A new study released by planning and design firm Sasaki Associates has found that food is a major driver of the American urban experience: 82 percent of urbanites appreciate their city’s culinary offerings, and a new restaurant is the top reason the majority of them (46 percent) would venture to a new part of their city. This is compared to 25 percent of people who are incentivized by a new store and 16 percent by a sporting event.
These preferences vary by region, however, with Bostonians most likely to be enticed by a new restaurant (59 percent) versus New Yorkers (34 percent), whose apparent abundance of choice ranked them lowest on this question. And the majority of people (41 percent) consider food and restaurants to be the most outstanding aspect of cities they love to visit.
Working with an independent research firm, Sasaki developed “The State of the City Experience,” which surveyed 1,000 people living and working in one of six cities: Boston, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Austin, and Washington DC. The findings—and Sasaki’s insights—related to architecture, activities, parks, and transportation have major implications for cities, planners, and designers.
Beyond food, respondents also enjoy consumer activities such as shopping and going out to eat (56 percent) the most, followed by programmed events such as farmer’s markets, outdoor concerts and food trucks (45 percent). And they want more: 46 percent of respondents said they want their cities to invest in more community-focused events and attractions such as farmer’s markets, swap meets, and food trucks for their open spaces.
As for buildings, people love historic structures. When asked what makes a building iconic, most said it was its history (36 percent). And when walking along a downtown street, most people will stop to admire buildings that are historic (57 percent), versus those featuring public art, modern design, or their city’s tallest buildings.Regionally, Bostonians are the biggest admirers of historic buildings (63 percent), while San Franciscans are more likely to be attracted to buildings that prominently feature public art or very unique design elements (47 percent). Residents of Chicago, which has the nation’s tallest building, are more likely to admire skyscrapers (23 percent).
To improve their city’s architectural character, more than half of respondents (54 percent) would like to see their city renovating historical buildings, compared with22 percent who would like more unusual architecture.
“While those surveyed were unimpressed with modern architecture, we believe it is because today’s contemporary buildings tend to prioritize quantity and speed over quality and mission,” said Sasaki principal Victor Vizgaitis, AIA. “As planners and designers, our job is to understand what people want and balance these desires with the big picture—economic realities, cultural needs, environmental concerns, and design opportunities—ultimately helping to shape a more satisfying and sustainable urban experience.”
When it comes to the built environment, shared public spaces rule the day. Most people remember their favorite city experience taking place in a park or on a street (65 percent) compared to just 22 percent who said that special moment occurred in a private building. This is especially true among New Yorkers.
Reflecting a national trend of cities reclaiming their waterfronts, areas along rivers, lakes, or the ocean are the most popular open spaces across the country (47 percent) compared to 14 percent who prefer small urban parks or 8 percent who like their city’s trail systems.
So, what do Americans hate the most about their cities? Traffic. Overall, 41 percent percent say it’s what frustrates them the most, followed by not enough parking (23 percent) and poor public transportation (14 percent). This provides great opportunity for new technologies to rethink how vehicles can be used more effectively by urbanites, both in terms of commuting and sustainability.
Despite transportation frustrations, 60 percent of city dwellers plan to stay put in the next five years, either living where they do now or in a different part of the city.
The infographic below summarizes key findings. For the full report: www.sasaki.com/greatcity
Methodology
Sasaki commissioned independent research firm Equation Research to survey 1,000 people who live across six cities: Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC. The study was conducted in May 2014.
About Sasaki
Collaboration is one of today's biggest buzzwords—but at Sasaki, it's at the core of what we do. We see it not just as a working style, but as one of the fundamentals of innovation. Our practice comprises architecture, interior design, planning, urban design, landscape architecture, graphic design, and civil engineering, as well as financial planning and software development. Among these disciplines, we collaborate in equilibrium. From our headquarters in Watertown, Massachusetts, we work locally, nationally, and globally. For more information about Sasaki, please visit: http://www.sasaki.com.
Related Stories
Affordable Housing | Jul 27, 2023
Houston to soon have 50 new residential units for youth leaving foster care
Houston will soon have 50 new residential units for youth leaving the foster care system and entering adulthood. The Houston Alumni and Youth (HAY) Center has broken ground on its 59,000-sf campus, with completion expected by July 2024. The HAY Center is a nonprofit program of Harris County Resources for Children and Adults and for foster youth ages 14-25 transitioning to adulthood in the Houston community.
Hotel Facilities | Jul 27, 2023
U.S. hotel construction pipeline remains steady with 5,572 projects in the works
The hotel construction pipeline grew incrementally in Q2 2023 as developers and franchise companies push through short-term challenges while envisioning long-term prospects, according to Lodging Econometrics.
Sustainability | Jul 27, 2023
USGBC warns against building energy code preemptions, rollbacks
In a recent editorial, the USGBC cited a growing number of U.S. state legislators who are “aiming to roll back building energy code standards and/or preempt local governments from advancing energy-efficient building codes.”
Resiliency | Jul 27, 2023
'Underground climate change' can damage building foundations, civil infrastructure
A phenomenon known as “underground climate change” can lead to damage of building foundations and civil infrastructure, according to a researcher at Northwestern University. When the ground gets hotter, it can expand and contract, causing foundations to move and sometimes crack.
Adaptive Reuse | Jul 27, 2023
Number of U.S. adaptive reuse projects jumps to 122,000 from 77,000
The number of adaptive reuse projects in the pipeline grew to a record 122,000 in 2023 from 77,000 registered last year, according to RentCafe’s annual Adaptive Reuse Report. Of the 122,000 apartments currently undergoing conversion, 45,000 are the result of office repurposing, representing 37% of the total, followed by hotels (23% of future projects).
Hotel Facilities | Jul 26, 2023
Hospitality building construction costs for 2023
Data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for 15-story hotels, restaurants, fast food restaurants, and movie theaters across 10 U.S. cities: Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
Sustainability | Jul 26, 2023
Carbon Neutrality at HKS, with Rand Ekman, Chief Sustainability Officer
Rand Ekman, Chief Sustainability Officer at HKS Inc., discusses the firm's decarbonization strategy and carbon footprint assessment.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 26, 2023
10 ways public aquatic centers and recreation centers benefit community health
A new report from HMC Architects explores the critical role aquatic centers and recreation centers play in society and how they can make a lasting, positive impact on the people they serve.
Multifamily Housing | Jul 25, 2023
San Francisco seeks proposals for adaptive reuse of underutilized downtown office buildings
The City of San Francisco released a Request For Interest to identify office building conversions that city officials could help expedite with zoning changes, regulatory measures, and financial incentives.
Designers | Jul 25, 2023
The latest 'five in focus' healthcare interior design trends
HMC Architects’ Five in Focus blog series explores the latest trends, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of healthcare design.