Center for Urban Real Estate

Center for Urban Real Estate
Name	Center for Urban Real Estate
Type	Research center
Affiliation	Columbia University; Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Established	2008
Director	Thomas J. Krishnan
Location	New York City, Manhattan

Center for Urban Real Estate The Center for Urban Real Estate is a research center affiliated with Columbia University and the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation focused on high-density development, urban land use, and complex real estate finance in New York City, United States, and global megacities. The center convenes scholars from Columbia Business School, Columbia Law School, Columbia Engineering, and international institutions including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and London School of Economics to study skyscrapers, infrastructure, zoning, and urban policy.

Overview

The center examines vertical development, land economics, and built-environment innovation through interdisciplinary work linking Columbia Business School, Columbia Law School, Columbia Engineering, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, New York University, University of California, Berkeley, University College London, London School of Economics, ETH Zurich, TU Delft, National University of Singapore, University of Tokyo, University of Hong Kong, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, University of Melbourne, University of Toronto, Imperial College London, Duke University, Northwestern University, Cornell University, University of Chicago, Stanford University, Columbia Climate School, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York City Department of City Planning, Real Estate Board of New York, Urban Land Institute, American Institute of Architects, Architectural League of New York, Brookings Institution, McKinsey Global Institute, The World Bank, International Monetary Fund.

History

Founded in 2008 amid post-2007 financial turmoil and the collapse examined by Financial Crisis of 2007–2008, the center grew from initiatives at Columbia University responding to urban transformation after Hurricane Sandy and the Global Financial Crisis (2007–2008). Early initiatives connected with projects and figures associated with Michael Bloomberg, Rudolph Giuliani, Robert Moses, Jane Jacobs, and policy responses from New York City Mayor's Office, Mayor of New York City, Governor of New York, and regional planning bodies. The center expanded research during debates over the Zoning Resolution of 1961, PlaNYC, Vision Zero, and regional infrastructure efforts overseen by Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Research and Programs

Research programs address skyscraper engineering, urban finance, affordable housing, and resilience with collaborations involving Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Foster + Partners, Bjarke Ingels Group, SHoP Architects, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Arup, WSP Global, AECOM, Turner Construction Company, Tishman Construction Corporation, Related Companies, Silverstein Properties, Vornado Realty Trust, Brookfield Properties, Hines Interests Limited Partnership, Forest City Realty Trust, Extell Development Company, Billionaire real estate investors, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, BlackRock, Morgan Stanley, Citi and academics from Harvard Graduate School of Design, MIT Media Lab, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Yale School of Architecture, Columbia Journalism School. Programs include seminars on Skyscraper construction, studies of Air rights, investigations into Tax Increment Financing, and courses addressing Affordable housing policy, Resilience planning, and Sustainable building certifications like LEED and WELL Building Standard.

Faculty and Leadership

Leadership has included faculty from Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia Business School, and Columbia Law School as directors, affiliated scholars, and visiting professors from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University College London, London School of Economics, Yale University, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Toronto, ETH Zurich, and practitioners such as principals from SHoP Architects, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Foster + Partners, Kohn Pedersen Fox, and executives from Related Companies, Silverstein Properties, Hines, Brookfield Properties, Vornado Realty Trust, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, BlackRock, Citi, and government officials from the New York City Department of City Planning, New York City Economic Development Corporation, and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Partnerships and Industry Engagement

The center maintains partnerships with academic institutions including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, London School of Economics, University College London, ETH Zurich, National University of Singapore, University of Hong Kong, and industry partners such as Related Companies, Silverstein Properties, Hines, Brookfield Properties, Vornado Realty Trust, Extell Development Company, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, BlackRock, Citi, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Bjarke Ingels Group, Foster + Partners, Arup, AECOM, Turner Construction Company, Tishman Construction Corporation, Real Estate Board of New York, Urban Land Institute, American Institute of Architects, Architectural League of New York, and philanthropy from foundations like Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Guggenheim Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Facilities and Resources

Located within Columbia University in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, the center uses research space, labs, and archival collections in facilities associated with Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Baker Library, Butler Library, and the university's computing resources including collaborations with Columbia Climate School and Data Science Institute. Physical resources include access to construction mock-up facilities used historically by firms like Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and laboratories supporting work by Arup, AECOM, WSP Global, and academic makerspaces connected to MIT Media Lab and Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Impact and Notable Projects

The center has influenced policy debates and projects related to redevelopment near Hudson Yards (New York City), Ground Zero redevelopment, World Trade Center site, High Line (New York City), Penn Station (New York City), Pennsylvania Station redevelopment, Midtown Manhattan, Lower Manhattan, East Side Access, Second Avenue Subway, and resilience planning post-Hurricane Sandy. Research outputs have informed reports for New York City Department of City Planning, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Real Estate Board of New York, and international advisory work for The World Bank, United Nations Human Settlements Programme, International Finance Corporation, and private developers such as Related Companies, Silverstein Properties, Brookfield Properties, Hines, Vornado Realty Trust, and Extell Development Company.

Category:Research institutes in New York City