Stephen O’Malley, President of CIVIC, tells AT what surprised him most about yesterday’s round table conversation, ‘From Facilities to Place’
What shocked you about today’s round table: From Infrastructure to Place?What amazed me– and possibly I feel a little absurd for being shocked by it– was the significance of not losing sight of how we develop the soul of these places. The spreadsheet measurement of providing what are
often called”systems”is clearly important. However what is much more important is the long-lasting success of these locations and ensuring that individuals genuinely take pleasure in living in these new areas. It’s not just about conference arbitrary, spreadsheet-driven targets, crucial though those may remain in one respect. It’s about how people come together as a community– the interdependencies, relationships, and connections that develop with time. Ultimately, it’s the satisfaction, delight and richness of life that emerge from those relationships that matter the majority of.