About Us

The Rudy Bruner Center for Urban Excellence, housed within the University at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning, focuses on fostering innovative thinking and dialogue about the role of design in the complex process of Placemaking. 

2014 Bruer Loeb Forum Designing for Equity work session.

Funded by a $5 Million endowment from the Bruner Foundation, the Rudy Bruner Center (RBC) serves as a vital resource for research, scholarship and practice related to creating beautiful, equitable and resilient urban spaces. The center collaborates closely with UB Regional Insititute which is a research center within the School of Architecture and Planning and also with the UB Libraries.

Building on the legacy of the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA), a national design award was established in 1985 and was named after Rudy Bruner. the center continues the work of recognizing and documenting transformative urban places that enhance the economic, environmental, and social well-being of communities. The RBA, which concluded its final awards in 2019, honored 88 such places across the United States.

“The Bruner way of judging gives design work the meaning, dignity, importance, and relevance to the community that it deserves.”

- Susan Szenasy | Publisher and Editor-in-Chief METROPOLIS Magazine

  • Guiding Principles
    8/19/24
    The Rudy Bruner Center for Urban Excellence emphasizes on the quality of design and placemaking through the following guiding principles.
  • Our Mission and Vision
    8/19/24
    The Rudy Bruner Center for Urban Excellence promotes innovative thinking and conversation about the role of design in cities.
  • Our History
    7/15/24
    The Bruner Foundation was established in 1963 by Rudy and Martha Bruner in order to promote social change and provide opportunities for community development in urban contexts. Rudy Bruner had profound interest in architecture and cities while he also published books by Frank Lloyd Wright under Horizon Press.
  • Our Team
    9/4/24
    Our Team is comprised of faculty, staff, and students across various decanal units and departments at the University at Buffalo, but is housed within the UB School of Architecture and Planning.
  • Contact Us
    8/19/24
    Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo is conveniently located, just 20 minutes from the airport.