Amanda Burden, Chair of the New York City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning, is the recipient of the Architectural League of New York’s highest honor, the President’s Medal. The League’s President and Board of Directors grant the award to individuals in recognition of an exceptional body of work in architecture, urbanism, or design. The medal was presented to Burden last night at an awards ceremony.

According to the League, Amanda Burden has “raised the bar for quality design in public and private development, demonstrating that good design is essential to the long-term health and sustainability of cities.” Under Burden’s leadership, the City Planning Commission has worked to promote transit-oriented economic development through rezoning more than a third of the city, with the creation of urban master plans for major neighborhoods like Jamaica, Downtown Brooklyn, Hudson Yards, Coney Island, and 125th Street.

Burden has been instrumental in the development of some of New York City’s most important public spaces, including the High Line, the revitalization of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the East River Waterfront Esplanade, IKEA Erie Basin Park, and the National 9/11 Memorial. Through these efforts, Burden has been a champion of design, proving its role in fostering economic and social development of communities.