A program of the Bruner Foundation, the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence is a national design award that recognizes transformative urban places distinguished by their economic and social contributions to America’s cities. Founded in 1986 by architect Simeon Bruner, the award seeks to promote innovative thinking about the built environment and to advance conversation about making cities better by celebrating and sharing the stories of creative and inspiring urban development (projects).

One gold medal and four silver medals are awarded each biennial, with the gold medalist receiving a $50,000 cash prize and each silver medalist receiving $10,000. To be eligible, projects must be urban, built (not just a plan or a program), in operation long enough to demonstrate impact, and located within the continental United States.

The award is intended to be a point of departure for the exploration of urban excellence and the role of design in cities and a resource for anyone interested in learning about urban development. It is distinguished by its extensive application and selection process and the detailed documentation of the winners.