Jonathan Barnett

Jonathan Barnett has established himself as one of the most influential figures in modern city design through his extensive career spanning academia, public service, and international consulting. As Professor Emeritus of Practice in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, where he previously directed the Urban Design Program, he has shaped multiple generations of city designers through his teaching across the United States, Australia, China, Korea, and Brazil. His impact on urban planning began during the Lindsay administration as a founder of New York City's Urban Design Group, where he pioneered innovative zoning approaches that continue to influence city planning today. With degrees from Yale (magna cum laude and M.Arch) and Cambridge (M.A.), he has applied his expertise to transformative consulting projects in major cities including Charleston, Cleveland, Kansas City, Nashville, Norfolk, Miami, Omaha, and Pittsburgh, while also advising cities in China and Korea. His scholarly contributions include influential books such as "Urban Design as Public Policy" and "City Design: Modernist, Traditional, Green and Systems Perspectives," which have garnered over 2,650 citations. His exceptional contributions to urban design have been recognized with prestigious awards including the Dale Prize for Excellence in Urban Design and Regional Planning, the Athena Medal from the Congress for the New Urbanism, and the William H. Whyte Award for his pioneering work in urban design education.