Urban Land Institute

The Urban Land Institute, or ULI, is a nonprofit research and education organization with regional offices in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and London. Its stated mission is to "shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide". Its Mission Commitments are: CONNECT active, passionate, diverse members through the foremost global network of interdisciplinary professionals INSPIRE best practices for equitable and sustainable land use through content, education, convening, mentoring, and knowledge sharing LEAD in solving community and real estate challenges through applied collective global experience and philanthropic engagement ULI advocates progressive development, conducting research, and education in topics such as sustainability, smart growth, compact development, place making, and workforce housing. ULI was founded in 1936 and currently has more than 45,000 members, with more than 10% of the members working in government, academia, or public-private partnerships. Most of the rest are involved in the real estate and urban development industries. ULI produces publications and regular research "that anticipates emerging land use trends and issues, proposing creative solutions based on that research" and "imparts knowledge to help the development community continuously improve its performance." ULI also maintains a number of initiatives and programs, including the Advisory Services Program that provides government, businesses, and nonprofits with strategic advice on real estate development and urban policy issues. The program has assisted more than 700 communities around the United States and the world in dealing with issues ranging from revitalization to resiliency to economic growth. The Institute is governed by a Global Board of Directors, made up of member volunteers. The board is currently headed by the Global Chairman, Owen D. Thomas, chief executive officer of Boston Properties, a role previously held by Thomas Toomey, president and CEO of UDR. Further details ...