Penn Launches New MSD Program in Property Development and Design for Practicing Architects and Designers

Weitzman is launching the Master of Science in Design with a concentration in Property Development and Design (MSD-PDD)—a new post-professional program tailored for architects, landscape architects, and planners looking to lead in the fast-evolving real estate development sector.

“Increasingly, designers are stepping beyond traditional design roles,” says Rossana Hu, Miller Professor and chair of architecture, co-founder at Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, and the program’s director. “The MSD-PDD empowers design professionals to drive value in development processes without sacrificing architectural quality or sustainability goals.”

“The MSD-PDD develops conceptual and design abilities while allowing students to engage the economic, municipal, and environmental factors critical to a project’s success. It meets a growing need for architects to lead conversations about housing, land use, and urban equity,” says Richard Garber, an architect and co-founder at New York’s GRO Architects who is the program’s associate director.

The MSD-PDD expands on the school’s popular Real Estate Design and Development Certificate to offer a more immersive academic experience and robust credential. Over two semesters and a required summer session, students will gain the skills and vocabulary needed to become leaders as well as contributors in real estate ventures—from affordable housing and mixed-use developments to adaptive reuse and city-scale planning efforts.

Program Highlights

• Cross-Disciplinary Approach: Courses are taught by Weitzman faculty in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, and urban implementation, and by faculty at the Wharton School, including required coursework in finance and capital flows. Students also gain skills in stakeholder management, negotiation, and decision making.
• Studio-Based Learning: Students engage in interdisciplinary studios and workshops to connect digital design tools with development metrics.
• Industry Engagement: Direct interaction with leading architects, developers, attorneys, and policymakers through lectures, case studies, and collaborative coursework.
• Career Versatility: Ideal for professionals seeking roles in development firms, city agencies, or those launching their own design-build ventures.

What Sets the Penn MSD-PDD Apart

• Global Outlook: Students are prepared to work internationally, in emerging markets, and navigate challenges such as design norms, differing regulations, cultural contexts, and market trends.
• Social Equity and Impact: A curriculum that incorporates ethical development practices, focusing on affordable housing, mixed-income communities, and public-private partnerships. 
• Financial Innovation in Real Estate: Workshops on financial models and tools reshaping the real estate industry such as tokenization, REITs, impact investing, and alternative financing methods.
• Emerging Design Technologies: Course content includes property technology (“PropTech”) integration, 3D printing, advanced BIM, modular construction, blockchain in property transactions, and AI for market analysis.
• Sustainability: An emphasis on tools like green building certifications (LEED, WELL, SITES), modular housing technologies, renewable energy systems, and climate-responsive development. 
• Real-World Experience: Course content is grounded in active collaboration with developers, attorneys, planners, and city agencies in cities like Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. Students would work on live developments, from conceptual design to financial modeling and community engagement.

Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open with a deadline of January 7, 2026. Practicing professionals, entrepreneurs, and graduating students with a background in architecture, landscape architecture, or urban planning are encouraged to apply.

For more information, visit pdd.design.upenn.edu.