The Art of

Placemaking
The ultimate guide for leveraging
art and culture in pursuit of
one-of-a-kind destinations

A PARTNER IN PLACEMAKING
“ Creative placemaking, or leveraging art and
culture in tandem with great design, is a proven
accelerator for real estate development projects. ”

-Urban Land Institute

 Introduction:
What is Placemaking?
What makes a sensational place? Is it the
people, the ambiance, the service? While the
answer may vary across individuals, placemak-
ing experts say that the most successful places
share four common qualities: accessibility,
activity, connection, and appeal.
These are the attributes we aim for in place-
making, or creating quality places where people
want to live, work, and play. Placemaking is a
people-centered process that involves the
planning, design, and management of public
places, from retail and residential spaces to
streets, parks, transportation hubs, and more.
ACCESSIBILITY
Is the place easy
to get to and
through?
WHAT
MAKES A
GREAT
PLACE?
CONNECTION
Does the place allow
for social gathering?
But how do we create synergies among these
seemingly disparate spaces while achieving
accessibility, activity, connection, and appeal?
Enter art and culture. When placemaking
prioritizes thoughtful community
engagement and art and cultural planning
- called creative placemaking - tremendous
economic and social benefits result.
This guide provides five essential
placemaking tips to help you reap
such benefits while creating one-of-
a-kind destinations that shape the
public realm.
ACTIVITY
Are there ample
opportunities for
engagement?
APPEAL
Is the place inviting
and aesthetically
pleasing?
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The Value of
Art in the Built Environment
If placemaking involves shaping the built
environment, then art is the catalyst for
transformation.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, art brings tremen-
dous social and financial value to the many
corporate, leisure, and public places where we
live, work, and play. And when integrated early
and with intention, art creates memorable
experiences that both boost surrounding
business and build community - long after the
installations are complete.
“ The capital investment
upfront is often going to be
small in comparison to the
brand awareness, the publicity,
or just the word of mouth...You
can't put a price on that.”
- Daniel Doyle, Senior Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer, The
Beach Company
Hear the conversation on
dot dot dot: The NINE dot
ARTS podcast
Whether a large-scale mural that supports
navigation and brings pride to a neighborhood
- or a dynamic sculpture that promotes public
gathering and reflects community culture - art
can transform the built environment while
improving our quality of life.
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
• Increased foot traff ic and revenue
• Higher rates and longer bookings
• Shorter approval cycles
• Faster sales and lease ups
• Lower turnover rates
• Earned media
• Brand recognition
• Community engagement and goodwill
• A unique sense of place
• Intuitive wayf inding
• Reflection of DEIB values (diversity, equity,
inclusion, belonging)
4
THE
PLACEMAKING
PRINCIPLES
H O N E YO U R V I S I O N
D E V E L O P C R E AT I V E C O L L A B O R AT I O N S
CONNECT TO THE COMMUNITY
I N T E G R AT E A R T E A R LY
DESIGN FOR THE PEOPLE

5
 THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES

Hone Your Vision

You can't build a one-of-a-kind destination if you don't know where you're headed. That’s why a
critical first step in successful placemaking is to develop a clear vision that can guide your long-term
efforts.

Vision development can be a highly creative and collaborative process, where project stakeholders
and community members come together to ideate about the future of a place.

What will it look and feel like?

Hear from Rhys Duggan,
Who will spend time there?
President and CEO of
What emotions will it evoke?
Revesco Properties, on
How will art and culture play a role? including art in the initial
DELAIDE HARCOURT COLLECTION
project vision and staying
One way to determine these outcomes is through an committed to that vision
interactive discovery session in which participants can re- over a decades-long project
view and respond to various art concepts, styles, mediums, life cycle.
and aesthetics. These visioning sessions can help uncover
the utility, character, and meaning of a place, meanwhile Hear the conversation
on dot dot dot: The
establishing clear goals and criteria for the kinds of art and
NINE dot ARTS podcast
cultural programming that can bring a vision to life.

