Tysons, Virginia placemaking framework
The Tysons Community Alliance is creating a sense of place through low-cost, colourful, creative placemaking initiatives.
Placemaking Fest in Tysons, Virginia. (Conor Good / Tysons Community Alliance)
Placemaking turns streets into vibrant places where people want to stick around. People spend time more time in shared spaces and at local businesses when there is a strong sense of place and community—and when there are lots of reasons to visit an area. Through placemaking, Tysons, Virginia will boost its reputation as a vibrant place to live, work, and play.
Happy Cities worked with the Tysons Community Alliance, ZGF Architects, and MKSK to develop a Placemaking Vision & Framework for Tysons. As part of this project, we assessed and identified three key locations as pilot sites for short-term placemaking interventions.
The placemaking framework will help strengthen a sense of place and identity in shared spaces across Tysons through practical, one- to three-year action items—like street furniture, art, and light.
These actions aim to improve the experience of moving to and through shared spaces across Tysons. The project will also engage with the diverse local community of Tysons residents to reflect their aspirations and priorities for placemaking in the area!
Placemaking fest in Tysons!
As part of this work, Happy Cities helped organize a placemaking activation for the community. The activation aimed to:
Hear priorities from the Tysons community
Showcase how spaces can be transformed through design and programming interventions
Celebrate Tysons!
The family-friendly event included food trucks, interactive art, a mobility maze, live music, a photo booth, more.
