NEW YORK CITY—The NYU School of Professional Studies Schack Institute of Real Estate has launched the NYUSPS Urban Lab, a research and engagement initiative that will explore the relationship between real estate and cities as centers of economic activity and innovation.

Urbanist and NYUSPS clinical research professor Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class, has been named the first Urban Lab distinguished fellow. The launch of the Lab comes just before the 50^th anniversary of the Schack Institute.

Directed by NYUSPS Schack Institute clinical assistant professor Steven Pedigo, the Lab will be active on several fronts. Collaborating with real estate investors and developers, city officials and practitioners—along with faculty members and students across NYU and the NYU School of Professional Studies—it will develop applied research insights and case studies, convene leading thinkers and practitioners to discuss the challenges facing the real estate industry and cities, and offer a suite of professional development courses and programs for city builders, economic development practitioners, and real estate professionals.

The Lab will launch an urban fellows program this year comprised of researchers, real estate investors and developers, civic leaders, and economic development practitioners from around the world.

“The work of the NYUSPS Urban Lab will shape the practice of real estate and urban development, guide the policy debate, and broaden the NYUSPS Schack Institute of Real Estate's leadership role at the intersection of urbanism and real estate,” states Dr. Sam Chandan, Larry & Klara Silverstein chair in Real Estate Development and Investment, and associate dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies Schack Institute of Real Estate.

Asserts Dennis Di Lorenzo, Harvey J. Stedman dean of the NYU School of Professional Studies, “Through the NYUSPS Urban Lab, the NYU School of Professional Studies and its Schack Institute of Real Estate are uniquely positioned to play a leading role in developing an urban agenda, which focuses on the critical socio-economic policies that are requisite to building and maintaining creative and resilient cities now and in the future.”

“More than ever before, we must coexist in an urban world—living, working, and creating cities,” notes Pedigo. “It is our hope that the insights uncovered by the Urban Lab and its fellows can help to guide those working in our cities to make them stronger and more sustainable for the future.”

The Lab will launch an urban fellows program this year comprised of researchers, real estate investors and developers, civic leaders, and economic development practitioners from around the world.

Instant Insights /

NYU Schack RE School Creates Applied Research Program

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