PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Co-design of new public space

The city of Montreal advanced in a ground-breaking co-design process for this initiative.

Project Context

A neighbourhood in the heart of Montreal, ravaged by a highway construction in the 1970’s, is undergoing a profound transformation. The project, known as Project Champ-de-Mars Sector, includes the creation of a new public space over the highway, the redesign of existing public spaces, a re-haul of the transportation plan, and a rethink of the neighbourhood life and identity including cohabitation with the local homeless populations.

The city of Montreal advanced in a ground-breaking co-design process for this initiative. Co-planning and co-design requires a delicate rebuilding of trust between the diverse actors and fostering a culture of agility and openness, all the while working within a wide range of constraints.

CLIENT: Division des projets urbains, Direction de l’urbanisme, Service de mise en valeur de la ville de Montréal

Multiple stakeholders and ecosystem complexity
+ Consultation
+ Environmental scan
+ Data analysis

Percolab’s role

Percolab was responsible for the collaborative approach both internally and externally. We designed the participatory strategy, interactive tools, citizen engagement, facilitation, data capture and data analysis.

  • Conducting co-planning workshops with the different divisions of the city and borough
  • Engaging with local stakeholders to hear their questions and ideas to collaborate
    Developing and offering a training for city employees to capture data in the streets with citizens
  • Collaborating with the leader of the opposition for public relations
  • Contributing to digital and communication strategy
  • Creating interactive installations to invite the public to learn about the constraints and data, and to participate
  • Designing and running creative consultation interventions around the neighbourhood (including a history walk, an interactive site, a beach installation around the metro etc.)
  • Communication strategy including website and media events
  • Collaborating around the final report
  • Producing a visual mural as a way to share the findings
  • Designing and running a public consultation process in the new public space