Field Course: Real Estate, Planning, and Urban Design; Redevelopment of the Hudson Railroad Yards in Manhattan

Course Number 6412

Visiting Lecturer A. Eugene Kohn
Professor Richard Peiser (GSD)
Adjunct Associate Professor Bing Wang (GSD)
Winter, Q3Q4, 3 credits
Thursdays 3:00-6:00

Jointly-listed at Harvard Design School

Educational Objectives

This Field Study course is intended to give students an understanding of the dynamics and complexities of reality that create contemporary urban physical environments. The course emphasizes the integration of design and development aspects of projects that respond to realistic market demand, political, financial and other regulatory constraints. It is designed for real estate developers, private and public equity investors, architects, urban/landscape designers and planners, to broaden their understanding of urban development issues and complicated problems, as well as to improve the applicability of their skills in either design or financial analysis in the context of urban developments.

Course Content and Organization

This year's site is Hudson Railroad Yards in Manhattan. Gene Kohn's firm, KPF, is the architect for The Related Companies on the site. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams undertaking the field study projects sponsored this year by the Real Estate Academic Initiative. Under the guidance of the professors, students will act as professional consultants to provide alternative visions and solutions for developing the site. Students will visit the site in late February. The first part of the course will be devoted to master planning the entire site; the second part of the course will focus on development of the first phase or on areas within the site selected by the team. During the semester, investigations will include development feasibility studies (market, physical, environmental, and political), site planning, urban design, financing analysis, public/private joint-venture structures, public approvals, and other critical factors affecting the planning, design and development of the project. Juries with outside professionals and faculty will be held for the midterm and final reviews.