Golden Hammer Awards 2011
The letter announcing the Neighborhood
Revitalization Award to the MURP Program.
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Virginia Planning Directors Conference
On March 25, 2010, URPSA hosted the first Virginia Planning Directors Conference, a symposium of
local planning directors visiting Virginia's graduate planning programs. The event featured
planning directors from Richmond; Petersburg; and Hanover, New Kent, Orange, Goochland,
Chesterfield, and Fairfax Counties. The directors discussed working in the field of planning,
Virginia planning issues, and networking opportunities for graduate and certificate students.
The event was organized by VCU Master of Urban and Regional Planning alumnus Jim Zook
(Class of 1975), the director of the Masters program Dr. Ivan Suen, and URPSA President Tyler
Klein.
The Planning Directors photographed with the officers of URPSA. From left to right:
George Homewood (New Kent Co.), Mike Crescenzo (Hanover Co.), Kirk Turner (Chesterfield Co.),
Leonard A. Muse (Petersburg), Robert Hammond (Goochland Co.), Rachel O'Dwyer Flynn (Richmond),
Debbie Kendall (Orange Co.), Katie Schwing (URPSA Vice President), Jennifer Peterson
(URPSA Secretary), Heath Henshaw (URPSA Treasurer), Tyler Klein (URPSA President), Jim Zook
(Fairfax Co.)
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Special Recognition
Ms. Robin Marlles gives the first annual John R. Marlles Revitalization Scholarship
in honor of her late husband to Margaret Barre, first-year student in the Master of Urban and
Regional Planning program, while sonse David and Justin Marlles (left) and John Accordino, former
coordinator of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program (right), look on.
The Henrico Citizen published this article about the event and the creation of the scholarship.
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URPSA Welcome Gathering (Fall 2008)
(From L to R) Craig McIvor, Laura Baker and Lauren Blair (not a student, but a
planner in Chesterfield Co.) at the Fall 2008 URPSA Welcome Gathering.
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Home-building Project for Habitat for Humanity (Spring 2008)
Seven members of the Urban & Regional Planning Student Association (URPSA) at VCU participated
in a day-long home-building project for Habitat for Humanity on Friday, 18 April 2008. All of the
student volunteers are enrolled in the Master of Urban & Regional Planning Program in the L.
Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. One non-student volunteer was also on hand
to lend his services.
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Study Abroad--London Study Tour (Summer 2008)
aboard the London Eye
Riverside View
Gabriel's Wharf
Adelaide's Wharf
Adelaide Wharf Canal View
Coin Street
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Study Abroad--London Study Tour (Summer 2007)
Letchworth Garden City
Docklands Redevelopment
Brixton Market
Downtown Birmingham
Sikh Temple in Southall
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Community Garden Project (2007)
dents from the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program lend a helping hand to
Tricycle Gardens, a non-profit group that transforms vacant lots to community gardens.
Students spent a beautiful Saturday digging post holes and mixing concrete to build a
fence around the garden in the Carver community, on the north side of Broad Street, adjacent to
VCU’s Monroe Park campus.
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Federal Court Building Tour (2007)
Dr. John Accordino and a group of MURP students join officials from Jacobs
Construction Management on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Federal Court Building at 8th and Broad
Streets in downtown Richmond.
The MURP group stands in front of the Federal Court Building at 8th and Broad. When
completed, the building will have attained a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) rating. One of the items that led to the Silver rating is a system that collects rainwater
from the roof that will be used to irrigate the site’s landscaping.
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