UrbanPlan
UrbanPlan harnesses the power of experiential learning to drive students to more deeply engage in the complex nature of land-use decisions and inspire them to take an active role as engaged citizens to create better communities.
What Is UrbanPlan?
UrbanPlan is a realistic, engaging exercise in which participants—high school students, university students, or public officials—learn the fundamental forces that affect development in our communities. Participants experience challenging issues, private and public sector roles, complex trade-offs, and fundamental economics in play when proposing realistic land use solutions to vexing growth challenges.
Create engaged citizens |
Develop professional skills |
Leverage public/private partnerships |
Learn More about UrbanPlan National Competition here.
UrbanPlan by the Numbers
- UrbanPlan reached over 1,836 students in 134 classrooms at 38 high schools in the 2019-20 academic year.
- 19 universities ran UrbanPlan in graduate MBA, Real Estate, City & Regional Planning, and Architecture programs in the 2019-20 academic year
- More members (2,500+ per year)–including trustees, governors, and product council members–participated in UrbanPlan than in any other national or local ULI program.
- ULI members engaged 515 public sector decision makers representing 175 jurisdictions through UrbanPlan.
- 516 volunteers participated in the program in the 2019-20 academic year.
Learn more about ULI Europe’s adaptation of UrbanPlan here.
What ULI Members Say About UrbanPlan
RON NAHAS, Principal, Rafanelli & Nahas
“The education of tomorrow’s voters, neighbors, community leaders, public officials, and land use professionals is mission critical for ULI.”
KIM DIAMOND, Managing Director, Trumark Urban
“UrbanPlan volunteer training goes deeper than any traditional real estate development class. The takeaway value transcends effective volunteering. The intellectual discipline and Socratic method of questioning are assets in my work life.”
BRYAN THORNTON, Partner, Pacific Coast Capital
“Like Advisory Services panels, UrbanPlan does what ULI does best: help external audiences understand how market and nonmarket forces in their community affect what can be approved, financed, built, and sustainably tenanted. That’s essential for any meaningful discussion about land use.”
Interested in serving as a volunteer?
Schools, teachers, and students – contact us at [email protected].