Purnima Kapur is Harvard University’s inaugural Chief of University Planning and Design. She oversees Planning and Design for all of Harvard University’s Campuses in Cambridge, Allston, the Longwood Medical Area as well as Harvard’s long range, and multi-phased work in Allston. She is a visiting faculty member at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAAP).
Purnima has more than 25 years of experience in the New York City Planning Department, culminating with her appointment as the Executive Director of the City Planning Department, where she oversaw all land use planning and policies for the City of New York’s neighborhood planning studies, economic development, and resiliency initiatives. Purnima is one of the key architects of New York City’s groundbreaking Mandatory Inclusionary Housing regulation. Under her leadership, the city adopted five Integrated Neighborhood Plans in four boroughs, as well as an innovative plan for the redevelopment of Greater East Midtown. Prior to that Purnima was a key player in the redevelopment and transformation of Brooklyn for over two decades, leading high-priority and transformative projects, including the development of Greenpoint-Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, and Coney Island among other neighborhoods.
Over the years, Purnima has also provided consulting services on planning and development projects in several US Cities as well as internationally.
Purnima holds a master’s degree in City Planning and Architecture Studies and a Master of Science of Architecture Studies from MIT. She also holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture Delhi.