Better Cities By Design

In this episode, we head to Bratislava, Slovakia, to explore how a city can be reimagined through the eyes of its youngest residents. As cities worldwide grapple with safety, inclusivity, and accessibility, Bratislava is setting an inspiring example by prioritizing child-friendly urban design. Host Davion Ford speaks with Simon Battisti, Creative Director at the Start with Children Summit, to uncover how child-focused planning can transform urban spaces into healthier, safer, and more inviting environments for everyone. From school streets that protect children from traffic to innovative approaches in public engagement, Bratislava is paving the way for cities to rethink their priorities. Tune in to learn how the Slovak capital is not only creating opportunities for play and independence but also inspiring cities worldwide to embrace urban design that fosters well-being for all generations.

Cottbus, Germany, is a city with a rich coal-mining history now poised to become a leader in sustainable mobility. In this episode, we explore how Deutsche Bahn, German’s national train operator, is driving this transformation with the construction of its largest and most advanced ICE-4 maintenance depot. Join host Davion Ford as he speaks with Marc Hermann from Deutsche Bahn, who is the Management Representative of the New Cottus Plant Project. Marc talks about how this innovative project is creating job opportunities, revitalizing a region in transition, and reducing train maintenance times by 50%. This facility symbolizes a shift toward sustainable transportation and economic regeneration in the Lausitz region. Listen now to discover how Cottbus is embracing its future role in Germany’s transition to green mobility.

What does it take to reenergize a city’s legacy and prepare it for a greener, more sustainable future? In this episode, we visit St. Thomas, Ontario, a Canadian city that’s turning its transportation heritage into a launch pad for innovation. At the heart of this transformation is Yarmouth Yards, a 1,500-acre industrial park anchored by PowerCo’s electric vehicle battery gigafactory. Join the Mayor of St. Thomas, Joe Preston, Arcadis Canada’s Country Director, Scott Arbuckle, and our special correspondent Grayden Laing as they discuss the vision, collaboration, and bold steps driving this transformational project—from economic growth and sustainable infrastructure to brownfield redevelopment.

In this special episode, we take you to Berlin, the vibrant capital of Germany, to explore the groundbreaking EUREF Campus—a living laboratory for sustainable urban development. From its historic Gasometer to its cutting-edge energy systems, the EUREF Campus is an important example of how cities can innovate for a greener, smarter future. Join our special correspondent Serafin Dinges as he goes behind the scenes at this unique hub for urban innovation. You will also hear from Karin Teichmann, spokesperson of the board of EUREF AG, and Birgit Detig from Arcadis, as they share how this remarkable project has achieved CO₂ neutrality since 2014, decades ahead of national targets, and why it's inspiring sustainable projects worldwide. Tune in for an immersive journey to one of Berlin’s most forward-thinking urban initiatives.

In this episode of Better Cities by Design, host Davion Ford is joined by a panel of experts to explore the transformative potential of hydrogen technology in creating sustainable cities. Artiom Loginov from Cummins Inc., Brett Ryan from Hydrogen UK, and Paul Aspinall from Arcadis discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating hydrogen into urban infrastructure. They delve into hydrogen's critical role in achieving net-zero emissions, the importance of public-private collaboration, and the need for safety measures. The conversation also highlights the scalability of hydrogen, strategies for its widespread adoption, and the vision of a future where hydrogen is seamlessly integrated into urban energy systems. Tune in to discover how hydrogen could power a greener, more sustainable future for cities around the world.

In this episode of Better Cities by Design, we venture into the heart of Canada to explore how the City of Red Deer is revolutionizing its parking system. Host Davion Ford talks with Amy Fengstad and Amara Heppell from Red Deer about the city's efforts to upgrade its outdated parking meters to a modern, app-based system. Discover how this transformation is improving convenience and efficiency for residents, the challenges faced along the way, and the innovative approaches taken to engage with the community. Plus, hear about the next steps for urban mobility in Red Deer and how other cities might draw inspiration from their experience. Tune in to hear how Red Deer is paving the way for smarter, more connected urban living.  

