I was in Chicago yesterday for a workshop, and the space in the picture above caught my eye. It’s a public square just outside the Gleacher Center at the University of Chicago.

It was a little foggy and rainy yesterday morning, but I would imagine that this space is well-used on days when it’s sunny and warm. If I worked in the area, I’d probably grab my lunch some days and eat it sitting by the fountains. Or maybe I’d suggest that a meeting with a teammate happen out there, rather than in the office. It’s the kind of space that’s nice to walk through, and nice to spend time in. It’s sometimes an accidental stopping place, and sometimes a destination.

We often talk about ‘third spaces’ being coffee shops and cafes - places other than work and home where people like to spend time. These third spaces are what gives a city its soul. An abundance of them makes a city more attractive to all generations, perhaps especially the next generation who have looser boundaries around their work spaces.

It is possible for a city to intentionally create third spaces in the public realm as well. Small pockets of space that encourage and invite one to spend a moment connecting ... with friends, with oneself, or with the city around them.

Where are the third spaces in your city?

Comments

Leave a Comment

Name:
Email:
Comment:
	Enter the word you see in the image: