ULI has selected Patrick J. Kiger as the recipient of the 2016 ULI Apgar Urban Land Award, which recognizes industry articles of practical value published in Urban Land magazine, the Institute’s flagship publication. Kiger was honored at the 2016 ULI Spring Meeting in Philadelphia.
Kiger was selected for his article, “Imagining the Driverless City,” which was published in the September/October 2015 issue of the magazine. The article highlights robotic vehicles, drones, and other cutting-edge technological advances that have the potential to reshape urban land use. Kiger investigates this phenomenon and gets the perspectives of industry leaders on how these advances could boost walkable urbanism, reduce the need for parking structures, cause architects to reimagine building design, and, in general, have as significant an impact on the real estate industry in the 21st century as the automobile did in the 20th century.
Kiger, a regular contributor to Urban Land, is a Takoma Park, Maryland–based writer who blogs for the Science Channel, the Washington Educational Television Association (WETA), and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). He has also served as a researcher for the Center for Public Integrity, a senior writer for Baltimore magazine, and a reporter for both the Orange County Register and the Pittsburgh Press (now Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). He is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Kiger received the Apgar Award during ULI’s Spring Meeting in Philadelphia this week. “This article exemplifies what makes Urban Land a ‘must-read’ publication for our members,” said ULI Global Chairman Randall K. Rowe, who announced the award winner to meeting attendees. “Patrick adeptly tackled a complex issue of great importance to real estate professionals worldwide—the intersection of technology and urban development. We congratulate him on a job well done.”
The award, which is based on work published during the previous calendar year, recognizes the authors of Urban Land articles that best advance the Institute’s mission and priorities. Presented annually from 1991 to 2006, the award was reintroduced in 2012 with the intent of encouraging entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals to communicate their ideas, knowledge, research, and experience for the benefit of the entire real estate community.
The ULI Apgar Urban Land Award was created by longtime ULI member and current ULI Governor Mahlon “Sandy” Apgar, in order to highlight and recognize the quality of writing in Urban Land magazine. A $500 honorarium is presented to the winning authors. Articles are judged on the criteria of relevance to current land use and development issues; strength of the authors’ analyses; perceptiveness of the authors’ reasoning; clarity of presentation; and overall contribution to the advancement of ULI’s mission and current priorities.
