In Affordable Housing in the United States, Associate Professors Gregg Colburn and Rebecca Walter, explore the definition, policies, and challenges of affordable housing, offering insights into the barriers and solutions for addressing this growing crisis.
Category: News
Judy Runstad Recognized for Her Leadership and Service
Judy Runstad, prominent attorney, civic leader, and philanthropist, has been named the 2025 Seattle King County First Citizen — a distinguished recognition honoring her decades-long impact on the region’s civic and built environments.
Remembering Matt Disston
“He was always easy going and willing to help you out no matter what you needed. He was more interested in seeing students succeed than anything else. Also, he loved to show off his guitars to the class and was always finding ways to connect with us.”
Remembering Jon Runstad: A Philanthropist and Real Estate Visionary
The Runstad Department of Real Estate is deeply saddened by the loss of Jon Runstad ’64, a prominent figure in the real estate industry and a dedicated philanthropist.
Governor Inslee makes second visit to College of Built Environments in 18 months
Governor Inslee recently visited the College of Built Environments, where he met with several faculty members to discuss their research and its relevance to his proposal to increase investment in affordable housing.
Nicole DeNamur honored at Business of Pride
On June 8th, the Puget Sound Business Journal will celebrate LGBTQ+ business leaders at “Business of Pride: Outstanding Voices and LBGTQ+ Businesses. Among those honored is one of the department’s instructors, Nicole DeNamur.
Owner of Sustainable Strategies, a company that helps companies identify and manage risks centered around sustainable innovation, Nicole has been speaking, writing, and teaching about sustainable spaces for nearly ten years. Before launching Sustainable Strategies, Nicole practiced construction and insurance coverage law in Seattle. Nicole has been an instructor in the Runstad Department since 2014, and teaches the course RE 459 Risk in Sustainable Development. Nicole’s course explores the intersection between sustainable practices and inclusive spaces.
Congratulations Nicole!
Professor Sofia Dermisi co-authors new book, Professional Real Estate Development
The Urban Land Institute published the 4th edition of the Professional Real Estate Development, co-authored by Professor Sofia Dermisi. Dermisi holds a joint appointment between the Department of Real Estate and the Department of Urban Design and Planning.
Rising rents are drowning Washington’s smaller cities
Seattle may have the highest rents statewide, but communities such as Walla Walla and Spokane have seen the most drastic losses in affordability. | Crosscut
Online talk about Transforming the Irvine Ranch: Joan Irvine, William Pereira, Ray Watson, and THE BIG PLAN
UC Irvine Libraries is hosting a Hybrid Book Talk and Lecture on the History of the City of Irvine and UCI. This event will feature H. Pike Oliver and C. Michael Stockstill, authors of Transforming the Irvine Ranch: Joan Irvine, William Pereira, Ray Watson, and The Big Plan for an insiders’ account of the history of UCI and its surrounding community.
2022 Runstad Leadership Dinner
The Runstad Department of Real Estate held its 9th annual Runstad Leadership Dinner on October 13th with more than 700 people in attendance. This year the Leadership Dinner focused on raising support for undergraduate students within the Department.