NYU Wagner Alumnus Ignacio Aravena Awarded Chilean Congress Merit Medal

For his role in the passage of crucial changes to a law aimed at reforming Chile’s building permits system, NYU Wagner alumnus Ignacio Aravena (MUP 2020) was awarded a Congress Merit Medal by Chilean Congressman Fuenzalida.

Aravena assisted congress members and presented to Congress on a legislative change under "Boletín N°15534-14," which modifies articles of the primary urban law in Chile (LGUC). The changes, now enacted, streamline and improve the processes for the government entities granting building permits and clarifies the legal framework for permit approval for municipal authorities, construction professionals, and landowners. 

“This proposal is particularly significant because a large-scale real estate project in Chile must comply with numerous regulations, including urban planning requirements, transportation impact studies, public space provisions, environmental impact assessments, and seismic codes, among others,” said Aravena. “Due to the complexity and number of these requirements, obtaining a building permit often takes more than a year, even though the LGUC (Ley General de Urbanismo y Construcciones) mandates a deadline of one month. This discrepancy negatively impacts investment and delays the expansion of the housing stock.”

Since graduating from Wagner in 2020, Aravena is now a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics and has been working with Fundación P!ensa, a think tank focused on promoting improved regional and urban policies in Chile. Aravenahas monthly opinion columns in CNN Chile and other major media outlets, building his reputation as an expert in the field. As a result, he was invited to present recommendations on the proposed changes to the law during the initial legislative process, which led to his ultimate involvement in the project. 

“It is an honor to collaborate with legislators and decision-makers to contribute to the development of my country; this goal was one of the main reasons I enrolled in the Master of Urban Planning program at NYU Wagner,” said Aravena. “I believe my education has been pivotal in this journey, as both experiences have allowed me to explore how policy and laws impact urban development, societal well-being, and market dynamics. A recognition of my work encourages me even more to keep working in this intersection, trying better to inform the policymaking process through my academic work.”