Fayetteville, Arkansas Cultural Plan
As newcomers relocate to Fayetteville, Arkansas, the city’s defining “funk” is in need of being redefined and strengthened. The City of Fayetteville contracted Public Sphere Projects to understand and document its dynamic cultural ecosystem. Key to this work is structuring an inclusive, citywide community engagement process — a way to foster a strong network of constituents, allies, and partners. Our work culminated in a comprehensive “cultural brief” that describes both assets and gaps, providing a framework for further planning and policy decisions.
Downtown Boston Retail Activation Program
Like many of its peers across the US, Boston’s central business district is facing new challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic. Working alongside the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District, Public Sphere Projects is positioning downtown Boston as an active and radically welcoming district. In partnership with entrepreneurs, policymakers, and property owners, we are piloting a ground-floor activation program that promises to reshape the retail landscape — and the public realm.
Downtown Charlottesville, Virginia Strategic Plan
The downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a beloved civic space and an icon of landscape architecture. It is also associated with a civic trauma — a divisive protest that turned deadly. Public Sphere Projects worked with Friends of Cville Downtown to reimagine the mall ahead of its 50th anniversary. Our work was guided by twin stars — to preserve the lovely, off-kilter character of place, while grappling publicly with the legacies of political and racial divisions that still haunt it.