The Bruner Foundation / Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence
A National Design Award Recognizing Transformative Urban Places Distinguisted by Their Economic and Social Contributions to America’s Cities
360 Degree Consulting
For nearly a decade prior to the its 2022 discontinuation, PCI developed ongoing, integrated marketing programs for the RBA comprising new outlets, tools, and digital resources to promote award entries and fuel awareness of its rich 35-year knowledge repository. These included an exclusive Metropolis magazine Inspiring Design speaker series content partnership for public and professional engagement and education; expansion of media targets and local market outreach; media pitch development; social media campaigns; website updates; award ceremonies and exhibit ideas; and the repurposing of content for RBA case study books. The complete RBA archive is now housed at the University of Buffalo, available for research on exemplary urban design practices in contemporary America.
Goal:
boosting awareness of and engagement with this venerable award dedicated to “advancing the conversation on making cities better” among target audiences; encouraging entries among design professionals, educators, students, and the public; and underscoring RBA as a superior urban planning educational resource
Results:
entries nearly doubled in the first partnership cycle, media coverage doubled by the second cycle, and the Metropolis magazine exclusive partnership flowered from project, medal winner, and summary posts to a speaker series focused on urban placemaking in America
“For nearly a decade of our biennial award,
Debra has consulted with us on strategy, content partnerships, storytelling, media targeting and outreach, social media promotion, and public programs and events. She presents fresh ideas and approaches that advance our thinking, and identifies valuable opportunities to leverage communications to increase our impact. She has elevated awareness of the Rudy Bruner Award in numerous ways, improving the visibility of the program and our 35 years of cumulative experience and knowledge in urban design and development nationwide.”
—Anne-Marie Lubenau, FAIA, Director, Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence
