Urban Field Study

Catalog description

This week-long immersive trip that introduces students to best practices in sustainable real estate development, urban design, transportation, and resilience planning. Through expert-led tours, on-site briefings, and structured fieldwork, students examine how planning, policy, investment, and infrastructure shape diverse urban environments. Site visits typically include mixed-use districts, transit-oriented development hubs, regeneration areas, climate adaptation projects, and affordable or mixed-income housing. Students engage with practitioners, public officials, community organizations, and academic partners to understand development processes, regulatory frameworks, and resilience strategies. The week concludes with a comparative studio charrette in which teams synthesize their observations into a development concept or policy proposal.