Planning should be participatory; however, it’s often very difficult to get stakeholders to contribute to planning processes. Mail-in survey return rates are low, and more often than not, residents don’t want to sit through a Saturday morning design charette. Marketing online and social media platforms give urban planners and architects a set of contemporary tools [...]
Planning consultancies offer a wide range of advice on matters concerned with planning, development, and environmental issues which surround a building project. They are involved in a number of different types of projects, for example: Town centre improvements; Business parks; Airports; Smaller building works for companies. In all of these projects it is important that [...]
The importance of social media, in our daily lives, is increasing day-by-day. We shop from websites, which our friends have recommended from Twitter, instead of going to the shopping mall. We schedule our social life according to events which are highly advertised or shared on Facebook. And we talk to our friends via messengers, instead [...]
One of the most important components of your work as an urban planner is engaging community stakeholders. For urban projects in the main street district, the downtown development authority, city leadership, planning and zoning commissioners, historical district commissioners, architects, and neighborhood residents are all integral partners. Projects that deal more with regional issues require collaboration [...]
There is no denying it, we are in the facebook era. With over 900 million users, the public has never been more exposed and globally connected. One reading this may agree, but likely conclude, that the banter on Facebook is similar to the banter on Wikipedia; it is inefficient, random, and full of opinions, often [...]
Public participation in urban planning has been transformed by web and mobile-based social media technologies. From simply informing citizens about a new proposal or plan to actively seeking out citizen suggestions and feedback, social media has changed the way urban planners approach public participation. Planners are always looking for new techniques and tools to engage [...]
In October 2011, I began my internship writing for The Grid. I had always been interested in the potential that social media can provide as a platform for discussions about urban planning and design. Aside from this, I did not quite know what to expect from the experience. Six months later, I am leaving my blogging position at Global [...]
As my 6-month internship with Global Site Plans coasts to a gentle close this week, I find myself in a much different place than when I began blogging for the GRID in October 2011. In the beginning, I was a recent college grad still clinging to my Cornell days by hanging around Ithaca, New York [...]
It is pretty well acknowledged that the Internet has changed the world, with easy, universal access to information and instant communication across the planet. But how has it impacted the daily life of an architect? Has it changed the way they work? And is the full potential of the Internet being utilised? Habits are changing. [...]
Social media is changing the way we live, work, and play. Our networks are larger, our interests broader, and our opportunities more abundant than ever before. Thanks to this dynamic, digital infrastructure, Detroit, Michigan is making a comeback and gaining esteem as a city of possibility. The new direction is small and sustainable. There is a [...]
An effective architecture company website can increase business and attract talented staff, which is why we’ve selected a few to illustrate how it SHOULD be done! We’ve selected these sites based on the following criteria: design, ease of use, copywriting, interactivity, use of technology, innovation and content. Rem Koolhaas, OMA Like any creative industry, architectural [...]
Email marketing campaigns allow small-to-medium sized architecture, engineering, and urban planning firms reach larger audiences for a fraction of what traditional direct mail marketing cost. Imagine informing thousands of individuals about upcoming events, new products and services, publications, and news with the click of a mouse. With a Global Site Plans email marketing campaign package, an [...]
When I was first asked one year ago to write for The Grid, I was nervous, yet excited to be part of a new voice for design on the web. As I became more comfortable with the position and began to write more regularly, I have been able to use my column to inspire and [...]
Blogs are today’s “black.” Nowadays, many companies are incorporating personalized websites as part of the businesses’ Public Relations strategy to reach out to new and potential clientele, or the general public. So it is important, more so within the field of architecture, engineering, environmental non-profit, landscape architecture and urban planning, to maintain your website in [...]
A few weeks ago, I explored three avenues for social media marketing for urban planners and urban planning firms. The social media marketing steps discussed in that blog are just a handful of steps for an urban planning firm to promote themselves online. There are many different avenues a firm can take to promote itself [...]
Within the field of architecture, engineering, environmental non-profit, landscape architecture and urban planning, attending to your website’s upkeep will help your business grow and continue to thrive. Clientele will most likely conduct research about your company prior to contacting you, and in today’s age, companies are always developing and maintaining websites to attract new and [...]
Social media marketing has become a buzzword this decade. Every business seems to be hiring social media marketers now. Which social media network would be the most appropriate for a certain organization? This mini guide is meant to be a starting point for planners’ and architects’ research into social media marketing. Planning professionals should always [...]
Each year, New York City’s network of Business Improvements Districts (BIDs) invests approximately $100 million worth of programs and services across the five boroughs. This network of 64 BIDs constitutes the largest network of its kind nationwide. Business owners, property owners, local merchant associations, elected officials, and urban planners have come to acknowledge the importance [...]
We know that you love reading new articles on The Grid right here on our site, but did you know that you can also keep up with your favorite stories and writers “off the grid” on your favorite social networks? The Grid now goes wherever you go, with multiple social media streams to keep you informed [...]
Global Site Plans is happy to introduce Barrett Lane as Twitter Community Manager. Barrett Lane is a Social Media Correspondent for The Grid, and adds this position to his current responsibilities. In addition to managing the Global Site Plans Twitter community and blogging, Barrett is a Graduate Student studying Urban Planning and Design at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a B.S. from [...]
