Philadelphia, PA, February 2026 – DesignPhiladelphia is proud to announce that Omar Blaik, founder and CEO of U3 Advisors and a nationally recognized leader in community-centered urban development, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Edmund N. Bacon Urban Design Award. Blaik and the student finalists from the 2026 Edmund N. Bacon Urban Design Student Competition will be honored during a public ceremony on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Quorum at uCity Square. The VIP Reception begins at 5:30 PM, followed by the main ceremony at 6:45 PM. Registration is required.
Born to Lebanese parents in Cairo, Omar Blaik has spent his life working at the intersection of cultures, communities, and disciplines. From 1996 to 2006, he served as Senior Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate at the University of Pennsylvania, where he helped lead a renaissance of development projects that transformed both the campus and the surrounding West Philadelphia neighborhoods.
As CEO of U3 Advisors, Blaik has applied this philosophy across North America, directing collaborative efforts to reanimate and reimagine communities through place-based strategies. U3 Advisors continues to lead projects in Philadelphia and dozens of cities nationwide, grounded in a belief in the power of people and places to generate long-term, equitable impact. Blaik resides in West Philadelphia, where U3 Advisors is headquartered.
DesignPhiladelphia’s selection committee recognized Omar Blaik for his visionary leadership, collaborative approach, and sustained commitment to leveraging anchor institutions as engines for inclusive urban growth. His work closely aligns with the focus of the 2026 Edmund N. Bacon Urban Design Student Competition, which challenges students to engage with one of Philadelphia’s most significant redevelopment opportunities.
The 2026 competition invites students to focus on the former University of the Sciences campus in West Philadelphia. Following the 2022 merger of the University of the Sciences with Saint Joseph’s University and the subsequent decision to sell the University City campus, the site now stands at a pivotal moment. Students are asked to propose bold yet sustainable redevelopment strategies that respond to Philadelphia’s economic, social, and environmental needs while honoring the site’s historic significance and community.
The Edmund N. Bacon Urban Design Awards honor the legacy of Edmund N. Bacon (1910–2005), Philadelphia’s outspoken and influential City Planner and one of the most significant urban planners of the 20th century. As the first Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission from 1949 to 1970, Bacon shaped the city’s post World War II landscape and helped position Philadelphia as a national model for ambitious, forward-looking urban planning. His influence earned him a Time magazine cover in 1964 and lasting recognition across the field.
About DesignPhiladelphia DesignPhiladelphia’s vision is that together we will create a Philadelphia that is designed for and by everyone. We foster a vibrant design community from K through Career through multidisciplinary design education, our annual festival, and public programs. Our work opens doors and creates economic opportunities for students in underserved communities, supports and unifies the regional design industry, and advances Philadelphia’s identity as a global design hub where design is inclusive, impactful, and accessible to all. Learn more at www.designphiladelphia.org.