A $6 billion shortfall has U.S. mass transit facing a death spiral Penn In the News Bloomberg A $6 billion shortfall has U.S. mass transit facing a death spiral Leslie Richards of the Weitzman School of Design says that people stop using mass transit when it isn’t frequent or reliable. Penn IUR enters its third decade Housed in Meyerson Hall, the Penn Institute for Urban Research (IUR) is a campus-wide enterprise that draws from the collective wisdom of experts around the Penn and beyond to inform urban development and actions on public policy to support the sustainable growth of metros. Now entering its third decade, President Emerita Judith Rodin and Penn IUR co-directors Eugénie Birch and Susan Wachter reflect on the Institute’s history and impact.nocred Penn IUR enters its third decade The Penn Institute for Urban Research enters its second decade. President emerita Judith Rodin and co-directors Eugénie Birch and Susan Wachter reflect on the Institute’s history and impact. 10 min. read Listening to the city “I’ve always been fascinated by how different cities sound," says Aki Di Sandro, a student in the Weitzman School’s Master of Urban Spatial Analytics program.(Image: Courtesy of Weitzman News) Listening to the city In a Spring 2025 City & Regional Planning course at Penn’s Weitzman School, students are exploring the connections between urban sounds and neighborhood identity. 2 min. read Turning bicycles into an engineering study tool Students explored Amsterdam with a bike tour and even a bicycle scavenger hunt.(Image: Elizabeth Feeney) Turning bicycles into an engineering study tool Penn students explore the Netherlands’ cycling infrastructure and learn about bicycle design principles in Dustyn Roberts’ popular Penn Global Seminar. 5 min. read Changing neighborhoods, changing times Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor Lance Freeman, of the Weitzman School of Design and the School of Arts & Sciences, studies how people interact with the built environment. nocred Changing neighborhoods, changing times Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor Lance Freeman of the Weitzman School of Design and School of Arts & Sciences studies how people interact with the built environment. Expert Voices 2025: Access to sustainable and affordable housing New development of affordable tiny houses in East Baltimore.(Image: iStock/Robbie Becklund) Expert Voices 2025: Access to sustainable and affordable housing Twelve leading voices in housing policy, urban planning, and finance were asked to share their perspectives on the challenge of affordable housing in the country. Turning the desert into an oasis In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.(Image: Courtesy of Chaowu Li) Turning the desert into an oasis Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth. Lisa Servon wins award for community partnership Lisa Servon talks with students in her practicum course. (Image: Weitzman School of Design) Lisa Servon wins award for community partnership A professor in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, Lisa Servon was recognized for her work with the Kensington Corridor Trust. The honor was presented by Provost John L. Jackson Jr. and Netter Center director Ira Harkavy on Dec. 16. Using data to make city planning more safe and accessible Xiaoxia “Summer” Dong is an assistant professor of city and regional planning in the Weitzman School.nocred Using data to make city planning more safe and accessible Weitzman School of Design’s Xiaoxia ‘Summer’ Dong focuses on the travel behavior and mode choice impacts of driverless cars. 1 min. read Decoding Trump’s climate priorities—or lack thereof Penn In the News Philadelphia Inquirer Decoding Trump’s climate priorities—or lack thereof In an opinion essay, Sanya Carley of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the Weitzman School of Design examines the implications and possibilities of Donald Trump’s energy and climate agenda. Load More
Penn IUR enters its third decade Housed in Meyerson Hall, the Penn Institute for Urban Research (IUR) is a campus-wide enterprise that draws from the collective wisdom of experts around the Penn and beyond to inform urban development and actions on public policy to support the sustainable growth of metros. Now entering its third decade, President Emerita Judith Rodin and Penn IUR co-directors Eugénie Birch and Susan Wachter reflect on the Institute’s history and impact.nocred Penn IUR enters its third decade The Penn Institute for Urban Research enters its second decade. President emerita Judith Rodin and co-directors Eugénie Birch and Susan Wachter reflect on the Institute’s history and impact. 10 min. read
Listening to the city “I’ve always been fascinated by how different cities sound," says Aki Di Sandro, a student in the Weitzman School’s Master of Urban Spatial Analytics program.(Image: Courtesy of Weitzman News) Listening to the city In a Spring 2025 City & Regional Planning course at Penn’s Weitzman School, students are exploring the connections between urban sounds and neighborhood identity. 2 min. read
Turning bicycles into an engineering study tool Students explored Amsterdam with a bike tour and even a bicycle scavenger hunt.(Image: Elizabeth Feeney) Turning bicycles into an engineering study tool Penn students explore the Netherlands’ cycling infrastructure and learn about bicycle design principles in Dustyn Roberts’ popular Penn Global Seminar. 5 min. read
Changing neighborhoods, changing times Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor Lance Freeman, of the Weitzman School of Design and the School of Arts & Sciences, studies how people interact with the built environment. nocred Changing neighborhoods, changing times Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor Lance Freeman of the Weitzman School of Design and School of Arts & Sciences studies how people interact with the built environment.
Expert Voices 2025: Access to sustainable and affordable housing New development of affordable tiny houses in East Baltimore.(Image: iStock/Robbie Becklund) Expert Voices 2025: Access to sustainable and affordable housing Twelve leading voices in housing policy, urban planning, and finance were asked to share their perspectives on the challenge of affordable housing in the country.
Turning the desert into an oasis In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.(Image: Courtesy of Chaowu Li) Turning the desert into an oasis Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.
Lisa Servon wins award for community partnership Lisa Servon talks with students in her practicum course. (Image: Weitzman School of Design) Lisa Servon wins award for community partnership A professor in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, Lisa Servon was recognized for her work with the Kensington Corridor Trust. The honor was presented by Provost John L. Jackson Jr. and Netter Center director Ira Harkavy on Dec. 16.
Using data to make city planning more safe and accessible Xiaoxia “Summer” Dong is an assistant professor of city and regional planning in the Weitzman School.nocred Using data to make city planning more safe and accessible Weitzman School of Design’s Xiaoxia ‘Summer’ Dong focuses on the travel behavior and mode choice impacts of driverless cars. 1 min. read
Decoding Trump’s climate priorities—or lack thereof Penn In the News Philadelphia Inquirer Decoding Trump’s climate priorities—or lack thereof In an opinion essay, Sanya Carley of the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the Weitzman School of Design examines the implications and possibilities of Donald Trump’s energy and climate agenda.