I’m here to convince you today that the streets and public spaces of our cities
streets and public spaces of our cities
streets and public spaces of our cities are not only central to our thriving
are not only central to our thriving
are not only central to our thriving democracy but they’re also potentially
democracy but they’re also potentially
democracy but they’re also potentially key to world peace on January 21st 2017
key to world peace on January 21st 2017
key to world peace on January 21st 2017 five million people around the world
five million people around the world
five million people around the world came together to stand up for women’s
came together to stand up for women’s
came together to stand up for women’s rights and democracy these marches took
rights and democracy these marches took
rights and democracy these marches took place on the tundra frozen tundra to the
place on the tundra frozen tundra to the
place on the tundra frozen tundra to the north – even a cancer ward in Los
north – even a cancer ward in Los
north – even a cancer ward in Los Angeles but for the most part they took
Angeles but for the most part they took
Angeles but for the most part they took place in public spaces and streets from
place in public spaces and streets from
place in public spaces and streets from Fairbanks Alaska to Houston Texas to
Fairbanks Alaska to Houston Texas to
Fairbanks Alaska to Houston Texas to Paris France five million people
Paris France five million people
Paris France five million people converging on the city to show their
converging on the city to show their
converging on the city to show their force of democratic action this
force of democratic action this
force of democratic action this experience was both personal and
experience was both personal and
experience was both personal and intergenerational for me I attended as
intergenerational for me I attended as
intergenerational for me I attended as you see with my mother my daughter and
you see with my mother my daughter and
you see with my mother my daughter and my my 10 year old daughter and my sister
my my 10 year old daughter and my sister
my my 10 year old daughter and my sister it was such an extraordinary moment to
it was such an extraordinary moment to
it was such an extraordinary moment to feel connected to humanity at this one
feel connected to humanity at this one
feel connected to humanity at this one time moment in time but importantly as a
time moment in time but importantly as a
time moment in time but importantly as a public space designer and landscape
public space designer and landscape
public space designer and landscape architect which is what I am it was also
architect which is what I am it was also
architect which is what I am it was also a moment of realizing the value of my
a moment of realizing the value of my
a moment of realizing the value of my profession that the ground beneath my
profession that the ground beneath my
profession that the ground beneath my feet was actually the medium for this
feet was actually the medium for this
feet was actually the medium for this incredible global human network and I
incredible global human network and I
incredible global human network and I was scanning social media and I was
was scanning social media and I was
was scanning social media and I was looking across all of the places that I
looking across all of the places that I
looking across all of the places that I work and currently working in like
work and currently working in like
work and currently working in like Congress Avenue in Texas and more Square
Congress Avenue in Texas and more Square
Congress Avenue in Texas and more Square and Raleigh these are my projects and
and Raleigh these are my projects and
and Raleigh these are my projects and ethica New York just to see how are
ethica New York just to see how are
ethica New York just to see how are these places faring under this
these places faring under this
these places faring under this extraordinary crush of people my firm
extraordinary crush of people my firm
extraordinary crush of people my firm also that I work for also designed parts
also that I work for also designed parts
also that I work for also designed parts of Pennsylvania Avenue itself so the
of Pennsylvania Avenue itself so the
of Pennsylvania Avenue itself so the very platform we were standing on as a
very platform we were standing on as a
very platform we were standing on as a 1980s kind of landscape framework and
1980s kind of landscape framework and
1980s kind of landscape framework and then again recently as an urban design
then again recently as an urban design
then again recently as an urban design framework now Pennsylvania Avenue had an
framework now Pennsylvania Avenue had an
framework now Pennsylvania Avenue had an extraordinary weekend that weekend in
extraordinary weekend that weekend in
extraordinary weekend that weekend in January one day it hosted hundreds of
January one day it hosted hundreds of
January one day it hosted hundreds of thousands of marchers 24 hours earlier
thousands of marchers 24 hours earlier
thousands of marchers 24 hours earlier it was the route of the presidential
it was the route of the presidential
it was the route of the presidential inaugural parade and 24 hours before
inaugural parade and 24 hours before
inaugural parade and 24 hours before that it was a normal Street that was
that it was a normal Street that was
that it was a normal Street that was carrying cars and
carrying cars and
carrying cars and Austrians and bikes think about that for
Austrians and bikes think about that for
Austrians and bikes think about that for a second imagine designing a room of
a second imagine designing a room of
a second imagine designing a room of your house where one day you’re gonna
your house where one day you’re gonna
your house where one day you’re gonna host a hip-hop dance party the next day
