McGill University School of Urban Planning

McGill University School of Urban Planning
Name	McGill University School of Urban Planning
Established	1937
Type	Public
City	Montreal
Province	Quebec
Country	Canada
Parent	McGill University

McGill University School of Urban Planning is a professional unit within McGill University located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, offering graduate education and research in urban planning, urban design, and related fields. It serves as a nexus among institutions such as Université de Montréal, Concordia University, City of Montreal, Ville-Marie (borough), and national bodies like Canadian Institute of Planners and provincial agencies. The school engages with international networks including UN-Habitat, the International Society of City and Regional Planners, the Commonwealth Association of Planners, and municipal partners such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Boston.

History

The school's origins trace to curricular developments at McGill University intersecting with figures associated with Sir William Macdonald, Percy Erskine Nobbs, and urban movements tied to City Beautiful movement, Garden City movement, and the postwar expansion influenced by Robert Moses, Le Corbusier, and planners from Quebec. In the 1940s and 1950s the program interacted with agencies including National Capital Commission, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and municipal planning departments in Montreal and Ottawa. During the 1960s and 1970s the school developed links with scholars from University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and policy actors such as Jean Drapeau and organizations like Société de développement industriel. The 1980s and 1990s saw collaborations with international projects associated with World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and researchers from University College London, London School of Economics, and University of Toronto. In the 21st century the school expanded partnerships with entities such as ICLEI, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Transport for London, and regional bodies including Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.

Academic programs

The school offers graduate degrees tied to professional accreditation pathways with curricula influenced by frameworks from Canadian Institute of Planners, accreditation discussions referencing programs at University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo, McMaster University, and Ryerson University; degrees include a Master of Urban Planning, Master of Urban Design, and research degrees aligned with supervisors connected to faculties at Faculty of Engineering (McGill), School of Architecture (McGill), Desautels Faculty of Management, and the School of Environment. Course offerings incorporate methods from texts and scholars associated with Jane Jacobs, Kevin Lynch, Edward Glaeser, and case studies in cities such as Paris, New York City, Mexico City, Singapore, and São Paulo. Joint programs and specializations have engaged partners like Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation (Quebec), Hydro-Québec for energy planning modules, and international exchange links with Delft University of Technology, Technical University of Munich, and National University of Singapore.

Research and centres

Research themes are organized through centres and labs that collaborate with funding bodies such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and partnerships with institutes including Institute for Research on Public Policy, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Montreal, and non-profits like Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Signature research areas include urban sustainability linked to projects with C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, transit and mobility studies collaborating with Société de transport de Montréal, housing policy analyses referencing Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation casework, and resilience research partnered with Public Safety Canada and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The school hosts thematic labs that interface with international networks such as Urban Age, Metropolis (organization), and research clusters from Global Covenant of Mayors.

Admissions and student body

Admissions processes reflect standards comparable to graduate schools at McGill University, Université de Montréal, and University of Toronto, with applicants evaluated for prior degrees from institutions such as Concordia University, Université Laval, Queen's University, and international universities like University College London and University of Melbourne. The student body comprises domestic students from provinces including Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia, and international students from countries such as China, India, France, Mexico, and Brazil. Scholarship and funding sources include awards named after donors associated with Desautels Family, grants from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and fellowships linked to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and municipal internships coordinated with City of Montreal.

Faculty and administration

Faculty include scholars and practitioners with appointments linked to departments and centres at McGill University and visiting positions from universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and London School of Economics. Administrative leadership interacts with university offices including Office of the Provost (McGill University), Faculty of Engineering (McGill), and governance bodies such as the Senate of McGill University and the Board of Governors (McGill University). Faculty research profiles reference work by researchers associated with awards like the Killam Prize, the Governor General's Innovation Award, and fellowships from Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Facilities and campus

The school is located on McGill's downtown campus near landmarks including Mount Royal, Saint Joseph's Oratory, Old Montreal, and transit hubs such as Bonaventure (Montreal Metro) and McGill (Montreal Metro). Teaching and research facilities interface with libraries and archives like the McGill Library, the Herbert H. Lehman Library model collections, and geographic information resources comparable to labs at University of British Columbia. Studio spaces host exhibitions and events tied to partners such as Canadian Centre for Architecture and municipal venues including Place des Arts.

Community engagement and partnerships

Community engagement emphasizes practicum and studio projects with municipal clients such as Ville de Montréal, neighbourhood organizations including Plateau-Mont-Royal (borough), and housing cooperatives modeled after Co-operative Commonwealth Federation initiatives. Partnerships for applied research include collaborations with Société de transport de Montréal, Agence Metropolitaine de transport, non-profits like Heritage Montreal, and international agencies such as United Nations Human Settlements Programme for urban policy projects. The school convenes public lectures and symposia featuring speakers from institutions like Harvard Graduate School of Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UCL Bartlett School of Planning, and engages alumni networks across cities including Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and London.

Category:McGill University