Belonging and inclusiveness

Being part of a community isn’t just about living in the same place. We focus on facilitating interactions between people, to combat social isolation and enable everyone to participate in shaping their neighborhood.

Australia

Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Wilton, Wollondilly Shire Council

A fast-growing town on the outskirts of Sydney is demonstrating that urbanization of greenfield areas need not be chaotic, strained, and unsustainable – and that it can accommodate the needs and wishes of existing and new residents. We worked with the local authority in Wollondilly Shire, to develop a strategy for urban development that makes sure that, as Wilton’s population expands, the health and wellbeing of its residents remains the central focus. Our proposals will prioritize social infrastructure, better transport connections, and stable and affordable housing, while maintaining connections with the town’s traditional farming roots through green space, healthy food, and biodiversity.

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Denmark

Karens Minde Aksen, Copenhagen

As part of the project, a number of improvements will be made to the landscaping and urban space. Thanks to a lighting initiative, the area’s character will be strengthened while creating greater safety for residents. The area’s biodiversity and greenery will be enhanced by a planting strategy designed to protect and preserve iconic trees. In addition, a link to stormwater management will be provided while emphasizing local environments and climate zones. Over 100 iconic trees in the current landscaping design will be preserved, thus largely defining the park’s future layout and configuration.

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Canada

New Waterford Hub, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

New Waterford Hub will be a grade 6-12 school, a community wellness centre, a health centre and a long-term care home – and much more than the sum of its parts. By bringing all of these functions together under one roof, the project partners hope to break down the barriers that can prevent people from accessing the support they need. Students won’t need to leave the building to see their family doctor or go to life skills classes in the wellness centre; seniors will be able to watch community sports on the playing fields below their patio or enjoy shows by the town’s many artists and musicians in the 500-seat theatre.

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Discover our latest insights

How can we design places and spaces with everyone in mind?

As an industry we’ve got better at designing for physical accessibility, but we have much further to go when it comes to thinking about how we design for our minds. Hear from WSP experts Sarah Taylor and David Symons, and download our white paper.

Advancing Safe Community Spaces for All

Research and data from WSP’s Safety Inclusion Assessment inform designs and help local governments, business improvement districts and other organizations target infrastructure investments.

Social Impact Assessment and Sustainable Project Planning Under Bill C-69

Social impact assessment (SIA) can contribute to the sustainable development of people and communities by aligning mitigation and benefit enhancement measures with the community's sustainable development goals and objectives.

Can Design Make Cities More Equitable?

There are many ways in which the built environment not only reflects but reinforces social inequity. Does the way we plan and design cities need to change?

female holding an umbrella against a yellow wall 563 x 220

Designing inclusively: Fixing the gender data gap

WSP has released a report on designing inclusively in the built environment and how the gender data gap affects the design and advice we provide at WSP.