In this special episode of Better Cities by Design, we have convened a panel of experts to discuss a topic that’s important for all cities: road safety. We’re exploring this persistent challenge in the context of the United States, where traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for people under the age of 55, despite the significant technological advances we’ve seen over the past two decades. To find out what more can be done to make the roads in and around US cities safer, we speak with Laura Chace, President and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, Brian Cronin, Director of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office at the Federal Highway Administration, part of the US Department of Transportation, and Ramin Massoumi, Global Solutions Director – Mobility and Connected Highways at Arcadis.

Hop on for a ride through Amsterdam's urban landscape on this episode of Better Cities by Design. Join host Davion Ford as he chats with Sietze Faber, one of the masterminds behind Amsterdam's road safety and cycling ambitions. Explore the city's vision for zero carbon movement and zero traffic accidents by 2050. Unravel the challenges of creating cyclist-friendly spaces and discover how Amsterdam is paving the way for sustainable urban mobility. Don't miss this smart discussion that will give you new perspectives on streets as the arteries of urban life.

Hop on for a ride through Amsterdam's urban landscape on this episode of Better Cities by Design. Join host Davion Ford as he chats with Sietze Faber, one of the masterminds behind Amsterdam's road safety and cycling ambitions. Explore the city's vision for zero carbon movement and zero traffic accidents by 2050. Unravel the challenges of creating cyclist-friendly spaces and discover how Amsterdam is paving the way for sustainable urban mobility. Don't miss this smart discussion that will give you new perspectives on streets as the arteries of urban life.

In this episode of Better Cities by Design, explore the story of Vancouver's climate disaster that, for many, flew under the radar. Join host Davion Ford as he engages in a captivating conversation with Bryan Crosby, Director of Infrastructure Resilience at the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Learn about the impact of the 2021 atmospheric river event on British Columbia's transportation network and explore the imperative for a multi-dimensional approach to resilience, guided by data insights and systems-thinking.  Bryan sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in fortifying infrastructure and building climate resilience across Vancouver and beyond. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the innovative strategies shaping the future of urban infrastructure in British Columbia.

Embark on a journey through Dublin's smart city landscape as this episode of Better Cities by Design brings you a conversation with Jamie Cudden, Smart City Program Manager, and Payal Pandya, Project Manager and Business Analyst, both at Dublin City Council. Davion talks to them about innovative solutions to urban challenges, with an emphasis on connectivity, data insights, and collaboration. We learn about transformative projects like the CurbIQ pilot, which is revolutionizing curbside management in the Ireland’s capital and hear about the impact of COVID-19 on mobility patterns. Join us as we explore the Smart Dublin program, at the intersection of technology, innovation, and community impact.

In this episode of Better Cities by Design, we’re in Victoria, Canada, for a chat with Harsh Rathod, co-founder and CEO of Niricson, a company that is revolutionizing how bridges, dams, and other critical infrastructure are inspected for safety. Niricson uses digital technology in the form of software and drones as well as leveraging artificial intelligence to make infrastructure safety inspections much more reliable and efficient, significantly reducing the risk of human error. In this episode, we learn about how, back in 1896, people living in Victoria witnessed first-hand the tragic consequences of insufficient safety inspections, when the Point Ellice Bridge collapsed. And we hear how a much more recent bridge collapse in his home country of India, spurred Harsh on to found Niricson and lead a digital revolution for condition assessment and risk management, all with the aim of making infrastructure safer.

In this episode of Better Cities by Design, we head to the City of Bath in the UK, for a conversation with James Hooton, Managing Director of the Green Finance Institute (GFI). Bath is an ancient city with many very old buildings. But just like any other city, Bath is also striving to become more sustainable and that means these buildings need to be retrofitted, so they use less energy and therefore contribute less to climate change. GFI is working to help with this by channeling capital at pace and scale towards real-economy outcomes that will create jobs and increase prosperity for all. Join our host Davion and James for a conversation about the role of finance in the transition to a clean, resilient, and environmentally sustainable economy.

Join us in Amsterdam, for a conversation about an important aspect of the city’s phenomenal transportation system: train stations. Davion sits down with Daan Klaase, Manager of Research and Station Development, and John Riepen, Manager of Amsterdam Central Station, both from NS Stations. Daan and John reveal some of the secrets behind Amsterdam's iconic transportation hubs. We explore the role of NS Stations in ensuring well-maintained and passenger-friendly train stations and discover the delicate balance the organization must strike between historical preservation and modernization. And reflecting Amsterdam's status as a bastion for cycling, we learn about how NS Stations seamlessly integrates bicycles into the city's fabric. Listen in to find out more.

