Waterman Group’s Post

Exemplifying how thoughtful design can enhance campus life, John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects (JFAK) ‘Associated Students Bike Shop provides a functional space that foster community engagement and promote sustainable practices. https://lnkd.in/d_uwSNkE

When cityscapes undergo extreme makeovers, it's not just buildings that are affected – it's the soul of the community. Just as the phenomenon of demolishing historical heritage has gone global, so too have movements to preserve and care for our built environment. Since 2022, Argentinian architect Natalia Karbabian (@ilustroparanoolvidar on Instagram) has been raising awareness of this issue by illustrating demolished buildings. Learn more about this topic in our latest article at www.DeArchNet.com.

Honor those who are important, those who serve, or your community's history, heritage and culture by adding themed elements to your playground design. Here are examples of first responder themes in honor of National First Responders Day! #municipalparks #municipalities #customplaygrounddesign

This month's editorial by Isabel Allen in Architecture Today, takes a look at our Building Blocks Manifesto and explores how it could go even further in becoming part of the national consciousness; "a collective endeavour framed in terms of civic resilience as opposed to patriotic duty. A compulsory year of training, or volunteering, or employment within the green economy." Read the full article below. https://lnkd.in/eFYhh6re

Advanced Designing Community Solutions is off to a great start! Here are the two books we are using to guide our discussion for this week: 1. Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design 2. Sidewalks in the Kingdom: New Urbanism and the Christian Faith Are you familiar with these readings? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. #reconciliation #communitybuilding #experientiallearning #collegecourses

What do nature, technology and community have to do with redefining the impact of an airport? Watch the video below as our aviation director William R. Peduzzi, P.E. joins our client and partners to talk about how airports introduce travelers to a city in Part 2 of this series.

Last month, Civitas Principal Scott Jordan was a featured speaker at AIA Arkansas’ 2024 State Convention, where he shared ways to rethink infrastructure and consider adaptative approaches to reclaim the public realm. These projects play a critical role in catalyzing urban reinvestment by enhancing the physical environment and fostering a dynamic, user-centered experience. In our latest blog post, we share a few examples of public space designs that not only improve aesthetic and functional qualities but also attract businesses, tourism, and residential development. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eiaW3z5Y

We were honored to collaborate with the World Urban Campaign by UN-Habitat and Birmingham City University for the UN-Habitat Urban Thinkers Campus 2024 event, Towards an International Landscape Convention (ILC). This event is a key part of a global initiative to create an ILC, inspired by the success of the European Landscape Convention (ELC). Led by Kathryn Moore, IFLA past president, this movement has gained momentum over the past decade, bringing together academics, institutions, and individuals to expand the ELC’s vision on a global scale. The discussions followed a two-fold approach: 1. Engaging global organizations, academics, and professionals in conceptualizing the ILC. While it will take many more events to draft this convention, the momentum is building!  2. Exploring real-world examples through the West Midlands National Park as a case study, testing cross-sectoral policy drivers, challenges, and opportunities. This initiative marks a significant step in reshaping global #landuse and landscape protection. We’re excited to continue these important discussions! #IFLA #landscapearchitecture #infrastructure

10th Oct 2024 17.00- 19.30 Van Eesteren Museum Identifying structural racism in neighbourhood development policy Prof. Yasminah Beebeejuan from the Bartlett School of Planning and Architecture, University College London and Eline Hansen Phd, University of Amsterdam, present an introductory discussion on structural racism in urban planning and neighbourhood development policy. Urban planning’s role is often seen as neutral in this process. However, the ways in which urban planning understands and frames concepts of ‘culture’, ‘diversity’ and the ‘ethnic/migrant neighbourhood’, cannot be easily disentangled from a European colonial legacy which underlies a series of racial and spatial imaginaries. Urban planning, therefore, plays a significant role in thinking about and executing the ordering of ‘difference’ and notions of belonging within the city. These racial and spatial imaginaries can include ways in which planning policy develops narratives around certain neighbourhoods as being problematic; the ways in which non-white residents are understood as needing special treatment to be allowed to settle in the city which aids and facilitates difficult dialogues; or indeed the ways in which planning engages with cultural difference through the creation of sites of ‘White consumption’ rather than engaging with reality of residents lives. Through a re-examination of the concepts of 'diversity', 'participation' and 'social cohesion' prof. Beebeejaun and Eline invite you to think about the role of race in urban planning policy.

How do cities reflect power and politics? Explore the fascinating intersections of urban design, history, and societal control in Paris, Algiers, and Vienna. Faith Heffernan's latest article examines how architecture and planning have been used to assert dominance—and how we can reimagine our cities for equity and inclusivity. Read more at the Urban Equity Institute: https://lnkd.in/eH9tmtvm. #UrbanDesign #CityPlanning #ArchitectureMatters #EquityInDesign #UrbanStudies #Paris #Algiers #Vienna #SocialJustice #SpatialDesign #PowerAndPolitics #InclusiveCities #UrbanEquity #CulturalHistory #CityLife #urbanequityinstitute