Philosophy

Because every client, community and place are different, Urban Strategies approaches each assignment with no preconceived formulas or solutions, but we do bring a philosophy of urbanism that includes the following tenets:

• The careful management of urban growth and controlled evolution of cities is essential to the quality of human lives and the health of the planet.

• City building is a great collective project that relies on many disciplines, citizen participation and an appreciation for history.

• Successful cities marry public and private interests, aligning them in the planning and design of communities.

• Streets are both the arteries and connective tissue of cities, the places for moving people and goods via transit, cars, trucks, bikes and feet, but also the places for enjoying the diverse cultures, tastes and merchandise a city offers.

• Development and open spaces should be located, shaped and designed in a way that enhances the character of neighbourhoods and the vitality of the public realm.

• Cities must be rooted in nature, and natural features and systems must be rooted in cities:  trees and green spaces should be plentiful, and water, whatever its shape or source, should be accessible and integrated into the design of places.

• Campuses are places and communities unto themselves, where efficiency, sustainable growth, a distinct identity and healthy connections to surroundings are critical to success.