Pollard Thomas Edwards’ Post

Positive steps for a more inclusive urban landscape:

Edinburgh takes strides towards a more feminist city 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 👏 👏 👏 Last year, the Scottish capital began advancing its commitment to feminist urban planning, aiming to create a city that’s safer and more inclusive for women and marginalised genders. One standout initiative? Commemorating women and the queer community through statues and street names - a long-overdue move to address decades of underrepresentation in public spaces! While Edinburgh has many statues, most honour historical men. This bold initiative seeks to change that by celebrating women of colour, queer women, and everyday women who’ve shaped society. Other strategies include: 🌟 Wider pavements to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. 💡 Better street lighting for increased safety. 🪑 More benches in public spaces for resting spots. ♿ Ramps to improve accessibility across the city’s historic terrain. By incorporating gender equity into urban design, Edinburgh is reimagining its cityscape and inspiring others to follow suit. Which women or communities would you love to see celebrated in your city? Are there cities already taking these steps for a more inclusive urban landscape? Let’s share and discuss! To find out more about Edinburgh's "feminist" approach to planning; https://lnkd.in/dub3748Z #FeministUrbanPlanning #InclusiveDesign #RepresentationMatters #Edinburgh #UrbanInnovation

A great piece from Tarek Merlin in today's Architects’ Journal on why the industry needs to challenge heteronormative assumptions in housing design, and how learning from queer perspectives can lead to greater flexibility and diversity in our spaces. Head to the link below to give it a read: 👇 https://lnkd.in/exgzU_73

🌳 PUBLIC REALM The origins of our interest in #publicrealm goes back to Richard’s time as a postgraduate student in the 1990s at The University of Manchester. His urban design dissertation was called “Don’t Fence Me In” – a reference to a Cole Porter song – and was an exploration of #pedestrian guardrails. He wrote 20,000 words and drew many illustrations to show how these seemingly innocuous devices are not really about safety but about the creation of unfair movement hierarchies through the frustration of pedestrian freedoms. From that point forwards, the practice has always had an eye for how streets can be redesigned to become fairer, more equitable, more social and more enjoyable. In 2008, working with Phil Jones of PJA we removed large sections of guard railing in #Bexleyheath. Our concept design for one of the main junctions was delivered almost unchanged by the project delivery team. The scheme was winner of the “Excellence in Walking and Public Realm” category at the 2014 London Transport Awards. Our work in #Liverpool identified several streets that should be made safer and more inclusive, especially for participants in the city’s vibrant night time economy: Victoria Street, for which wider pavements and street trees were recommended, and Eberle Street, an important part of the street network that makes up the #LGBTQ quarter. In the years that followed, both streets were improved. Eberle Street received a fabulous Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz themed design from BCA Landscape. Materials were fabricated by Hardscape and installed by Amey and King Construction. Our 2010 strategy for #Weymouth was the first known report to identify the need for changes to the public realm at the station. Repeated in the Weymouth Town Centre Master Plan in 2015, changes have finally been delivered. In 2023 the scheme won two Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West awards. The judges described it as an outstanding example of a space that unites communities and improves people’s daily lives. The final scheme was designed by WSP for Dorset Council UK and the Dorset Coast Forum. 📸 Slide 3 Google Earth 📸 Slides 6 and 12 Scenequeen2121 on Wikipedia 📸 Slide 9 Dorset Coast Forum 📸 Slides 13 and 14 Hardscape

Deciding on what sessions to attend for #ICUA2024 #UAA2024 Urban Affairs Association? May I suggest one of the many panels, roundtables, etc. by Levin College of Public Affairs and Education faculty, staff, and students? THURSDAY 8am (Julliard) Rob Pfaff, "The forgotten E: Equity in the sustainable metropolitan public transportation system" 11:30am (Empire) J. Rosie Tighe K Noelle Broughton, MPA "Not welcome here: White supremacy and racial capitalism in American neighborhoods" 1:00pm (Booth) Stephanie Ryberg-Webster and Kelly Kinahan, AICP "Redlining, revitalization, and preservation practice: uncovering connections in Cleveland and St Louis" 3:00pm (Booth) Stephanie Ryberg-Webster "How arts and cultural districts can support diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organizations and neighborhoods" 3:00pm (Odets) Dennis Keating "Remembering Chester Hartman" FRIDAY 8am (Gotham) Me, Christopher B. Goodman Bruce McDonald "State preemption of LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination legislation: Factors explaining the proposal and passage of preemption policies" 11:30am (Belasco) Bryson Davis "The caped crusader: developing a racialized theoretical framework of the nonprofit industry" and Molly Schnoke "Resetting the table: Urban agenda setting for economic mobility in Cleveland" 1:45pm (Edison) Me again "The hidden curriculum of the tenure track" 3:30 (Hudson) Meghan Rubado "Rivalry or camaraderie? How the context of post-industrial decline reshapes inter-municipal relations and collaboration"

🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 In celebration of Pride Month, I'd like to share ARUP's latest publication, "Queer Perspectives on Public Space" (2024), highlighting the importance of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity in design. This research illuminates the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals in public spaces, addressing a crucial data gap. It underscores the need for thoughtful, inclusive design to create spaces that embrace diversity and foster a sense of belonging for all. #PrideMonth #DiversityAndInclusion #ARUP #QueerPerspectivesOnPublicSpace https://lnkd.in/er5J5-h3

🌈 Creating LGBTQ+ Friendly Spaces: A Journey to Inclusivity 🌟 Inclusivity is not just a checkbox—it's an ongoing commitment to understanding, supporting, and celebrating diversity. My latest blog dives into actionable steps to foster LGBTQ+ friendly spaces, ensuring everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. 🏳️🌈 💡 Why it’s a must-read? In a rapidly evolving world, continuous learning is key to creating spaces where inclusivity thrives. Let’s upgrade our perspectives and practices for a more equitable tomorrow. 🔗 Read the blog (https://lnkd.in/gZinzWaV) now and take the first step toward meaningful change! #LGBTQInclusion #DiversityAndInclusion #SafeSpaces #ContinuousLearning #MustRead #inclusiveness #Inclusion #inclusivity #LGBTQAI #DEI #workspace #livingspaces #needofthehour

Bailey Partnership is proud to announce our commitment to the RIBA Inclusion Pledge, reinforcing our dedication to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within architecture and the broader construction industry. The RIBA Inclusion Pledge addresses the urgent need for greater inclusivity and transparency across the profession. By signing, we have committed to: Setting clear inclusion targets and an actionable EDI plan. Fostering a workplace culture that supports diverse talent pipelines and inclusive ways of working. Publicly reporting on EDI progress to drive accountability and meaningful change. Embedding inclusive design into every project and contributing to the creation of accessible environments. At Bailey Partnership, we believe in dismantling barriers that prevent talented individuals from entering, practising, or appreciating architecture. Through this pledge, we join a community of equality champions united in the goal of creating a more inclusive industry. Read more about our commitment to the pledge on our website : https://lnkd.in/ewtu2AWD Simon Zawada Giles Blight Mike Fisher Yasmin Godfrey #RIBA

Curious about the experiences of queer professionals in the AEC industry? Join us for "Being Queer in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction," a free virtual panel discussion open to everyone! https://smpl.is/9ilqr This exciting event will feature insights from six industry leaders: Brian James Schaller, AIA of HDR, Trent Cohen of Mott MacDonald, Stephanie Gady of Arup, Philip Westermann of CRB, Keith D. Pettey of UCLA, and Carlos Hurtado of DPR Construction. Moderated by John Rozeluk of Buro Happold, the discussion will explore the unique challenges and triumphs of being queer in architecture, engineering, and construction. This is a must-attend event for anyone interested in creating a more inclusive industry! 🎙️ Hear from our panelists as they share their personal journeys in the AEC industry. 🧠 Gain practical advice and insights on navigating and thriving as a queer professional. 💬 Ask your own questions and get direct answers from the panelists. 🌍 Join a global network of professionals passionate about diversity and inclusion. #queerprofessionals #AECindustry #diversityandinclusion #virtualpanel #lgbtqprofessionals #architectureengineeringconstruction #inclusivityinitiative

Have you ever wondered how urban spaces might transform if truly inclusive design principles were applied? As a lecturer for the DAAD German Academic Exchange Service funded course on « Gender Perspectives in Urban Development », organized by Via Austroboreal e.V., I recently explored this crucial question (once again). During my session, I led discussions on Feminist Gender Studies, Intersectionality in Urban Planning, and Feminist Urbanism. These topics, as always, revealed a significant oversight in our current approach to urban planning and sustainability: the absence of a comprehensive gender perspective. As everyone knows through this platform, gender-inclusive approach to urban development is something I always advocate for, and is a cornerstone of my work. I believe that addressing the diverse needs of all community members, particularly when implementing new technologies, leads to more effective and inclusive urban solutions. Too often, the needs of marginalized groups - and not only women - are ignored, giving us urban projects that fail to serve everyone. I was also honored to participate as a guest lecturer during the students' presentations, and their impressive work and the growing acceptance of this topic in academic discourse truly warmed my heart. I extend my gratitude to Via Austroboreal e.V., DAAD German Academic Exchange Service, and 2811 for their dedication to promoting gender perspectives in urban development and for creating such a rich learning environment. Pro-tip to all the students out there: challenge the status quo and ensure that every urban project amplifies the voices of all its users if you really want to build more inclusive and sustainable cities. #UrbanDevelopment #Gender #InclusiveCities #Intersectionality #SustainableUrbanism