<p><span class="p-body">For Robert Marino, architecture and city planning have always been about more than just creating buildings—but about shaping how people live and interact with their environment. As an instructor in the&nbsp;<a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/development-and-land-use.html" target="_blank">Certificate in Development and Land Use</a> program at NYU SPS, he brings years of experience in architecture, urban planning, and development to help students understand the forces that shape New York City’s real estate industry.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Marino earned his architecture degree from the University of Detroit School of Architecture and spent six years working as a licensed architect in Detroit. Frequent visits to New York City eventually inspired him to make the move permanent. “After two weeks, I was working at Steven Jacobs and Associates, and learned quickly what drove residential developers and how creative design provided solutions for new buildings or adaptive reuse,” he explains. His work in architecture naturally led him to development, where he saw firsthand how zoning laws and building codes impact urban growth.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">Before becoming an instructor, Marino was deeply involved with the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), where he chaired several committees.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span class="p-body">In his courses, Marino helps students understand how policies and regulations shape the built environment. “Building codes and zoning regulations help shape our cities and buildings, which impact the inhabitants—people like you and me—whose collective values determine changes to building codes and zoning regulations,” he explains. The program’s curriculum is grounded in real-world applications, with students analyzing case studies that connect legal details to broader urban planning goals.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">According to Marino, New York City is the ideal place to study development and land use because of its complexity and constant evolution. “Development in NYC requires an understanding of the economic, market, and complex regulatory factors particular to the city,” he says. The diversity of the city’s real estate—from large-scale projects to adaptive reuse—makes it a dynamic learning environment.</span></p> <p><span class="p-body">With an expert-led curriculum and a network of industry professionals, the <a href="/content/sps-nyu/certificates/development-and-land-use.html" target="_blank">Certificate in Development and Land Use</a> at NYU SPS provides students with the tools they need to make an impact in the field.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>