ENV 831a () / 2025-2026

Urban Planning Strategies for Sustainable Development

Credits: 3 Fall 2025: Th, 1:00-3:50, Bowers

This class explores how urban planning strategies shape the function and sustainability of cities. Students will examine key approaches, including proximity-based planning (such as the 15-minute city, superblocks, and transit-oriented development) and community-driven interventions (such as tactical urbanism and informal mobility). Through lectures and case studies, the course will trace the historical origins and evolution of these strategies, the motivations behind their adoption, and their intended and unintended impacts on urban sustainability. In a final project, students will synthesize comparative evidence to evaluate the conditions that shape the effectiveness of these strategies. The course provides knowledge relevant for careers in policy, environmental management, urban planning, and related fields.