More than a decade after studying urban planning at Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, I will be teaching a class starting Fall 2015 titled, “Communications For the Built Environment” (PLA6608) — or as I like to call it, “Write Like You Give A Damn.”
Architects, urban designers and planners spend much of their time on graphics and mapping, statistical analysis and other forms of information. But few recognize the importance of writing and storytelling for winning clients, responding to RFPs, positioning a firm’s brand, creating presentations, etc. So that’s what students will learn to do in a multi-disciplinary setting — create a firm profile, write content for projects, respond to an RFP, and interview/present to win a project, which will be critiqued by professionals currently working in the field. (Planning students who will be writing their thesis in the Spring will benefit from the writing exercises as well.)
The class is offered through the planning school but I will be actively recruiting students across the built environment — from sustainability to real estate, planning to preservation, architecture to urban design. Students will benefit greatly from guest lecturers and critics, including Thomas K. Wright, President of the Regional Plan Association; Jonathan Marvel, Founder and Principal of Marvel Architects; Jeffrey Shumaker, Chief Urban Designer for New York City Department of City Planning; Tomas Rossant and Molly McGowan, Partners in Ennead Architects; Adam Yarinsky of ARO; Helen Dimoff, Partner in NBBJ and Director of Communications; and others.
PLA6608 meets Mondays 4-6 in 201 Fayerweather.