Nate Storring

Hi there.

My name is Nate Storring, and I am a nonprofit professional and writer with 10 years of experience connecting the public to urban design, planning, and policy.

I currently serve as Co-Executive Director and Director of Communications at Project for Public Spaces, a nonprofit that helps people strengthen their communities through public space. In 2016, Random House published my first book, Vital Little Plans: The Short Works of Jane Jacobs, which I co-edited with urban historian Samuel Zipp. My writing about cities, civic engagement, public space, and entrepreneurship has also appeared in CityLab, Next City, Citiscope, The Globe and Mail, Canadian Architect, and The Brookings Institution.

I also produce exhibitions, events and other projects that make the design, planning, and study of cities more open to the public. At organizations like Urbanspace Gallery, Chicago Architecture Foundation, and BSA Space, I have collaborated with academics and professionals who research and shape the built environment to develop engaging exhibitions and conduct visitor studies. More recently, I have organized large scale urbanist events, including the first Jane's Walk festival in Providence, RI, and the first two International Placemaking Weeks in Vancouver, 2016 and Amsterdam, 2017.

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Curriculum Vitae

To learn more about my professional experience, Please visit my LinkedIn profile.

Education

MA, Public Humanities, Brown University, Providence, RI, 2014

BFA, Criticism & Curatorial Practices, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011

Publications

Co-Editor, Hyperlocal: Place Governance in a Fragmented World, Brookings Institution Press (forthcoming, 2022)

Co-Author,“The Forces of Decline and Regeneration: Jane Jacobs and Gentrification,” Aesthetics of Gentrification: Seductive Spaces and Exclusive Communities in the Neoliberal City, eds. Christoph Lindner and Gerard Sandoval, Amsterdam University Press, March 22, 2021

Lead Editor, Navigating Main Street: A People-First Transportation Toolkit, Main Street America, Oct. 2, 2019

Publication Team, How to Turn a Place Around, Project for Public Spaces, Oct. 2018

Co-Author, “Assessing Your Innovation District: A How-To Guide,” The Brookings Institution, Feb. 21, 2018

Co-Author, “Advancing a New Wave of Urban Competitiveness: The Role of Mayors in the Rise of Innovation Districts,” The Brookings Institution, June, 2017

Co-Editor, Vital Little Plans: The Short Works of Jane Jacobs, Random House, October 11, 2016

Archival Researcher, Eberhard Zeidler, Buildings Cities LifeDundurn Press, 2011

Articles & Essays

Toward Market Cities: Strengthening Market Systems in Three North American Cities,” Project for Public Spaces, October 16, 2020 (Ghostwriting)

Essential Places: Warren Logan on Open Streets Beyond Brunch and Bike Lanes,” Project for Public Spaces, June 26, 2020 (Interview)

Equitable Development During & After COVID-19: Five Takeaways,” Project for Public Spaces, June 12, 2020

The Recovery Will Happen in Public Space,” Project for Public Spaces, May 16, 2020 (Ghostwriting)

Homelessness & Public Space During COVID-19: Seven Takeaways,” Project for Public Spaces, April 24, 2020

Farmers Markets Are Vital During COVID-19, but They Need More Support,” The Brookings Institution, April 8, 2020

You Asked, We Answered: How Can Public Space Managers Help Fight COVID-19?” Project for Public Spaces, March 19, 2020 (Japanese Translation)

“The Regional Role of Innovation Districts,” Regional Trends Spotlight: Connectivity, Thrive Regional Partnership, January 8, 2020

2019: A Year in Review,” Project for Public Spaces, Dec. 23, 2019

Conference Report: The 3rd International Placemaking Week,” Project for Public Spaces, Dec. 20, 2019

A Playbook for Inclusive Placemaking: Community Process,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, May 31, 2019

Opportunities for transformative placemaking: Chattanooga Innovation District, Tennessee,” The Brookings Institution, Nov. 9, 2018

Opportunities for transformative placemaking: Columbia Gateway, Maryland,” The Brookings Institution, Nov. 9, 2018

The Champion of Little Plans,” The American Interest, Jun. 7, 2018

Making It Your Own: Improvisation in Public Space,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Mar. 8, 2018

Get Into Your Comfort Zone: Five Indicators of Comfort in Public Spaces,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Mar. 2, 2018

Public Space is for Lovers,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, February 14, 2018

If We Had $50 Million: 5 Big Ideas for Sidewalk Toronto’s First Year,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Jan. 19, 2018

Open Letter: This Is What Democracy Looks Like,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Feb. 6, 2017 (Ghostwriting)

Reading Jane Jacobs Anew,” CityLab, Oct. 10, 2016

Placemaking and the promise of the New Urban Agenda,” Citiscope, Oct. 10, 2016

Remembering and Understanding Jane Jacobs, Beyond Left and Right,” The Globe and Mail, Oct. 1, 2016

Architecture of Place: Buildings that Work for People,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Aug. 16, 2016

Public Space at the Crossroads of Everything,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Jul. 8, 2016

Jane Jacobs at 100 Roundup,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, May 17, 2016

Eight Placemaking Principles for Innovation Districts,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, May 10, 2016

Here’s How to Celebrate Jane Jacobs’ 100th Birthday,” Next City, Apr. 25, 2016

So You Think You Have an Innovation District?” The Metropolitan Revolution, Brookings Institution, Mar. 30, 2016

Place Governance through Neighborhood Planning Offices,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Mar. 23, 2016

How Breaking Down Government Silos Empowers Placemaking,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Feb. 2, 2016

Shared Work Spaces and the Power of Place,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Nov. 24, 2015

Street Smarts,” Canadian Architect, Oct. 2013

Visual Order: Its limitations and possibilities in Toronto and West Hollywood,” City Builder Book Club, Apr. 10, 2012

The Struggle for the Centre: One City’s Adventure with Modernity,” Numero Cinq Magazine, Nov. 2011

Presentations & Workshops

“The Forces of Decline and Regeneration: Jane Jacobs and Gentrification,” Aesthetics of Gentrification, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, April 7, 2019

“Harnessing the Third Place: Placemaking for Learning, Creativity, and Economic Development,” Main Street Now, Seattle, WA, March 25, 2019

Chair, “Creating Place Super Session,” Walk Bike Places conference, New Orleans, LA, Sep. 17, 2018

Citizen Jane Panel Discussion, Bristol Festival of Ideas, Bristol, UK, Oct. 20, 2017

“Understanding the Theories of Agglomeration and Open Innovation,” Innovation and the Public Realm, Center for London, London, UK, Oct. 17, 2017

“Public and Private Spaces of Innovation,” Placemaking Week, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Oct. 12, 2017

“Off the Page: Vital Little Plans,” Museum of the City of New York, May 2, 2017

Spring Lecture, Providence Preservation Society, Providence, RI, Mar. 21, 2017

“Vital Little Plans: A Conversation about Jane Jacobs and Public Writing,” Brown University, Providence, RI, Mar. 21, 2017

“Jane Jacobs Tribute,” International Festival of Authors, Toronto, ON, Oct. 29, 2016

“Arriscraft Lecture: Vital Little Plans: Jane Jacobs on Cities, Economics and Ethics,” University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Oct. 27, 2016

“Jane Jacobs and the Livable City,” Ottawa Writers Festival, Ottawa, ON, Oct. 22, 2016

“Placemaking & Innovation,” U.S. Conference of Mayors, Working Group on Innovation Districts, Pittsburgh, PA, Oct.17, 2016

“Architecture Centers: Promoting Urban Awareness,” A Better World by Design, Providence, RI, Sep. 24, 2016

“WaterFire, The Working Waterfront Festival and Civic Pride,” The Art of Placemaking conference, Providence, RI, 2013

“WaterFire, The Working Waterfront Festival and Civic Pride,” Applied Analytics in Humanities and Social Sciences conference, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, 2013

Exhibitions & Displays

Building Boston, BSA Space, Boston, MA, 2015

Photographing Places (Researcher), MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA, 2015

R-Line bus shelter historical panels, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Providence, RI, 2014

Chicago Model City (Redesign), Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago, IL, 2013

Mobilized Freewheelers: Youth Cyclists Gearing Up for Change, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2013

Learning the City, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2013

The Heart of Our Cities, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012–13

Your Ontario Place, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012

Berlin on the Go: Towards a Pedestrian Friendly City, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012

Toronto: Cinema City, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012

Mind the Gap: Inequality in Toronto and What To Do About It, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012

ReVisions: New/Old Ideas for Toronto, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2011

The Large Chair & Other Stories, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2009

Programs & Events

Co-Organizer, Placemaking Week, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2017

Co-Organizer, Placemaking Week, Vancouver, BC, 2016

City Organizer, Jane’s Walk, Providence, RI, 2012–14

Design, Media & Other Projects

Graphic Designer, 2014-15 Season, Brown Theatre, Providence, RI, 2014–15

Audio Producer & Project Manager, Imagine Providence, Swearer Center for Public Service, Brown University, Providence, RI, 2014

Graphic & Web Designer, Seasonal Campaigns, NUMUS Concerts, Kitchener, ON, 2007–14

Videographer & Editor, Park Toolkit video series, Park People, Toronto, ON, 2011

Awards

Medal in Criticism, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011

Nora E. Vaughan Award, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011

First Capital Realty Criticism & Curatorial Practices Award, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011

Spoke Club Membership Prize, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011

Dr. Eugene A. Poggetto Scholarship, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2010

Leading Edge in Visual Arts Award, KW Arts Awards, Kitchener, ON, 2007