Our History

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.

The Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA) began with architect Simeon Bruner who founded the award as part of the Bruner Foundation. The idea for RBA was born during a gathering hosted by the Bruner foundation in New York City in 1985. Where Simeon Bruner invited researchers from the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) annual conference to discuss enhancement and understanding of architecture’s role in urban environments. Bruner as an architect thought it was frustrating to see the focus of architectural awards and publications on buildings as an object and not considering the surroundings, what makes it a great place? and wanted the focus and celebrate the process of placemaking. The meeting concluded with the concept of a new award to recognize not just the finished product but the merits and methods that shape it and make a great place.

Architects Robert G. Shibley and Polly Welch designed the award program. Creating a comprehensive and in-depth application process with accurate evaluation methodologyconsidering the process of placemaking. The inaugural was held in 1987 attracting 81 submissions, with Pike Place Market in Seattle winning the top prize.

The insights from the competition were published in the book “Urban Excellence” by Philip Langdon in 1990 which included detailed case studies of each of the award winning projects along with a description of the selection process and the lessons learned from the winners.

Since then, the RBA has recognized 88 places over 17 biennial cycles. Each cycle is documented in a book published both online and in print, with entries archived at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. The extensive collection of case studies, essays, and publications produced by the RBA offers a wealth of knowledge on urban excellence.

The RBA was featured in one of four stories discussed in the book Placemaking: The Art and Practice of Building Communities by Lynda H. Schneekloth and Robert G. Shibley (published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in 1995) and highlighted in numerous journals in Architecture Magazine, Architectural Record, Design Book Review, Designer-Builder, Foundation News and Commentary, Metropolis, New Village, and Urban Land.

The RBA's contributions extend beyond its awards. It has published significant works such as "Sustaining Urban Excellence" (1998) and contributed chapters to influential books like "Timesaver Standards for Urban Design" (2003). RBA papers have been presented at various conferences, sharing insights on creating excellent urban places.

The Bruner Loeb Forum was created by the Rudy Bruner Award and the Harvard Loeb Fellowship to advance creative thinking about urban placemaking. Hosted in partnership with local organizations working in cities across the United States, the forums brought together practitioners working in different fields for candid conversations about real world opportunities and challenges. Eighteen forums took place between 2002 and 2014, each framed around a specific issue or question posed by the host organization.

In 2020 RBA produced online events in collaboration with the Association of American Schools of Architecture, Chicago Architecture Center, and Enterprise Community Partners.

The biennial award was put on hold in 2020, and in Fall 2022, the RBA transitioned to the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning. This move marks a new chapter for the RBA, positioning it as a valuable resource for research, scholarship, and practice in urban design. The legacy of the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence continues to inspire and inform the creation of beautiful, just, and resilient places.