THE RISE OF INNOVATION DISTRICTS

Physical assets are the public andprivately-owned spaces—buildings,open spaces, streets and other infrastructure—designedand organized tostimulate new and higher levels of connectivity,collaboration and innovation.Physical assets can also be divided intothree categories:Physical assets in the publicrealm are the spaces accessible tothe public, such as parks, plazasand streets that become localesof energy and activity. In innovationdistricts, public places arecreated or re-configured to bedigitally-accessible (with highspeed internet, wireless networks,computers and digital displaysembedded into spaces) and to encouragenetworking (where spacesencourage “people to crash intoone another”). 5 Streets can alsobe transformed into living labs toflexibly test new innovations, suchas in street lighting, waste collection,traffic management solutionsand new digital technologies.Physical assets in the privaterealm are privately-owned buildingsand spaces that stimulate innovationin new and creative ways.Office developments are increasinglyconfigured with shared workand lab spaces and smaller, moreaffordable areas for start-ups. A—1. Coffee shops (like Detroit’s Great Lakes Coffee) arenow places for entrepreneurs to work and network.Credit: Marvin Shaouni, originally published in Model D—2. The newly constructed District Hall is the hub forBoston’s Innovation District, facilitating networking andidea-sharing.Credit: Gustav Hoiland5