Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Placemaking Week?
A: Project for Public Spaces is proud to produce the first-ever Placemaking Week, a week-long series of events September 12-17th 2016. Events are structured around two conferences: Pro Walk / Pro Bike / Pro Place, the biennial convening of biking and walking professionals from across North America, and the Placemaking Leadership Forum, an international gathering of placemaking thinkers and practitioners.
Q: How are Pro Walk / Pro Bike and the Placemaking Leadership Forum related? If I am going to one, will I miss any content from the other?
A: The events are organized so registrants can attend both. There will be one day of overlap on Wednesday, September 14th, where those registered for Pro Walk / Pro Bike—or both events—will have exclusive access to mobile workshops in the afternoon. A list of announced mobile workshops is available here. However, other local events will be available for attendees who are only registered for the Placemaking Leadership Forum, details to come.
Q: How do I register?
A: Please click here and follow the instructions. Direct any questions to our registration team at walkbikeplaces@ce.uoregon.edu.
Q: What is the registration fee? Is there a discount to attend both events?
A: There is an individual rate of $375 USD to attend the Placemaking Leadership Forum. Registrants who sign up for the full week, including the PLF and Pro Walk / Pro Bike / Pro Place, will receive a discount of $100 USD. Please see Pro Walk / Pro Bike registration page for a full list of their fee options.
Q: Is there a discounted group rate? Who qualifies?
A: Yes, a group of three or more attending the Placemaking Leadership Forum receive a discounted rate of $275 per person. If you work or have previously worked in the same company, on the same project, have shared goals, or are attending the conference as a delegation from the same city or country, we would be happy to welcome you as a group. No group rate is available for the entire week.
Q: How do I apply the group rate while registering?
A: Each member of the group will still need to register individually. The Placemaking Leadership Forum registration page has a “group” option (here), which will prompt registrants to list a group name and group email to qualify for the discounted rate. Once you have selected the group rate at the beginning of the registration process, you do not have to select any additional options to receive your discount. If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact info@placemakingweek.org.
Q: What does my registration cover? Are meals throughout the three days of the PLF included?
A: Your registration includes all events on Thursday and Friday, plus access to optional events on Wednesday and Saturday. Breakfast and lunch will be provided Thursday, Sep. 15 and Friday, Sep. 16. Drinks and small bites will be served at evening receptions on Wednesday, Sep. 14 and Thursday, Sep. 15.
Q: I have already registered for Pro Walk / Pro Walk / Pro Place; can I add the Placemaking Leadership Forum for the discounted, full-week rate?
A: Yes! We encourage all attendees of Pro Walk / Pro Bike to add the Placemaking Leadership Forum to their plans for the discounted cost of only $275.
To do so, please email walkbikeplaces@ce.uoregon.edu with the subject “Add Placemaking Leadership Forum” and they will send you a link to pay the discounted rate online or add the cost to a PO/invoice, if one already exists on the record.
Q: Are there any scholarship or funding opportunities for attendees?
A: No, however we are happy to work with individuals seeking support from foundations or other sources.
Q: I'm not a member of the Placemaking Leadership Council; can I still attend the Placemaking Leadership Forum?
A: Yes! This event builds upon the past meetings of PPS’s Placemaking Leadership Council (free to join!), but all are welcome.
Q: Where will the events be held?
A: The event will be held in downtown Vancouver at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel, 1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC.
Q: What accommodations are available for the conference?
A:There are a number of hotels ranging from budget to boutique within walking distance from the main conference venue. The following hotels all are all within 1-4 blocks from the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel and are listed in order of price as of mid-August. Prices are in USD.
Comfort Inn Downtown $120, Ramada $132, Holiday Inn $185, Landis Hotel and Suites $193, The Burrard $200, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa $210, Best Western Plus Chateau Granville Hotel & Suites $272, Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver $284, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver $287, Residence Inn Vancouver Downtown $297, Sheraton Wall Centre (conference venue) $385, and Wedgewood Hotel & Spa Vancouver $452.
Alternate Accommodations: Samesun Vancouver (hostel) $30, HI-Vancouver Central (hostel) $29, and Well-reviewed AirBnB private or shared residencesQ: What is the best way to get there?