D E L I V E R A B L E S F R O M V I S I O N I N G S E S S I O N S M AY I N C L U D E :

PERRY LANE ART CONCEPTS: ADELAIDE HARCOURT COLLECTION

Clear vision statement Inspirational mood A list of key decision Art location plans
with aligning goals boards makers whose interests
and guiding principles and expertise may
influence the project

6
THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES
Develop Creative Collaborations
In today’s competitive market, new properties
seem to spring up overnight, resulting in cookie-
cutter spaces that feel out of touch with the
surrounding neighborhood. Thus the case for
another placemaking principle: develop creative
collaborations.
Beyond your typical project team of urban
planners, designers, architects, and engineers,
it’s critical to seek out other professionals who
can help differentiate your development in
authentic and enduring ways, such as artists, art
consultants, community leaders, and cultural
organizations.
Such stakeholders bring value in the form of
new perspectives, creative solutions, connec-
tions to locals, and overall accountability. Plus,
they help ensure the placemaking
process doesn’t happen in a silo. For
example, community leaders can guide
construction efforts away from sacred
space, while artists can help honor that
space through thoughtful installations
that reflect shared values. In this way,
collaborating across identities and exper-
tise can create space for high impact art
moments that make a lasting difference.
Altogether, creative collaborations help
challenge assumptions and advocate for
various interests, all in pursuit of turning
a vision into reality.
“ The best projects come from
harnessing the collective wisdom
of a talented team of people,
all growing in the direction of a
common vision. And that’s what
creates authenticity. ”
- Chad McWhinney, CEO, McWhinney
Chad McWhinney, developer behind
The Dairy Block, describes creative
collaborations in action on dot dot
dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast.
7
 PLACEMAKING SPOTLIGHT
THE
WINNER OF THE ULI 2021 AMERICAS
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
DAIRY
BLOCK
At Denver’s famous Dairy Block, creative
collaborations brought to life an integrated art
experience spanning the site’s popular Maven
Hotel, Dairy Block offices, Kachina Cantina
restaurant, and the city’s first activated
pedestrian alleyway.
Honoring the concept of “the maker” and the
area’s legacy as the site of the original Windsor
Dairy, the collection demonstrates exceptional
use of public space, creative partnerships, and
art with impact to engage surrounding retail
and entertainment, culminating in a lively and
unforgettable urban experience.
10 site-specific, multimedia public art
commissions are featured in the length
of one city block
30-foot tall “Spilt Milk” sculpture serves as
a landmark installation, welcoming
visitors into the alley
500-lb wooden hand hanging from the
ceiling of The Maven has become a staple
of the Denver arts scene
Partnerships with the Colorado Crush
Mural Festival and Lighthouse Writers
Workshop helped recruit local artists and
engage the surrounding community in
the art collection
8
THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES

Connect to the Community

Building on the need for creative collaborations,
connecting authentically to the local community
is another non-negotiable in the placemaking
process. Often, the greatest challenges and
missed opportunities happen when developers
neglect this crucial step, leading to community
resentment and a lackluster destination.

But when community partnerships are

prioritized, the potential is limitless.

PLACEMAKING SPOTLIGHT

MIDTOWN SQUARE
Just take Midtown Square, for example, a
mixed-use development in Seattle’s Central
District where many Black creatives have
been displaced. Through partnerships
between the local developer, designers,
community leaders, philanthropists, artists,
and others, the space now boasts a vibrant
public plaza that honors the historically Black
community, telling a compelling and colorful
story about what has been to inspire visitors
about what can be.
Such messaging is embedded into the vision
for Midtown Square, which now provides
a mix of market rate and affordable
housing, as well as permanent retail
space for minority-owned businesses like
the nonprofit Arté Noir, where proceeds
support Black art, artists, and culture.
With rapid development causing Seattle’s
Black residency to drop from 75% in 1960 to
15% by 2020, the establishment of Arté Noir’s
permanent space lays a restorative founda-
tion for other Black businesses and cultural
organizations whose legacies are tied to the
Central District.
Midtown Square serves as a national example
for the ways in which art and culture can
inform development and placemaking efforts
while prioritizing community values.
Tune in to dot dot dot: The NINE dot ARTS
Podcast to hear Vivian Phillips, Founder
of Arté Noir, share more
about Midtown Square and
the importance of sincere
public-private partnerships.

