Knowledge Center
Planning, Design and Infrastructure
The urban place manager emphasizes efforts on the built environment because of the significant impacts they have on the quality of life and one’s authentic experience of a place. Every place is different; therefore, place management strategies should respond to a myriad of place-based identifiers including, the place’s specific scale, status, culture, climate, community vision, goals, and mission, keeping at the forefront considerations of sustainability and resilience.
Through numerous approaches, such as land and real estate development, zoning and land-use, streetscape improvements, transit-oriented development, multi-modal connections, sustainable infrastructure, attainable housing initiatives and historic preservation among others, place managers enhance the quality of life for all stakeholders of a place.
Leslie Woo Master Talk
With more than 30 years of experience shaping sustainable communities across Canada, Leslie is a rare tri-sector athlete, with experience spanning the public, private, academic and nonprofit sectors as a planner, architect, corporate executive, author, educator and community activator. She is also Co-Editor of Messy Cities, Why We Can’t Plan Everything, a collection of global essays exploring how spontaneity, creativity and grassroots initiatives thrive in unplanned urban spaces. She is
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How to Escape Planning Hell – A Helpful Guide
How to Escape Planning Hell organizes implementation barriers into relevance, politics, permitting, funding, engagement, indecision, scope creep and maintenance. Cases show how pilots, coalitions, funding stacks, design bases and management tools move plans toward delivery. Readers gain diagnostic questions and practical strategies for approvals. Location: Seattle, WA; Houston, TX; San Francisco, CA. Organization: SODO Business Improvement Area; Downtown Houston+; Downtown SF Partnership.
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Supporting Urban Centre Businesses During Major Infrastructure Construction
Supporting Urban Centre Businesses During Major Infrastructure Construction documents Calgary’s business-friendly construction pilot. Readers gain impact-assessment steps, liaison roles, outreach practices, access and wayfinding tactics, and grant models. The pilot supported 181 businesses with $905,000 and found that access, trusted relationships and coordinated mitigation matter more than any single. Location: Calgary, AB. Organization: Marda Loop Business Improvement Area; City of Calgary.
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Downtown Durham Blueprint: 2035–Downtown Durham, Inc.
This 10-year downtown roadmap outlines strategies for housing, mobility, public spaces, economic development and cultural preservation. Developed through community engagement, it aligns partners around implementation and future investment priorities.
Location: Durham, NC
Organization: Downtown Durham Inc.
Downtown Milwaukee Dog Park & Under-Freeway Activation
Milwaukee converted underused freeway spaces into active public amenities anchored by downtown’s first public dog park. The project improved connectivity, safety and river access while attracting new private development and supporting neighborhood revitalization. Milwaukee, Milwaukee Downtown BID #21.
Read MoreDowntown Brooklyn Public Realm Action Plan
This action plan addressed safety, mobility and public realm challenges in a rapidly growing mixed-use district. It established planning principles and design tools that led to shared streets, public space investments and pedestrian-focused improvements adaptable to other downtowns. Brooklyn, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.
Read MoreSouth Barrett Reliever
South Barrett Reliever delivers a new multimodal transportation corridor that improves mobility, safety and economic competitiveness without traditional road widening. The phased project integrates complete streets, trail connections and placemaking features into a long-term mobility strategy. Cobb County, Town Center CID.
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Pixel Park Transformation
Pixel Park converted an underused parking lot into a year-round public destination with recreation, events, EV charging and community programming. Built with modular and accessible design principles, it supports redevelopment while strengthening public life during a major district transformation. Calgary, CMLC.
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Heritage District Wayfinding & Placemarketing
This project created Downtown Gilbert’s first district brand and coordinated wayfinding system using storytelling, signage and digital directories. The phased approach improves navigation, reinforces place identity and provides adaptable infrastructure for future growth. Gilbert, Town of Gilbert.
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East Cut Electric
East Cut Electric transformed a blank utility structure into a permanent digital public art installation supporting neighborhood identity and wayfinding. Rotating projections activate the streetscape, increase visitation and provide a scalable model for integrating technology and public art. San Francisco, The East Cut CBD.
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