A: Vancouver is BC’s main transportation hub, so there are many convenient ways to get to the city. Please see the hotel website for directions to the hotel from numerous destinations within the city. The hotel is accessible by public transportation and is located in a walkable and bicycle friendly area.
Q: I do not live in Canada. Will I need a visa to attend the conference?
A: If you’re traveling from outside Canada and the United States, you’ll need to obtain either an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa, depending on your nationality. Click here to find out what requirements apply to you.
The eTA’s take only a few minutes to reserve online. Obtaining visas requires a more traditional application process. We’re happy to help you do that, and can provide an official letter of invitation. Please contact info@placemakingweek.org for assistance.
Q: What are the ten Transformative Agendas?
A: The Transformative Agendas are ten topic areas that we believe represent the greatest opportunities for placemaking in the coming years. These topics will form the basis of discussion at the conference. To learn more about the agendas and how they affect public space, click here. We will also be featuring each topic in a series of blog posts leading up to the conference, click here to view current posts.
Q: How will each day of the PLF be organized?
A: If you are not attending Pro Walk / Pro Bike / Pro Place, Wednesday will provide a selection of local events and trainings, which attendees can choose a la carte, details to come.
Thursday’s Future of Places Summit will primarily consist of plenary sessions featuring cutting-edge international research on public space and placemaking.
Friday will include a mix of plenaries and breakout sessions that focus on putting ideas into practice, using the work of seasoned placemakers and other practitioners as a springboard for conversation. The content for all three of these three days is guided by our Organizing Brain Trust, a group of more than 80 internationally renowned placemakers.
On Saturday, some regional groups will hold meetings specific to their area, including a large gathering for Canadian placemakers.
Q: What opportunities are there to speak or present at the conference?
A: There is an opportunity to present at the Future of Places Summit section of of the Placemaking Leadership Forum, Thursday, September 14. For more information and suggested topics, please see the Call for Presentations here. Application deadline is July 31.
There will also be a poster session at the Placemaking Leadership Forum. More information will be posted on the website. Please contact info@placemakingweek.org with any questions.
Q: Are there any side events or networking events I need to be aware of?
A: Yes! There will be a number of evening networking events during the Placemaking Leadership Forum, including the Pro Walk / Pro Bike networking party on Wednesday, September 14, with over 500 walking and biking practitioners and proponents. Additionally, on Friday, September 16, there will be space for a variety of affinity, interest and geographic groups to hold networking breakfasts. If you are interested in hosting your own, please contact info@placemakingweek.org.
For those not attending Pro Walk / Pro Bike / Pro Place, there will also be a number of local, public side events on Wednesday, September 14. More side events to be announced.
Q: Who should I contact about sponsorship or volunteer opportunities for Placemaking Week?
A: There are a variety of opportunities to sponsor events, meals, and registration fees for participants, and we are happy to work with sponsors to offer the benefits that matter to them. Please consult our sponsorship invitation for more information about opportunities and benefits, or contact info@placemakingweek.org.
Q: I'm not from North America. Is the content still relevant to me?
A: Yes! Taking inspiration from the upcoming international Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador, Placemaking Week will make a point of including voices and perspectives from across the Global North and South. This event will build off of an international conversation that Project for Public Spaces and the Future of Places has been stewarding for several years through events in Stockholm and Buenos Aires.
Q: Where can I learn about conference updates?
A: Information on the conference program, special meetings, and other events will be posted on the official conference website. Please visit placemakingweek.org/plf/ for the latest updates. If you would like to subscribe to our conference-specific mailing list to receive updates directly in your inbox, click here.
Q: I still have questions. Who can I reach out to?
A: If you have any further questions about the Placemaking Leadership Forum, please contact info@placemakingweek.org. If you have further questions about Pro Walk / Pro Bike / Pro Place, please contact program@prowalkprobike.org. And if you need any further help with the registration process, please contact walkbikeplaces@ce.uoregon.edu.
Q: What does my registration cover? Are meals throughout the three days of the PLF included?
A: Your registration includes all events on Thursday and Friday, plus access to optional events on Wednesday and Saturday. Breakfast will be provided Thursday, Sep. 15 and Friday, Sep. 16, as well as lunch onFriday, Sep. 16. Drinks and small bites will be served at evening receptions on Wednesday, Sep. 14, Thursday, Sep. 15, and Friday, Sep 16.
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