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The gathering place

Communities are shaping their public spaces into social places. Published in Alumni Digest as verified reporting from the University of British Columbia.

Communities are shaping their public spaces into social places.

Alumni Digest editorial deskJune 10, 20222 min read
In the September issue
The gathering place
Communities are shaping their public spaces into social places. The Ancient Greeks called it the agora – “the gathering place” – a large, public venue that served as an anchor for the local populace to interact, a predecessor to the more contemporary notion of the town square. A hub of economic, political, and social activity, the agora was the heartbeat of the city-state, where one might indulge in a concert, an exhibition, a vote, a protest, a grocery pickup, and a philosophical debate all over the course of an evening stroll. The anxiety disorder agoraphobia – which keeps sufferers locked in their homes with the curtains drawn – literally means “fear of the gathering place.” Photo: Reporting: Richard Littlemore. Source image retained for editorial review; rights clearance is still required before any broader reuse.

The context

Where the work begins

Communities are shaping their public spaces into social places.

The takeaway

What follows

Further reporting continues across the university network.

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