A Tactical Urbanist’s Exploration of Public Seating
Goal:
Make Green Street more sustainable using human-centered design methods
Solution:
Engage in tactical urbanism and spread the word of community engagement
Impact:
Create social capital on the University of Illinois campus with style
The urban planning at a world class university, with a nationally-ranked urban planning program, should reflect its stature.
This project turned out to be a metamorphic amelioration.
Research
The University of Illinois Campustown’s center is Green Street: an eight-block commercial stretch and home to student life, day and night.
Skyscraping luxury apartments and fast food chains abut family-owned diners and small businesses at this confluence of culture.
Rainy Green Street. Photo credit: u/minnesida
At left is a video to help you get a better sense of the site.
As you watch, you’ll notice the wide building offsets, sparse trees, imposing apartments, confused traffic, and a great diversity of people. What you won’t notice… is a bench!
The University of Illinois is lauded as a Mecca for accessibility. How can this be when there’s not a single bench on the most popular street?
Definitions
The lack of public seating on Green Street on the University of Illinois campus is inaccessible, unsafe, and prohibitive.
Below is my initial proposal in which I introduce my analysis and offer nine possible interventions (page 5 & 6!).
Submitting a stand-alone proposal seemed insignificant.
To bolster my submission, I concocted a proof-of-concept: I would engage in tactical
urbansism by covertly installing my bench and gathering data until it’s removed.
My guiding question: Will people actually sit?
I interviewed almost 80 people from diverse background and perspectives so that I could choose the best place for my intervention.
“If you could put a bench on Green Street, where should it go?“
I had provided something someone wanted but something wasn’t quite right.
Design Process
I headed to Home Depot to gather the supplies I needed for the build. This included 16 cinderblocks, 6 2×4’s, chalk, and 2 cans of paint.
Upon arriving, I was talking my project over with one of the specialists and he recommended that I purchase some cement glue. Genius! This drastically improved the safety and stability of my bench.
I got to work that day and constructed the bench at the Siebel Center for Design. It was surprisingly comfortable!
Below is a video compilation of the bench construction!
From earlier tests, I learned that travelers must find both physical and emotional comfort to engage with public seating. I used orange and blue paint so that I could show passers-by that they are welcome.
Once I began to paint the bench, some of my neighbors came over to see what I was doing. They wanted to help out!
It was so great that even before the project started I was already creating community.
Here’s the finished product!
I placed the bench in the most popular spot and hid across the street to film, popping out to interview those who sat on the bench or interacted with the provided chalk. Included below is one of the interviews I conducted on the scene as well as a map of my stakeout.
Wait a minute… Isn’t it hypocritical to use the Walgreen’s parking lot without patronizing them when you’re talking about how much you’re doing for Champaign-Urbana? Seems like ostensible community development to me…
Nope! I understand community development! I was sure to purchase a little snack at the Walgreens so that I was paying for what I was using, increasing economic sustainability.
Research Findings
In less than an hour of recording (56:51 in total), the bench received 20 interactions from the denizens of Green Street.
I was able to create connections in the city through a simple bench, building bridges for new people to meet and interact.
This is the heart of social capital!
Upon an interview, the couple (triptych, left) noted, “I love it; it’s a super fun addition to Green Street. If you wanted to make it even better, you could add colored chalk.”
Upon an interview, this student (right) said, “The chalk was inviting. I needed to wait for a friend. Other people came and used it while I was waiting. Maybe if you draw more behind it… people are more likely to see it… I like it.” (The audio file above has the whole interview!)
A diptych (left) of students waiting (top) and drawing (bottom).
I went up to many of them afterwards and fielded their thoughts on the bench, receiving much positive feedback!
Final Outcome
The most important interaction I had was with the building owner of this property…
I ran away after the property managers came to talk to me…
…until they tried taking it apart.
Next Steps
Initially upset with what I had done, she quickly changed her tone when she realized the eye-catching allure of my bench.
We set up a meeting to plan how to permanently install a bench on Green Street.
We are currently looking at sustainable materials for the final build, hopefully to be bolted down soon. We are working on the next phase of the project.
I was invited to present this work at the 2022 University of Illinois Undergraduate Research Symposium for which I received highest honors. Below is my research poster:
Alastair Merrett 