Graduate students and faculty from Florida State University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) at the Mark and Marianne Barnebey Planning and Development Lab have been honored with the 2025 Award of Excellence in the Outstanding Student Project Group category by the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA).
The award recognizes the Barnebey Lab’s collaborative project, “Planning Solutions for Hillsborough County’s Future,” which was developed in partnership with the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission (Plan Hillsborough).
The award was presented at the Florida Planning Conference (FPC), held September 16–19 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. Faculty leaders and student representatives from the Barnebey Lab were in attendance to accept the honor during the opening plenary session.
“The Barnebey Lab worked alongside Plan Hillsborough to deliver innovative, context-specific recommendations for updating Hillsborough County’s Future Land Use Map,” said Dennis Smith, Planner-in-Residence and Director of the Barnebey Lab. “Through research, engagement with planning practitioners, and scenario planning across four key urban areas, the Lab helped advance a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable vision for the County’s future growth.”
In addition to the group award, Florida State DURP student Marissa Goss also earned first place in the Student Poster Competition at the Florida Planning Conference for her presentation of the Okaloosa County Vulnerability Assessment project, which she worked on as a graduate research assistant in the Barnebey Lab.
“Attending FPC as a student in FSU DURP demonstrates how this program sets you up for success in the professional environment,” said Goss.
The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission is an independent agency that provides planning recommendations for land use, transportation, and the environment. It serves Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City.
“As a first-year MSP student, attending the Florida Planning Conference was a great way to familiarize myself with the field of planning,” said Camila Lam, a DURP student who attended the conference. “I established valuable connections, engaged in a lot of networking, and learned more about the amazing things planners do to make a difference in people’s lives.”
The commission is currently updating the comprehensive plan for unincorporated Hillsborough County. This includes reviewing and possibly revising the Future Land Use Element and Map to meet the needs of residents better.
APA is a professional organization dedicated to urban planning in the United States. It was established in 1978 through the merger of two predecessor organizations: the American Institute of Planners and the American Society of Planning Officials. Today, its professional branch is the American Institute of Certified Planners.
To learn more about the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/durp. To learn more about the Barnebey Lab, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/barn.