In this episode of the podcast we travel to Manchester in the UK, a city steeped in history and a rich cultural heritage. We speak with Natasha Rouse, Director of Asset Management at Equitix, a global investor, developer, and fund manager. Equitix has invested in myriad assets in Manchester and is playing a significant role in ensuring essential urban infrastructure is well maintained and delivering value for city residents. In this episode we explore Manchester's journey from being the world's first industrial city to its current position as a vital hub for advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and healthcare. We delve into Manchester's infrastructure challenges, and we discover the pivotal role private finance initiatives and public-private partnerships play in advancing infrastructure investment in the city. Join our host Davion and Natasha as they uncover the past, present, and future of Manchester’s infrastructure and the collaborative efforts shaping its current and future development.

We’re headed to the Belgian city of Antwerp for this episode of the podcast, and we spoke with the Vice Mayor of the city, Tom Meeuws, about the revolutionary new project that’s underway: the construction of a district heating network. Antwerp has set the ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 and, along the way, cutting emissions in half by 2030. The district heating network, which is being built, will play an integral role in helping the city achieve these goals. The Port of Antwerp happens to be home to the largest chemical company cluster in Europe. The heating network will transport residual heat from industrial activities at the port, into the city via an underground network and has the potential to provide up to 10% of the city’s heating requirements. Join our host Davion and Tom as they discuss the critical elements of this heating network, including the infrastructure, technology, and the sustainability features that are setting new standards in urban energy.

We're back in New York. This week we speak with Maggie Hopkins, Vice President Civil Engineering & Environmental Planning at AKRF, a leading company specializing in environmental planning, and engineering services for climate resilience and coastal adaptation. AKRF has been working in conjunction with Arcadis on New York’s East Side Coastal Resiliency project, which is a leading climate adaptation effort started after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the city back in 2012. Maggie shares some of the unique challenges related to integrating a modern protection system into an urban landscape that is centuries old. Join host Davion and Maggie to hear how our two companies are working to keep New Yorkers safe in the face of the climate crisis, while also helping to ensure the Big Apple stays livable for future generations.

This week, we’re headed to Rotterdam and chatting with Harry Verhaar, Head of Global Public & Government Affairs at the global lighting company Signify. We talk with Harry about the outsized impact lighting has on urban electricity use and subsequent emissions. And we learn how proper lighting not only makes cities safer from crime and traffic accidents, but how also how modern light points can be used to collect air quality information as well as transfer data like a WiFi signal. Join host Davion and Harry for this enlightening discussion.

In our first episode of 2024, our guest is Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager – Water System, at the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP). We speak with Anselmo about LADWP’s efforts to ensure safe and reliable water service to more than 4 million residents, in the face of climate change, a burgeoning population, and the ever-present threat of earthquakes. Join host Davion and Anselmo for this insightful discussion about water resilience in the City of Angels.

We close out 2023 with a special episode of Better Cities by Design. We are in Amsterdam to hear the story of the decade-long renovation of the National Museum of the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum. Our special correspondent Richard Walker heads over to the museum to speak with Igor Santhagens, the Rijksmuseum’s Renovation Project Leader, as well as Arcadians Dieneke Grimmeluis, and Gerard van Engelen, to uncover the secrets hidden within the museum. The building that is now the Rijksmuseum was opened back in 1885. It houses a collection of more than 1 million objects of art and history, with 8000 of objects on display in 12,000 square meters of exhibition space. But after more than a century of welcoming visitors from all over the world, the decision was made to renovate the building to enhance the visitor experience and to accommodate many more people each year. This massive project presented many technical challenges. For instance, the building rested on around 13,000 wooden poles lodged into Amsterdam’s muddy soil and this project needed to be carried out without damaging the ancient structure. Join Richard, Igor, Dieneke, and Gerard as they explore the Rijksmuseum and discuss how they brought this project to fruition, in the heart of the bustling Dutch capital. We also hear from museum visitors as they experience the grandeur of one of the most important cultural sites in the Netherlands.