host a hip-hop dance party the next day
host a hip-hop dance party the next day have an elegant candlelit dinner and on
have an elegant candlelit dinner and on
have an elegant candlelit dinner and on the third day park your car that’s what
the third day park your car that’s what
the third day park your car that’s what public space designers think about how
public space designers think about how
public space designers think about how to kind of accommodate this incredible
to kind of accommodate this incredible
to kind of accommodate this incredible array of use but public space isn’t just
array of use but public space isn’t just
array of use but public space isn’t just about protests right it’s from the
about protests right it’s from the
about protests right it’s from the beginning of time it’s the place where
beginning of time it’s the place where
beginning of time it’s the place where people experience community and cities
people experience community and cities
people experience community and cities from the agora in ancient greece to the
from the agora in ancient greece to the
from the agora in ancient greece to the village green and new england public
village green and new england public
village green and new england public space is our common ground it’s where we
space is our common ground it’s where we
space is our common ground it’s where we and cities make connections to other
and cities make connections to other
and cities make connections to other people and this is important because the
people and this is important because the
people and this is important because the world is urbanizing currently 50% of the
world is urbanizing currently 50% of the
world is urbanizing currently 50% of the world’s population lives in cities in
world’s population lives in cities in
world’s population lives in cities in the u.s. that’s 70% and it’s expected to
the u.s. that’s 70% and it’s expected to
the u.s. that’s 70% and it’s expected to grow to 80% by 2050 and so to make
grow to 80% by 2050 and so to make
grow to 80% by 2050 and so to make cities livable we need public spaces in
cities livable we need public spaces in
cities livable we need public spaces in public spaces where people in cities
public spaces where people in cities
public spaces where people in cities live their lives it’s where we
live their lives it’s where we
live their lives it’s where we experience Commerce and shopping it’s
experience Commerce and shopping it’s
experience Commerce and shopping it’s where we experience celebration and come
where we experience celebration and come
where we experience celebration and come together to feel community it’s also
together to feel community it’s also
together to feel community it’s also where we collectively mourn and grieve
where we collectively mourn and grieve
where we collectively mourn and grieve after traumatic events increasingly in
after traumatic events increasingly in
after traumatic events increasingly in the 21st century it’s the place where we
the 21st century it’s the place where we
the 21st century it’s the place where we experience health and wellness and take
experience health and wellness and take
experience health and wellness and take care of ourselves and where we take our
care of ourselves and where we take our
care of ourselves and where we take our kids and our families to experience joy
kids and our families to experience joy
kids and our families to experience joy and play so that all sounds good right
and play so that all sounds good right
and play so that all sounds good right what’s the problem well at the same time
what’s the problem well at the same time
what’s the problem well at the same time we’re seeing an increase in the value of
we’re seeing an increase in the value of
we’re seeing an increase in the value of public space and a recognition of that
public space and a recognition of that
public space and a recognition of that we’re also seeing it come under attack
we’re also seeing it come under attack
we’re also seeing it come under attack so you think about what happened
so you think about what happened
so you think about what happened recently in New York City or what’s
recently in New York City or what’s
recently in New York City or what’s happened in Charlottesville and you see
happened in Charlottesville and you see
happened in Charlottesville and you see that terrorists and disruptors are
that terrorists and disruptors are
that terrorists and disruptors are understanding that connection to
understanding that connection to
understanding that connection to community and so they’re hitting us
community and so they’re hitting us
community and so they’re hitting us where it hurts attacking us at our core
where it hurts attacking us at our core
where it hurts attacking us at our core which is our sense of connection and
which is our sense of connection and
which is our sense of connection and community and it’s happening as we’ve
community and it’s happening as we’ve
community and it’s happening as we’ve seen not just in our country but all
seen not just in our country but all
seen not just in our country but all over the world as a public space
over the world as a public space
over the world as a public space designer this is a really interesting
designer this is a really interesting
designer this is a really interesting conundrum how do I think about designing
conundrum how do I think about designing
conundrum how do I think about designing for places for people but also where
for places for people but also where
for places for people but also where they feel safe and welcome and there’s
they feel safe and welcome and there’s
they feel safe and welcome and there’s an extraordinary array a special field
an extraordinary array a special field
an extraordinary array a special field of specialists really who deal with
of specialists really who deal with
