Urban Greenspace
The 2024 campaign
Greenspaces are essential to the social, physical, and emotional well-being of urban life. As cities continue to grow and face challenges associated with population density, pollution, and stress, the significant need for greenspaces becomes increasingly apparent. Access to parks, gardens, and urban farms make a city livable and sustainable, elevating residents’ quality of life and reducing the effects of climate change.
The conversation around the equity of these spaces is an important one, as marginalized communities often experience limited availability and connection to highly functional greenspaces. This disparity exacerbates existing social and health inequalities, as access to nature has been linked to improved mental well-being, physical health, and community cohesion. Ensuring equitable access to greenspaces is essential to enhancing the overall quality of urban life for all residents. This summer we will explore the importance of greenspace, and the role it plays in the health, sustainability, and growth of a city and its residents through research and a series of interviews with local experts.
Panel Discussion
In this discussion, panelists Duron Chavis, Ted Elmore, and Josh Bearman provide diverse perspectives on the importance of equity and access to green spaces and how they contribute to the health, sustainability, and growth of our cities.
Our Partners
Our firm is excited to share the lineup for this year's Shine the Light program. Our partners, who specialize in urban agriculture, environmental education, advocacy, and landscape architecture, will provide diverse perspectives on ensuring fair access to greenspaces. Through their expertise, we'll explore how natural spaces contribute to the health, sustainability, and growth of our cities.
Our Research
Stay tuned for our research into greenspace, why it’s important and how designers, architects, and developers can foster a more healthy urban environment.
The Scholarship
SMBW is committed to the education of emerging design talent. Over the past 30 years, the firm has focused on connecting with the academic community to mentor, collaborate, and support student work through internships and externships, open studios, critiques, mentoring, teaching, and scholarship opportunities.
With this annual scholarship, we hope to inspire and support the next generation of creative leaders and expand access to design educations. Download the scholarship information and application: