19 May - Public lecture by Cynthia Nikitin on "Making Public Spaces Work"

Date : 19 (Thursday) May 2011
Time : 4.30PM to 6.00PM
Venue : Auditorium F, Level 5 KOMTAR

Think City and SERI are pleased to invite you to a public lecture by Cynthia Nikitin on “Making Public Spaces Work”.

Cynthia Nikitin is the Vice President of Program for Public Spaces - a successful "place making" organisation based in New York City.

Kindly RSVP your attendance with  Ms Bharathi at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by May 18th, 2011.

Below is the synopsis of the talk:

Abstract

"80 percent of the success of any public space can be attributed to how well it is managed. Not just maintained or secured but actively managed on a day to day basis. Programming, activities, social gatherings, and amenities are the elements that make a space succeed.

It is up to the managers of the space to constantly evaluate how it is functioning and then making the changes and adjustments that make the place one that people want to return to again and again.  Cynthia Nikitin, Vice President and Director of the Civic Centres Programme at PPS will discuss the qualities of a great place the characteristics of a great district and how by focusing on the Powers of Ten, great places can create great neighbourhoods, downtowns and cities."

The rewards of transforming civic centers into great public spaces are numerous. Not only do better public spaces enrich the lives of the people who use them, but they also make surrounding neighborhoods more desirable,attracting investment and spurring revitalization. They endow the civic realm with credibility and prestige by providing a sense of character and a forum for public activity. And they anchor downtowns and communities, acting as sources of shared identity and foundations for healthy growth. All of these benefits add up to greater livability.