of specialists really who deal with security landscapes a few examples the
security landscapes a few examples the
security landscapes a few examples the recent recompression of the Sandy Hook
recent recompression of the Sandy Hook
recent recompression of the Sandy Hook elementary school the rebuilding of that
elementary school the rebuilding of that
elementary school the rebuilding of that includes a long processional to the
includes a long processional to the
includes a long processional to the front door which prevents what may be
front door which prevents what may be
front door which prevents what may be what happened last
what happened last
what happened last time but also creates a beautiful
time but also creates a beautiful
time but also creates a beautiful arrival sequence our own work on the
arrival sequence our own work on the
arrival sequence our own work on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool uses
Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool uses
Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool uses walls and edges to prevent cars from
walls and edges to prevent cars from
walls and edges to prevent cars from becoming part of this really important
becoming part of this really important
becoming part of this really important public space and then there’s all kinds
public space and then there’s all kinds
public space and then there’s all kinds of clever integration of bollards and
of clever integration of bollards and
of clever integration of bollards and security measures and landscapes like in
security measures and landscapes like in
security measures and landscapes like in wall street where there’s a swivel on
wall street where there’s a swivel on
wall street where there’s a swivel on the ground where the bollards actually
the ground where the bollards actually
the ground where the bollards actually moved to allow cars to pass some times
moved to allow cars to pass some times
moved to allow cars to pass some times and be block to others and this is these
and be block to others and this is these
and be block to others and this is these are great tactics when you know there’s
are great tactics when you know there’s
are great tactics when you know there’s a specific threat but the problem is
a specific threat but the problem is
a specific threat but the problem is that we’re seeing this proliferate and
that we’re seeing this proliferate and
that we’re seeing this proliferate and become more diffuse so so my concern as
become more diffuse so so my concern as
become more diffuse so so my concern as a public space designer is that we might
a public space designer is that we might
a public space designer is that we might start designing these spaces for more
start designing these spaces for more
start designing these spaces for more increased threats and that might
increased threats and that might
increased threats and that might compromise the very democratic values
compromise the very democratic values
compromise the very democratic values that public space promotes we could
that public space promotes we could
that public space promotes we could start thinking about for instance
start thinking about for instance
start thinking about for instance fortification of our public spaces that
fortification of our public spaces that
fortification of our public spaces that if we just put up more walls we can
if we just put up more walls we can
if we just put up more walls we can protect ourselves we saw this after 9/11
protect ourselves we saw this after 9/11
protect ourselves we saw this after 9/11 ironically where the Philadelphia’s
ironically where the Philadelphia’s
ironically where the Philadelphia’s Independence Hall our beacon of freedom
Independence Hall our beacon of freedom
Independence Hall our beacon of freedom was almost behind bars of temporary
was almost behind bars of temporary
was almost behind bars of temporary security measures bollards are wonderful
security measures bollards are wonderful
security measures bollards are wonderful I use them a lot as landscape architect
I use them a lot as landscape architect
I use them a lot as landscape architect but they also send a subliminal signal
but they also send a subliminal signal
but they also send a subliminal signal to people that you’re not really safe
to people that you’re not really safe
to people that you’re not really safe here there’s a threat present and that
here there’s a threat present and that
here there’s a threat present and that really does impact the way people
really does impact the way people
really does impact the way people understand space and certainly you could
understand space and certainly you could
understand space and certainly you could elevate this to the national dialogue
elevate this to the national dialogue
elevate this to the national dialogue about how we address the threat or
about how we address the threat or
about how we address the threat or perceived threat and what that might
perceived threat and what that might
perceived threat and what that might mean for our community we could increase
mean for our community we could increase
mean for our community we could increase surveillance right and as a city dweller
surveillance right and as a city dweller
surveillance right and as a city dweller I know everywhere I go I’m probably on
I know everywhere I go I’m probably on
I know everywhere I go I’m probably on camera somewhere whether an iPhone or a
camera somewhere whether an iPhone or a
camera somewhere whether an iPhone or a security camera you come to accept it
security camera you come to accept it
security camera you come to accept it but when you design a public space
but when you design a public space
but when you design a public space that’s purposely made to be surveilled
that’s purposely made to be surveilled
that’s purposely made to be surveilled it can lock humanity it can lack comfort
