Plazas

People sitting on lawn chairs in front of green meadow with New York City skyscrapers in background in Bryant Park, New York.

In Praise of the Endangered ‘Third Space’

The public spaces where people can spend time among strangers without buying something are crucial to healthy cities—and are quickly disappearing.

November 1, 2023 - Strong Towns

Car-Free Public Space

New Car-Free Public Space Remains a Challenge to Create

A new study from Drexel University's Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation surveys the obstacles and challenges making it more difficult to build car-free public spaces, like plazas and parklets, in Philadelphia.

September 23, 2019 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Green

As Cities Densify, New Building Design Strategies Keep Them Livable

Cities need to increase density, but the design of buildings can drastically affect people’s quality of life. Architects are using new tactics and tools to create innovative structures where light, air, and space are not compromised.

August 19, 2019 - Fast Company

Civic Space: Creating Community

What moves us about great public space is its ability to convene community. To provide an accessible place of solace and celebration. It’s not about the buildings, or even the streets. It’s about the experience. Susan Henderson on Savannah's squares.

October 12, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Georgia

Lessons From Savannah

Savannah, Georgia is an elegant southern belle of a city. Susan Henderson looks at some of its lessons, along with ideas for future study.

April 6, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Place Dauphine in Paris

The Trifecta: Urbanism, Architecture, and Nature

Susan Henderson shares some thoughts about the alignment of issues contributing to well-being in cities.

February 1, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Triangular Plazas: Flexible, Outdoor Rooms With Meaningful Uses

We often think of plazas as rectangular spaces, but unique geometries can create unexpected delight when a few simple criteria are met.

September 13, 2016 - PlaceShakers

A Valentine's Day Message from Diversity Plaza in New York City

We at Planetizen hope that there's lots of love in your day today.

February 14, 2015 - StreetsBlog NYC

'Kit of Parts' Streamlines the Process of Converting Streets into Parks

An Atlantic Cities article details how the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s People St program is making it easier for communities to design and build plazas, parklets, and bike facilities on their streets.

April 25, 2014 - Atlantic Cities

Sorry Cars, L.A. Begins Turning its Streets Over to People

With the launch of a new website, the city of L.A. has begun an exciting experiment in community-based placemaking. The "People St" program will soon accept applications to convert underused street space into plazas, parklets, and bicycle corrals.

January 23, 2014 - LA.Streetsblog

City Initiative Embraces Bottom-Up Placemaking in L.A.

The same week that the City of L.A. made a big splash with its "Great Streets Initiative", a new program that has the potential to have a sizable impact on city streets went less noticed. Damien Newton reports on the city's "People St" program.

October 16, 2013 - LA.Streetsblog

New Plaza Preserves Unexpected Historical Find

Plans to build a parking garage below an old plaza in Seville, Spain, revealed underground roman ruins. So the city built a new structure to hover over the site and to emphasize the area's historic amenities.

June 28, 2011 - Metropolis

A People-Friendly Plaza for D.C.

A new public plaza is being built in Washington D.C., and this rundown from The Dirt highlights its people-focused design.

May 7, 2011 - THE DIRT

TIGER Funding Spurs Transit Plaza and Park in Philadelphia

Flush with federal grants, a new transit plaza and park is set to pop up in Philadelphia.

November 24, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

An Urban Forest

A white box labeled "Unlimited Urban Woods" stands in the plaza of a modern office building in Amsterdam. Step inside, and an endless vista of trees stretches out before you.

July 3, 2010 - WebEcoist

Milwaukee's Big List of Wishes

Planners in Milwaukee have announced a slate of plaza and public space improvement projects that they hope will help catalyze urban regeneration in the city.

July 2, 2010 - Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Art and Mystery in a Public Space

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has created a magical zen landscape in a plaza at the University of Milan, using stones, fabric, and light.

June 11, 2010 - Fast Company

Investing In and Revising Mexico City's Center Square

Mexico City's Centro Historico is undergoing a broad redevelopment, which has resulted in more investment, more events, and more use. However, some there are worried that increased commercialization will tarnish the public square.

July 2, 2009 - Next American City

Art to Bring New York Plaza Back to the Public

In an effort to reclaim a public plaza at the foot of the Manhattan Bridge that was demolished in the 1960s by Robert Moses, artist Brian Tolle is reconstructing the statues that once adorned the plaza.

March 14, 2009 - Bloomberg

Van Der Rohe Plaza Adapted to Ward Off Skateboarders

In a privately-owned plaza designed by Mies van der Rohe in Toronto, owners have sliced into benches to dissuade skateboarding. Some call it an affront to the legendary designer's work.

November 3, 2008 - The Globe and Mail

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.