Media Contacts:
Museum: Carol Abrams, 202.272.2448, ext. 3402, [email protected]
ULI: Trisha Riggs, 202.624.7086, [email protected]

Washington, D.C.—The National Building Museum announced today that it has selected the Urban Land Institute (ULI) as its 2012 Honor Awardee. The selection recognizes ULI’s 75 years of leadership in urban planning, land use, and development. Also, the award celebrates ULI’s dedication to building more sustainable communities that conserve land and energy worldwide. The Museum will present the award to ULI on March 15, 2012 at the Museum’s annual Honor Award gala.

“The Museum’s Honor Award recognizes leaders who have defined our culture, developed our communities, and crafted our built environment,” said Chase W. Rynd, president and executive director of the National Building Museum. “We salute the Urban Land Institute for its longstanding commitment to multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan research that impacts the built environment. With this award, we applaud ULI as a leading voice for smart growth and for strategies that go beyond bricks and mortar to enhance the quality of life in the world’s urban communities.”

“This prestigious award is an incredible honor for the Institute,” said ULI Chief Executive Officer Patrick L. Phillips. “ULI’s selection as the 2012 recipient of the Honor Award is a wonderful validation of the unwavering, worldwide commitment by our members, sponsors, and staff to excellence in community building.”

ULI was established in 1936 when cities across the United States were struggling to recover from the Great Depression. ULI began researching, analyzing, and encouraging responsible patterns for long-term urban growth. The founders’ objectives continue to guide ULI. The organization strives to provide the private and public sectors with pragmatic land use expertise and education through research, publications, and professional development. ULI is a preeminent forum for local, national, and international industry leaders and policy makers to exchange ideas, information, and experience.

Today, ULI represents the spectrum of the land use and development industry, including developers, builders, investors, designers, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, attorneys, engineers, lenders, professors, and students. ULI facilitates cross-disciplinary dialog and research about market trends, best practices, and future challenges facing urban markets. ULI has nearly 30,000 members worldwide, with 51 district councils in the U.S., 16 national councils in Europe and Asia, and primary offices in Washington, D.C., London, and Hong Kong.

As part of ULI’s 75th anniversary commitment to urban innovation, it has provided the largest amount in the ULI Foundation’s history to support local projects. These local ULI projects will recognize or launch innovative approaches to local land use challenges.

“ULI and the National Building Museum share a keen interest in anticipating how changing economic, demographic, and environmental factors will impact cities,” said Charleston, South Carolina Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. “The Museum’s selection of ULI recognizes the resources and practical advice ULI delivers to help revitalize urban areas so that they can meet the needs of future generations.”

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM HONOR AWARD
The National Building Museum bestowed its first Honor Award in 1986 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made important contributions to the nation’s building heritage. Recipients are selected from a wide variety of backgrounds to call attention to the many factors that determine the form and quality of the built environment. Past honorees include Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Cindy and Jay Pritzker, DuPont, Related, and The Associated General Contractors of America.

AWARD PRESENTATION & GALA INFORMATION
Jessie Cochran, [email protected], 202.272.2448, ext. 3150

ABOUT ULI AND THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
The Urban Land Institute (uli.org) is a global nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.

The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution dedicated to advancing the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives. Through its exhibitions, educational programs, online content, and publications, the Museum has become a vital forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the world we build for ourselves. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org.