMIGRATION n November 13, and the creation of a conference THE 21ST CENTURY SERIES Michael Katz, Walter focusing on issues of integrating his fall, Penn Press re- their influence by evolving from O H. Annenberg Professor immigrants in the 21st century leased the most recent single-purpose cargo-handling of History and a Research city. Penn IUR is providing T addition to The City in operations into diversified busi- Associate in the Population support for these further efforts. the 21st Century book series, ness organizations focused on Studies Center at the University developed in coordination with waterfront revitalization. This of Pennsylvania, and Domenic In addition to the Faculty Forum Penn IUR. Peter Hendee Brown’s history of institutional develop- Vitiello, Assistant Professor of on “Immigration, Race and America’s Waterfront Revival ex- ment raises important questions City and Regional
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