The objective of this course is to provide participants with the skills necessary to design, program, and sustainably manage successful public spaces. Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Analyze the social, economic, and physical performance of existing public spaces.
• Apply best practices for placemaking and human-centered design principles.
• Develop design concepts that integrate public space with adjacent land uses and transportation.
• Design effective programming and activation strategies to foster social life.
• Implement management and operational models (e.g., BIDs, conservancies) for long-term maintenance.
• Address issues of safety, security, and social equity in public space design.
• Utilize observational techniques and user-based data for design decisions.

• Urban Planners and Landscape Architects
• Parks and Recreation Managers
• Municipal Public Works and Operations Staff
• Community Development and Placemaking Professionals
• Business Improvement District (BID) Managers
• Real Estate Developers and Property Managers
• Artists and Cultural Producers involved in public art

• Field-based (virtual or physical) observation and analysis of a public space
• Group Activities: Developing a programming and activation plan for an underutilized plaza
• Case Studies examining the governance and financing of successful conservancies
• Individual Exercises: Applying CPTED principles to redesign a park entrance
• Discussions on the ethical and political challenges of managing social disorder
• Expert presentations on best-in-class urban ecology and landscape design

Unit 1: The Role and Theory of Public Space

• The historical evolution of public spaces (e.g., agora, common, park) and their social role
• Key theories of public life and place (e.g., Jane Jacobs, William H. Whyte, Jan Gehl)
• The relationship between public space quality and democracy, health, and social capital
• The legal and political ownership of public space and the issue of privatization

• Techniques for observing and analyzing user behavior (e.g., "The Street Life Project" methods)
• Measuring the performance of public spaces using qualitative and quantitative metrics
• Assessing factors of comfort, access, sociability, and activity in a space
• The importance of the edge interface between buildings and the public realm

Unit 2: Design Principles for Success

• Principles of designing for a human scale, enclosure, and complexity
• The role of seating, shade, wind protection, and water in attracting users
• Designing for diverse user groups, ages, and abilities (universal design)
• The use of topography, materials, and paving to define space and movement

• Integrating public art and temporary installations to activate and characterize space
• Principles of lighting design for safety, ambience, and nocturnal use
• The role of programming (markets, events, performances) in attracting people
• Designing for flexibility and adaptation to different seasonal and community needs

Unit 3: Management and Operations

• Different models for public space management (e.g., public agencies, conservancies, BIDs)
• Developing a comprehensive operations, maintenance, and programming budget
• The role of private investment, concessions, and revenue generation in public spaces
• Legal liability, risk management, and insurance for public space activities

• Implementing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles
• Strategies for addressing homelessness, disorder, and public health issues humanely
• The balance between security measures (e.g., cameras, barriers) and democratic access
• Managing vehicular-pedestrian conflicts in shared street environments

Unit 4: Equity and Programming

• Analyzing the equitable distribution and quality of public space across neighborhoods
• Designing public engagement processes that ensure marginalized voices are heard
• Addressing historical injustices in park and public space planning
• Strategies for providing quality public space in high-density, underserved areas

• Developing a programming matrix that meets the needs of a diverse community
• Temporary and Tactical Urbanism interventions as a tool for testing permanent change
• The role of digital placemaking and social media in engaging users
• Integrating green infrastructure and ecology as a key feature of public space design

Unit 5: Case Studies and Future Trends

• In-depth analysis of high-performing public spaces globally (e.g., Copenhagen, Paris)
• Examining the evolution of street design from vehicle corridor to public plaza
• The impact of climate change on public space design (e.g., cooling centers, flood resilience)
• Future trends: integration of technology and interactive media in public space