About the Furman Center

  • Furman Center RAs seated around a table, smiling
  • Posed photo of Mark Willis posing with NYU Furman Center's board member at the 2018 SOC event.
  • Candid photo of Furman Center Staff and RAs on a
  • Katherine O'Regan giving opening remarks at the 2018 SOC reception.
  • Photo of the panelists from the 2018 State of the City event
  • Candid photo of NYU Furman Center staff and RAs attending a presentation at Gowanus
  • Ingrid Gould Ellen giving opening remarks at the 2018 The Dream Revisited Event
  • Furman Center Staff & RAs seated around a table, smiling
  • Vicki Been giving opening address at podium
  • Candid shot of Furman Center representatives speaking at a NYU Wagner student event.
  • Posed photo of NYU Furman Center Staff and RAs on a trip to Gowanus
  • 7 speakers standing, smiling, posing

The NYU Furman Center advances research and debate on housing, neighborhoods, and urban policy. 

Established in 1995, it is a joint center of the New York University School of Law and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Its mission is to: 

  • Conduct objective academic and empirical research on legal and public policy issues involving land use, real estate, housing, and urban affairs in the United States;
  • Promote frank and productive discussions among elected and appointed officials, leaders of the real estate industry, leaders of non-profit housing and community development organizations, scholars, and students about critical issues in land use, real estate, and urban policy;
  • Present essential data and analysis about the state of New York City’s housing and neighborhoods to those involved in land use, real estate development, community economic development, housing, urban economics, and urban policy; and 
  • Train the next generation of urban policy leaders—including researchers, analysts, and practitioners—by fostering an enriching environment where students meaningfully contribute to the Center’s work.

The NYU Furman Center is named in honor of NYU Law alumnus Jay Furman, class of '71, an international real estate investor and developer. Mr. Furman provided generous financial support to endow the Center, and remained very involved in the Center's work as a constant source of support, ideas, and inspiration.

The NYU Furman Center received the prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions in 2012. This distinguished award recognized the Center's excellence in providing objective, policy-relevant research and analyses to address the challenges facing New York City and other communities across the nation. 

 

The NYU Furman Center is a partner of the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP).