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Keating Retires

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Larry Keating, professor in City and Regional Planning, retired in May 2006, after devoting the last 33 years to teaching, leading studios, and performing his research.

Keating received his Bachelor's of Architecture in 1967 and Master's degrees in Architecture-Urban Design in 1968 both at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1978.

Keating began his career at Georgia Tech in September of 1973 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor and tenured in 1979 and was promoted to full professor in 2002.

Keating's work focused on planning, design, teaching, and learning in impoverished communities. His research is best characterized as "scholarship of engagement." He built his career around the involvement of institutions of higher education in community outreach and the ability of that involvement to derive knowledge. 

Over the years, Keating has taught History and Theory of Planning and led many planning studios. His students, in studios and in their option papers, have won several state, regional, or national awards. He helped found the Community Design Center of Atlanta, a private non-profit organization that provides urban planning and architectural technical assistance to low income neighborhoods and community-based non-profits. Through this Center, Keating has been a strong advocate for policies and programs in Atlanta to assist low-income or historically disadvantaged groups.

The quality of his scholarship has been recognized with two national awards. But the crowning touch to his research efforts to date is the publication of his book in 2001, Atlanta: Race, Class, and Urban Expansion. He has also brought in almost $2 million in funded research and provided funding for many students as they worked their way through school.

"Larry has touched the lives of many students and he has left behind a legacy already with Georgia Tech," said Cheryl Contant, director of City and Regional Planning Program. "It was his brain-child that led the Georgia Planning Association to fund an endowment, that he seeded with his own money, that will grow into a fund for a fellowship for one of our students."

Fernando Costa (BCE 1974, MSCE 1976, and MCP 1976), AICP, Planning Director, City of Fort Worth:

"I have known Larry since the fall of 1973, when I had the good fortune to attend his first lecture at Georgia Tech. I have subsequently dealt closely with him on a variety of fronts: as his student in Tech's Graduate City Planning Program (1974-76); as his colleague on the boards of the Georgia Planning Association (1985-1989) and the Atlanta Community Design Center (1989-98); and as his client when I served as planning director for the City of Atlanta (1987-98). Through all of those experiences, I came to admire Larry's intellect, his unwaveringidealism, and his dedication to teaching and mentoring.

Along the way, Larry's gentle manner, his sense of humor, and his healthy irreverence have provided a kind of moral compass for many of his clients, colleagues, and students. In the end, his work has appreciably improved the quality of life in dozens of disadvantaged communities while inspiring hundreds of planning students to pursue meaningful and productive careers."

Ellen Heath (M 1982 City and Regional Planning): 

"Professor Keating instilled in me the idea that it is the obligation of planners to be advocates for those that can't or don't speak for themselves."

Matt Williamson (M 2006 City and Regional Planning):
"Professionally, he has [of course] made me aware of issues surrounding housing equity, particularly for those folks who oftentimes do not have adequate representation. His classes and studio have opened my eyes to how organizations and individuals have and do [either accidentally or otherwise] sometimes exclude the considerations of disadvantaged groups when making community decisions.
Personally, I believe that he emphasizes the importance of planners to consider the impacts of both vocal stakeholders and those who may not have a voice in order to contribute to the greater well-being of our communities."

Even though Keating is formally retiring, he will not go far away. He will continue to teach one course in the fall and one in the spring as well as continue some research through Tech. He will also maintain advising thesis option students. "The big change for me at Tech will be no more meetings and I'm going to spend a little more time in Ireland and travel a bit more."

To date some of Keating's fondest memories at Tech are "sitting on the stage at graduation and watching the city planning graduates receive their degrees; helping the Community Design Center of Atlanta get started and survive successive crises, and long discussions with students and alumni at First Friday's at Mannies' (Manuel's Tavern)."

Status

  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:Leslie Sharp
  • Created:05/30/2006
  • Modified By:Fletcher Moore
  • Modified:10/07/2016

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