The da Vinci Dialogues ft. Professor Brendan Stewart

​Brendan Stewart, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Guelph, explores how ordinary suburban strip malls can become vibrant public gathering places when we rethink the purpose of the spaces around them.

​Drawing on the award-winning plazaPOPS initiative, Stewart shares how twelve Toronto strip-mall parking lots were temporarily transformed into welcoming community spaces between 2019 and 2024. Through observation, mapping, and conversations with participants, the project examined how people used these reimagined spaces-revealing the important role public space plays in everyday life and demonstrating how experimentation can inspire more connected, inclusive communities.

​The presentation highlights the project’s key findings and reflects on how collaboration across design, research, community organizations, and government can help unlock the potential of overlooked places, offering new approaches to creating public space in suburban neighborhoods.

Admission: Adults: $21.99/ Students: $18.99/ 55 & better: $18,99