清华大学城市规划研究所的发展经历了四个阶段。
1984年吴良镛先生创办清华大学建筑与城市研究所，主持国家教委博士点基金项目“我国城市结构形态发展规律的研究”（198-1987）。
1981年-1995年研究所开展了北京亚运会和奥林匹克建设研究，在“时间计划、空间规划”内容外，增加了“经济时空”概念（即利用经济控制论的概念将建筑时空观和经济时空观综合研究），力求使建设以最少的投资取得最大的建设效果。这项研究的结构得到国家决策层的肯定，将大大节约了建设预算内的经费投入。研究成果获得国家教委1987年科技进步一等奖。
开创新局面
1980年代，吴良镛先生运用融贯的综合研究方法，从聚居、地区、文化等范围和层次上，对建筑学及其相关方面进行整体的综合研究，建立了有中国特色的建筑学理论体系。1989年《广义建筑学》出版，1990年获国家教委科技进步一等奖，为研究所的科学研究初步奠定了学术基础，并打开了新局面。吴良镛先生同时获得：
1990年 对中国教育事业特殊贡献荣誉证书，国家教委；
1989年 对人类艺术遗产特殊贡献荣誉证书，国际文化理事会；
1989年 中国科学进步特殊贡献荣誉证书，中国科学院；
1988年 桂林中心区详细规划（集体合作）获全国规划设计三等奖，建设部。
走向国际
以1992-1993年菊儿胡同获得世界人居奖、与加拿大CEDA合作的“亚洲城市合作网——中国人居环境”研究项目为代表的工作，标志着研究所的工作走向国际平台，对研究所继续前进给予了极大地鼓励和鞭策。
1980年代开始、1992年完成第二阶段工作的北京菊儿胡同危房整修与新四合院工程，探索旧城有机更新之路，“开创了北京城市中心区进行更新的一种新途径，传统四合院住宅格局得到保留并加以改进，避免了全部拆除旧城内历史性衰败住宅。同样重要的是，这个工程还探索了一种历史城市中住宅建设集资和规划的新途径”（引自“1992年世界人居奖”评语）。工程荣获多项国内大奖并得到国际学术届的高度重视，1992年亚洲建筑师协会为其颁发金质奖章，1993年在联合国总部接受由当届联大主席颁发的“世界人居奖”。
1999年世界建筑师大会在北京举办，大会通过吴良镛教授负责起草的《北京宪章》。《北京宪章》引导建筑师全方位地认识人居环境的方法论，而不是局限在狭隘的技术-美术范围内；融合建筑、地景与城市规划；包含新建、运营、维修乃至更新的建筑过程；植根于地方与社会、直至覆盖心理范畴的多层次技术体系；将美术、工艺以及工业设计与建筑师的工作结合起来；视社会整体为最高业主的职业伦理；对专业人员、业主、直至全民实施开放的、连贯的建筑教育。
The development of urban Planning Institute of Tsinghua University has gone through four stages.
Pioneer era
In 1984, Mr. Wu Liangyong founded the Institute of Architecture and Urban Studies of Tsinghua University, and presided over the doctoral fund project of The State Education Commission "Research on the Development Law of Urban Structure form in China" (198-1987).
Institute for 1981-1995 Beijing Asian games and the Olympic construction research, in the "time planning, space planning" content, increased the concept of "economic space and time" (that is, the use of the concept of economic cybernetics to comprehensive research and economic time-space construction time-space), makes every effort to make construction with minimal investment for the construction of the maximum effect. The structure of this research has been confirmed by the national decision-making level, which will greatly save the funds input in the construction budget. His research achievements were awarded the first prize of Scientific and Technological Progress by the State Education Commission in 1987.
Break new ground
In the 1980s, Mr. Wu Liangyong used consistent comprehensive research methods to conduct comprehensive research on architecture and related aspects from the scope and level of settlement, region and culture, and established a theoretical system of architecture with Chinese characteristics. In 1989, Architecture in broad Sense was published, and in 1990, it was awarded the first prize of Science and Technology Progress by the State Education Commission, which laid a preliminary academic foundation for the scientific research of the Institute and opened a new situation. Mr. Wu Liangyong also received:
1990 Certificate of Honor for Special Contribution to China's Education, State Education Commission;
1989 Certificate of Honour for Special Contribution to the Artistic Heritage of Humanity, International Council for Culture;
1989 Chinese Special Contribution Certificate for Scientific Progress, Chinese Academy of Sciences;
In 1988, guilin central district detailed planning (collective cooperation) won the third prize of national planning and design, construction Department.
To the international
In 1992-1993, Juer Hutong won the World Habitat Award, and the research project of "Asian Cities Cooperation Network -- China's Human Settlements" in cooperation with CEDA of Canada, represented the work of the Institute, which marked its move to an international platform and encouraged and encouraged the institute to continue its progress.
Work began in the 1980 s, in 1992 completed the second phase of dangerous house renovation and new courtyard engineering JuEr Beijing hutongs, explore a road to the old organic update, "created a new way of Beijing urban central area is updated, preserved and improved traditional courtyard house pattern, avoid all demolition of the old city historical decline in housing. Equally important, the project explores a new approach to financing and planning housing construction in historic cities "(quoted from the 1992 World Habitat Prize). The project has won a number of domestic awards and is highly regarded by the international academic community. In 1992, it was awarded the Gold Medal by the Asian Architects Association. In 1993, it received the "World Habitat Prize" awarded by the current President of the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters.
In 1999, the World Architects Congress was held in Beijing and adopted the Beijing Charter drafted by Professor Wu Liangyong. The Beijing Charter guides architects to understand the methodology of living environment in an all-round way, instead of being limited to the narrow range of technology and art. Integration of architecture, landscape and urban planning; Including the construction process of new construction, operation, maintenance and even renewal; Multi-level technical system rooted in local and social, and even covering psychological category; Combining fine arts, crafts, and industrial design with the work of architects; A professional ethic that regards society as a whole as the supreme owner; Open and consistent architecture education for professionals, owners, and the whole population.