it can lock humanity it can lack comfort
it can lock humanity it can lack comfort it can lack connection similarly with
it can lack connection similarly with
it can lack connection similarly with police presence sometimes it’s really
police presence sometimes it’s really
police presence sometimes it’s really positive and needed but it can hit a
positive and needed but it can hit a
positive and needed but it can hit a tipping point where it starts to become
tipping point where it starts to become
tipping point where it starts to become concerning or intimidating and then
concerning or intimidating and then
concerning or intimidating and then lastly probably my biggest fear is what
lastly probably my biggest fear is what
lastly probably my biggest fear is what if people start retreating what if they
if people start retreating what if they
if people start retreating what if they stop going and participating in public
stop going and participating in public
stop going and participating in public life in public space out of fear and
life in public space out of fear and
life in public space out of fear and retreat deeper into their screens and
retreat deeper into their screens and
retreat deeper into their screens and iPhones this is a funny cartoon but it
iPhones this is a funny cartoon but it
iPhones this is a funny cartoon but it really speaks to this notion of the echo
really speaks to this notion of the echo
really speaks to this notion of the echo chamber we hear about a lot this idea
chamber we hear about a lot this idea
chamber we hear about a lot this idea that people are isolating themselves and
that people are isolating themselves and
that people are isolating themselves and like
like
like communities and we’ve seen again and
communities and we’ve seen again and
communities and we’ve seen again and again that isolation actually does breed
again that isolation actually does breed
again that isolation actually does breed kind of terrorism and violence and those
kind of terrorism and violence and those
kind of terrorism and violence and those tendencies where connection can help us
tendencies where connection can help us
tendencies where connection can help us overcome it in Boston after
overcome it in Boston after
overcome it in Boston after Charlottesville we saw crowds of people
Charlottesville we saw crowds of people
Charlottesville we saw crowds of people protests and a counter protest purposely
protests and a counter protest purposely
protests and a counter protest purposely separated to keep violent skirmishes
separated to keep violent skirmishes
separated to keep violent skirmishes from happening and that was wonderful
from happening and that was wonderful
from happening and that was wonderful that nobody was hurt but it made me
that nobody was hurt but it made me
that nobody was hurt but it made me nervous about our ability to have
nervous about our ability to have
nervous about our ability to have constructive public discourse and if we
constructive public discourse and if we
constructive public discourse and if we start separating people consistently how
start separating people consistently how
start separating people consistently how do we ever find common ground again the
do we ever find common ground again the
do we ever find common ground again the role of landscape so I’m suggesting
role of landscape so I’m suggesting
role of landscape so I’m suggesting today that we can design not for threat
today that we can design not for threat
today that we can design not for threat but instead for promise that we can
but instead for promise that we can
but instead for promise that we can think about public spaces that actually
think about public spaces that actually
think about public spaces that actually embrace a sense of connectivity and
embrace a sense of connectivity and
embrace a sense of connectivity and community and bring us together around
community and bring us together around
community and bring us together around collaboration and public discourse that
collaboration and public discourse that
collaboration and public discourse that instead of designing for fortification
instead of designing for fortification
instead of designing for fortification we should be designing for exchange
we should be designing for exchange
we should be designing for exchange purposefully creating places where
purposefully creating places where
purposefully creating places where people have to come together and
people have to come together and
people have to come together and confront other I’ve been working in
confront other I’ve been working in
confront other I’ve been working in Syracuse University where we’ve been
Syracuse University where we’ve been
Syracuse University where we’ve been working on a open space framework for
working on a open space framework for
working on a open space framework for that campus looking at how to renovate
that campus looking at how to renovate
that campus looking at how to renovate and think about their open spaces as one
and think about their open spaces as one
and think about their open spaces as one idea there was a street that was closed
idea there was a street that was closed
idea there was a street that was closed for many years to cars and students used
for many years to cars and students used
for many years to cars and students used it but it’s still very much read like a
it but it’s still very much read like a
it but it’s still very much read like a street in the landscape and the idea was
street in the landscape and the idea was
street in the landscape and the idea was to convert it actually into a public
to convert it actually into a public
to convert it actually into a public space where people could gather now you
space where people could gather now you
space where people could gather now you might look at this and think well that’s
might look at this and think well that’s
might look at this and think well that’s a really pretty project kind of nice to
a really pretty project kind of nice to
a really pretty project kind of nice to have a beautification project and not
have a beautification project and not
have a beautification project and not see it necessarily as core to the
see it necessarily as core to the
see it necessarily as core to the campuses educational mission which
campuses educational mission which
campuses educational mission which members of that community did they said
members of that community did they said
members of that community did they said why are we spending money on this this
why are we spending money on this this
why are we spending money on this this is a place of education not a resort
is a place of education not a resort
is a place of education not a resort right the project moved ahead and opened
right the project moved ahead and opened
right the project moved ahead and opened last year just some images of this under
last year just some images of this under
last year just some images of this under construction but what you see even days
construction but what you see even days
construction but what you see even days after the project open is that people
after the project open is that people
after the project open is that people were coming together in this landscape
were coming together in this landscape
were coming together in this landscape people are connecting and new ways where
people are connecting and new ways where
people are connecting and new ways where they were just passing through that
they were just passing through that
they were just passing through that Street before now they’re coming
Street before now they’re coming
Street before now they’re coming together and talking openly and sitting
together and talking openly and sitting
together and talking openly and sitting together and really heartwarming to me
together and really heartwarming to me
together and really heartwarming to me as a designer
as a designer
as a designer within days of it opening this place
within days of it opening this place
within days of it opening this place that was protested became a place of
that was protested became a place of
that was protested became a place of protest they had this huge black lives
protest they had this huge black lives
protest they had this huge black lives matter dye in and so I asked you is this
matter dye in and so I asked you is this
matter dye in and so I asked you is this kind of conversation core to an
kind of conversation core to an
kind of conversation core to an educational mission is confronting these
educational mission is confronting these
educational mission is confronting these of issues in our society a
of issues in our society a
of issues in our society a beautification project or is it really
beautification project or is it really
beautification project or is it really central to the way do we think about our
central to the way do we think about our
central to the way do we think about our society and culture I think we can
society and culture I think we can
society and culture I think we can connect people instead of retreating
connect people instead of retreating
connect people instead of retreating I’ve been working on a project called a
I’ve been working on a project called a
I’ve been working on a project called a lawn on D in Boston it’s a really
lawn on D in Boston it’s a really
lawn on D in Boston it’s a really interesting kind of social experiment
interesting kind of social experiment
interesting kind of social experiment next to the Convention Center there we
next to the Convention Center there we
next to the Convention Center there we thought let’s do a temporary landscape
thought let’s do a temporary landscape
thought let’s do a temporary landscape and see what kinds of uses we can put
and see what kinds of uses we can put
and see what kinds of uses we can put here that will bring people together
here that will bring people together
here that will bring people together very inexpensively constructed of
very inexpensively constructed of
very inexpensively constructed of asphalt and law and with a tents but
asphalt and law and with a tents but
asphalt and law and with a tents but what we really invested time and energy
what we really invested time and energy
what we really invested time and energy and was finding ways to create
and was finding ways to create
and was finding ways to create furnishings and temporary art
furnishings and temporary art
furnishings and temporary art installations that would provoke people
installations that would provoke people
installations that would provoke people and provide comfortable spaces so that
and provide comfortable spaces so that
and provide comfortable spaces so that people are kind of forced to interact
people are kind of forced to interact
people are kind of forced to interact with each other in new ways and what
with each other in new ways and what
with each other in new ways and what we’ve seen is a public discourse
we’ve seen is a public discourse
we’ve seen is a public discourse happening in this public space we see
happening in this public space we see
happening in this public space we see people in this case by a fire pit having
people in this case by a fire pit having
people in this case by a fire pit having a long extended conversation that they
a long extended conversation that they
a long extended conversation that they might not otherwise have we see people
might not otherwise have we see people
might not otherwise have we see people collaborating in new ways in public
collaborating in new ways in public
collaborating in new ways in public space here building snow forts in stem
space here building snow forts in stem
space here building snow forts in stem and this was our Snowmageddon some
and this was our Snowmageddon some
and this was our Snowmageddon some winter if you remember that we see
winter if you remember that we see
winter if you remember that we see people coming here just to experience
people coming here just to experience
people coming here just to experience joy and fun and probably bumping into
joy and fun and probably bumping into
joy and fun and probably bumping into people that they might not normally
people that they might not normally
people that they might not normally otherwise bump into and then lastly I
otherwise bump into and then lastly I
otherwise bump into and then lastly I think that we can build for community
think that we can build for community
think that we can build for community right we can purposely design to build
right we can purposely design to build
right we can purposely design to build bring people together and to build
bring people together and to build
bring people together and to build community I’ve been working for the past
community I’ve been working for the past
community I’ve been working for the past decade on the Chicago River Walk and
decade on the Chicago River Walk and
decade on the Chicago River Walk and similar to Syracuse this was a
similar to Syracuse this was a
similar to Syracuse this was a underutilized gray space that nobody
underutilized gray space that nobody
underutilized gray space that nobody spent time in that sort of sent a sad
spent time in that sort of sent a sad
spent time in that sort of sent a sad message and over many years of work
message and over many years of work
message and over many years of work we’ve converted this into a people space
we’ve converted this into a people space
we’ve converted this into a people space again one a physical connection but
again one a physical connection but
again one a physical connection but community connection bringing people
community connection bringing people
community connection bringing people into contact with each other and also
into contact with each other and also
into contact with each other and also the river and we purposely designed this
the river and we purposely designed this
the river and we purposely designed this so that people had to experience each
so that people had to experience each
so that people had to experience each other the seating enables people to sit
other the seating enables people to sit
other the seating enables people to sit in different ways they can bump into
in different ways they can bump into
in different ways they can bump into people they might not otherwise bump
people they might not otherwise bump
people they might not otherwise bump into it’s just an extraordinary people
into it’s just an extraordinary people
into it’s just an extraordinary people place where you might meet someone you
place where you might meet someone you
place where you might meet someone you just couldn’t have imagined talking to
just couldn’t have imagined talking to
just couldn’t have imagined talking to whether in groups or introverts kind of
whether in groups or introverts kind of
whether in groups or introverts kind of having small conversation this is really
having small conversation this is really
having small conversation this is really key to the way we think about how we
key to the way we think about how we
key to the way we think about how we want to live in public and again public
want to live in public and again public
want to live in public and again public spaces and and and when we see this on
spaces and and and when we see this on
spaces and and and when we see this on the Riverwalk it attracts people of
the Riverwalk it attracts people of
the Riverwalk it attracts people of every race of
every race of
every race of every age of every generation and it
every age of every generation and it
every age of every generation and it really is that common ground that things
really is that common ground that things
really is that common ground that things people together it’s the sense of
people together it’s the sense of
people together it’s the sense of connection to each other and to a sense
connection to each other and to a sense
connection to each other and to a sense of place but I think release can serve
of place but I think release can serve
of place but I think release can serve as kind of an antidote to isolation and
as kind of an antidote to isolation and
as kind of an antidote to isolation and violence so I don’t know if I convinced
violence so I don’t know if I convinced
violence so I don’t know if I convinced you today but I hope you walk away from
you today but I hope you walk away from
you today but I hope you walk away from this understanding that public space is
this understanding that public space is
this understanding that public space is more than beautification right
more than beautification right
more than beautification right publication is core to the way we think
publication is core to the way we think
publication is core to the way we think about democratic society it’s also a cry
about democratic society it’s also a cry
about democratic society it’s also a cry really for us as a divided society to
really for us as a divided society to
really for us as a divided society to build places that bring us joy and
build places that bring us joy and
build places that bring us joy and meaning and connection and I think again
meaning and connection and I think again
meaning and connection and I think again it’s about designing instead of thinking
it’s about designing instead of thinking
it’s about designing instead of thinking about designing for the threat of what
about designing for the threat of what
about designing for the threat of what could happen design for the promise of
could happen design for the promise of
could happen design for the promise of healing and peace thank you
healing and peace thank you
healing and peace thank you [Applause]
”
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