Patrick Condon

Patrick Condon serves as the James Taylor Chair in Landscape and Liveable Environments at the University of British Columbia, where he has been a faculty member since 1992 after beginning his academic career at the University of Minnesota in 1985. With over 25 years of professional experience spanning city planning and academia, he previously directed UBC's landscape architecture program and leads the Design Centre for Sustainability's Sustainability by Design initiative.

His educational credentials include:

• Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts
• Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts

Condon pioneers research in sustainable urban design with emphases on systemic change in city-building practices, public engagement methodologies, and climate-responsive planning. His work integrates landscape architecture with public health considerations and community co-creation processes, addressing critical challenges in urban densification, carbon neutrality, and equitable community development across North American and Australian contexts. The practical application of his theories is evident in real-world implementations like the East Clayton sustainable community project.

His recent publications demonstrate evolving focus from foundational sustainable city principles (2007-2010) toward urgent contemporary challenges like urban health crises ("Sick City", 2021) and actionable frameworks for future-ready cities ("Five rules for tomorrow’s cities", 2020), consistently emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration and policy innovation.

Major recognitions include:

• Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence
• BC Union of Municipalities Award of Excellence

awarded for the groundbreaking 100-year carbon-neutral plan developed with the City of North Vancouver.

Through the Design Centre for Sustainability, Condon directs multi-jurisdictional projects advancing sustainable urban landscapes, securing partnerships with municipalities across three countries. His grant-funded work focuses on operationalizing sustainability through design charrettes and systemic planning reforms rather than traditional academic advising, reflecting his practitioner-scholar approach to urban transformation.