9
THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES:
CONNECT TO THE COMMUNITY

So how can developers achieve the success of

Midtown Square? One place to start is through
Asset Based Community Development (ABCD).

Instead of focusing on what a place needs or

lacks, the ABCD approach uncovers existing
strengths - characterized in five asset categories
- to be further developed through intentional and
ongoing community-engaged planning.

These strengths are then analyzed through a

creative lens by engaging local arts and cultural
networks (people, organizations, places, events,
etc.) to aid in the placemaking process – from
the planning and design of public spaces to the
maintenance of parks and streetscapes.

Investing in the creative sector in this way

sparks innovative, community-driven solutions
like that of Midtown Square, where people are
incentivized to contribute to their community’s
progress. This catalyzes ongoing civic pride
and further buy-in from businesses and the
government, making ripple effects beyond the
built environment and proving that thoughtful
placemaking is more than art on walls.

M O R E T H A N A R T O N WA L L S

• Attracts locals and visitors alike

• Reflects the culture and history of a place

• Builds social and cultural capital

• Generates community goodwill

• Draws positive attention for the project

• Uplifts local labor and emerging artists

• Communicates an authentic story

• Builds civic engagement and pride

10
THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES:
CONNECT TO THE COMMUNITY

Asset
Based
Community
Developm ent
FIVE ASSET CATEGORIES:

INDIVIDUALS
Everyone has assets.

CONNECTIONS
People are connected through community.

ASSOCIATIONS
People share and discover each other’s assets.

PLACES
The places where people choose to spend their
time matter.

INSTITUTIONS
People organize around assets.

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THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES
Integrate Art Early
Whether a large-scale development built over
several decades or a mixed-use renovation
meant to energize the neighborhood, early art
integration is critical for captivating audiences
and distinguishing a memorable sense of place.
According to our State of the Art Report, only
18% of business professionals say they begin
thinking about art curation during a project’s
initial visioning, and 55% revealed they don’t
determine the art budget until after the
architecture, design, and construction budgets
are decided. Such delays may diminish the
overall impact of the art experience and leave
the space feeling empty or dull. And when this
happens, people notice.
To avoid this mistake, begin your art planning
at about 60% of schematic design completion.
This means the project has a rough layout that
depicts basic features and construction ele-
ments. At this point, any necessary engineering
or structural support for major art locations can
be prioritized, as well as solutions for integrating
artwork with lighting, architecture, and design.
Such thoughtfulness in the early stages of a
project creates space for bold, iconic artworks
that would be impossible anywhere else.
Check out our latest
State of the Art Report
for more of our findings
E A R LY A RT I N T EG R AT I O N BE N E F I TS:
• Maximize prof itability
• Create budget eff iciencies
• Streamline efforts across project teams
• Save time and money
• Ensure cohesion with design, architecture,
and overall brand
• Align art concepts with community values
• Create stand-out art moments that
distinguish a memorable sense of place
• Build art and culture into the civic fabric
of a destination
12
THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES:
I N T E G R AT E A R T E A R LY

PLACEMAKING SPOTLIGHT

KENECT
NASHVILLE
At Kenect Nashville, early stage art solutions helped save
time and money, communicate the Kenect brand, and
establish the multifamily residence as a desirable desti-
nation for young professionals and urban dwellers alike.
Instead of spending money on expensive stone or design
features, our team worked with developers, designers,
and architects to cover drywall in the lobby with two
high-impact murals by local artist Nathan Brown, one
featuring a collage of words representative of both the
Kenect brand and the city’s rich culture. With phrases
like “Life Accommodated” and “It’s All Within Reach,” the
mural inspires residents to meet, share ideas, and set out
on their next big night in Nashville.

Nearby, a 19-foot-high sequined installation by Kong Wee

Pang and Jay Crum integrates with the building’s archi-
tecture, beckoning visitors further inside while highlight-
ing the eccentric flare of Nashville’s show culture.

Kenect’s subsequent success as “the place to be”

supports why early art integration is critical for creating
efficiencies and distinguishing your property from the
competition.

Check out the art collection

at Kenect Nashville and learn
more about the benefits of
early stage art solutions.

13
THE PLACEMAKING PRINCIPLES
Design for the People
“ If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you
get cars and traffic. If you plan for people
and places, you get people and places. ”
-Fred Kent, Founder of Project for Public Spaces
As partners in placemaking, the central driver
behind our desire to create great places is to
benefit the people who use them.
This brings us to the final - and perhaps most
important - placemaking principle: design for
the people. Human-centered design involves
studying and optimizing human behavior
through the built environment, and the exam-
ples are endless.
Murals support wayfinding and spark conver-
sation. Fountains encourage both relaxation
and play. Walkways promote exploration and
adventure. Sculptures act as cultural landmarks.
And public plazas are home to performances,
protests, and civic engagements of all kinds.
In each of these scenarios, art and culture serve
as catalysts for human connection, creating
synergies among people and place.
Because what better way to express, engage,
and elevate the human experience than
through the power of art and culture?
NINE dot ARTS CEO
Martha Weidmann
on optimizing human
behavior through the
built environment
“ Art and people have a way
of creating space and energy
around themselves. Not
only do they draw people
towards them, but they
also create these wonderful
bubbles. Art, when used
successfully, creates its own
environments.”
- Andy Rockmore, Principal,
Shears Adkins Rockmore
Hear the conversation
on dot dot dot: The
NINE dot ARTS podcast
14
REAPING THE
BENEFITS
REAPING THE BENEFITS

Placemaking Benefits:

Competitive Advantage &

Social Impact
This guide provides five critical steps for leveraging
art and culture in pursuit of one-of-a-kind
destinations that captivate audiences and distinguish
a memorable sense of place. While these aren’t the
only steps - and ongoing care is necessary - they
make up the fundamentals of placemaking and
provide a solid foundation from which to begin.

So what are the benefits?

As partners in placemaking, NINE dot ARTS has

spent more than a decade leading interdisciplinary
teams big and small through these placemaking
principles, from building and sustaining creative
collaborations to connecting with communities,
addressing displacement, overcoming regulatory
hurdles, and more. Throughout this process, we’ve
helped our partners leverage art and culture to
solve challenges in the built environment related
to housing, transportation, health, business
development, technology, and more - all critical
SOCIAL BENEFITS:
elements for today’s smart cities. Because “smart ● Improved public safety
cities cannot achieve their holistic vision without ● Strong community identity and pride
embracing the creative arts” (Carnegie Mellon ● Environmental quality
University). ● Aesthetically and functionally improved
transportation choices, building structures,
and streetscapes
● Increased collaboration between public and
ECONOMIC BENEFITS:
private partners
● Workforce development and job creation ● Social cohesion
● Competitive advantage ● Cross-cultural connections
● Continuous innovation ● Authentic realization of DEIB values
● Increased return on investment (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging)
● Increased market valuation and recognition ● Community building, engagement, and
● Increased tax revenues that pay for more goodwill
resident services ● Greater civic capacity
● Economic prosperity ● Creative expression

16
REAPING THE BENEFITS

There's no doubt that when

treated as more than a decorative
afterthought, art has a tremendous
impact on our individual and
collective wellbeing. This is evidenced
in the many economic and social
benefits created through the arts,
from workforce development and job
creation to improved public safety,
community building, and civic pride.
“ Creative placemaking animates
public and private spaces,
rejuvenates structures and
streetscapes, improves local business
viability and public safety, and brings
diverse people together to celebrate,
inspire, and be inspired. ”
-National Endowment for the Arts

Ul timately, in fusin g ar t an d cul ture in to

the placemaking process - creative placemaking -
produces incredible outcomes with livability and
economic benef its that lead to thriving cities.

Art as a Tool for Placemaking

Watch our webinar to dig deeper into

these five placemaking principles.

17
Featured Art
Page 1 Project: The Dairy Block | Artists: Michael Ortiz, Evan Hecox, Chad Hasegawa, The London Police
(left), Collin Parson (right) | Photographer: Paul Brokering

Page 2 Project: Midtown Square | Image Credit: Lake Union Partners

Page 4 Project: Parkside at City Center | Artist: Thomas Evans (Detour)

Page 5 Project: The River Mile | Image Credit: Wenk Associates and SAR+ Architects

Page 7 Project: The Dairy Block | Artist: Airworks Studio | Photographer: Paul Brokering

Page 8 Project: The Dairy Block | Artist: Andrew Ramiro Tirado | Photographer: Andrew Bordwin

Page 9 Project: Midtown Square | Artist: Adam Jabari Jefferson | Image Credit: Lake Union Partners

Page 10 Project: Midtown Square | Artists: Juan Alonso Rodriguez, Barry Johnson (top), Yegizaw Michael,
Barry Johnson (bottom) | Image Credit: Lake Union Partners

Page 11 Project: Midtown Square | Artist: Takiyah Ward | Image Credit: Lake Union Partners

Page 12 Project: Citizen Apartments | Artists: Eric Dallimore, bunny M. | Photographer: Krista Lance

Page 13 Project: Kenect Nashville | Artists: Nathan Brown (top), Kong Wee Pang, Jay Crum (bottom) | Image
Credit: Jake’s Visuals (top), Nashville Guru (bottom)

Page 14 Project: The River Mile | Image Credit: Wenk Associates and SAR+ Architects

Page 15 Project: The Dairy Block | Artists: Sandra Fettingis (left), Michael Ortiz, Evan Hecox, Chad Hasegawa,
The London Police (right), Collin Parson (top) | Photographer: Paul Brokering

Page 17 Project: The River Mile | Rendering: Wenk Associates and SAR+ Architects

Page 19 Project: The Exchange at Boulevard One | Artist: Airworks Studio | Photographer: Krista Lance

References
Page 2 Creative Placemaking: Sparking Development with Art and Culture. Urban Land Institute. https://
knowledge.uli.org/en/Reports/Research%20Reports/2020/Creative%20Placemaking

Page 3 What is Placemaking? Placemaking Chicago. http://www.placemakingchicago.com/about/#:~:-

text=Placemaking%20is%20a%20people%2Dcentered,to%20discover%20needs%20and%20
aspirations

What Makes a Successful Place? Project for Public Spaces. https://www.pps.org/article/grplacefeat

Page 9 The Vision for Arté Noir in the Central District Community. Arté Noir. https://www.artenoir.org/post/
the-vision-for-art%C3%A9-noir-in-the-central-district-community

Page 11 Asset Based Community Development. Nurture Development. https://www.nurturedevelopment.

org/asset-based-community-development/

Page 12 The 2021 State of the Art Report. NINE dot ARTS. https://ninedotarts.com/state-of-the-art-2021/

Page 14 Streets are People Places. Project for Public Spaces. https://www.pps.org/article/
transportationasplace

Page 16 The Heart of Smart Cities: A case for the relevance of art in data driven cities. Arts Management
& Technology Laboratory, Carnegie Mellon University. https://www.smartcitieslibrary.com/
art-at-the-heart-of-smart-cities/

Page 17 Creative Placemaking. National Endowment for the Arts. http://kresge.org/sites/default/files/NEA-

Creative-placemaking.pdf

18
 A PARTNER IN PLACEMAKING

NINE dot ARTS is a nationally recognized, award-winning art

consulting and creative placemaking firm that helps clients
transform spaces into one-of-a-kind experiences through
the power of original art. From boutique hotels to 20,000-
acre community art plans, we have completed nearly
1000 projects in real estate development across 36 states
and 5 countries, leveraging a network of 10,000+ artists to
generate more than $40 million in revenue for the creative
economy. Learn more at www.NINEdotARTS.com

Chat with us about your next project!

LetsTalk@NINEdotARTS.com

Hosted by CEO Martha Weidmann, dot

dot dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast is
the continuing conversation around
art and placemaking in the built
environment. LISTEN HERE

©2022 NINE dot ARTS, Corp.