The pandemic is shifting global perspectives on urban design and architecture. Scatliff + Miller + Murray, a world-renowned design firm in Winnipeg, is already seeing the impacts on its industry and communities.

“Urban transportation is already shifting to more individuality. Cycling and walking to destinations has increased with COVID-19, but I expect smaller electric vehicles or buses to become increasingly more attractive. In office spaces, large shared tables will disappear, and offices will upgrade meeting rooms and work stations with full digital conferencing capability,” says Mike Scatliff, Principal of the innovative firm that has won more than 20 national and international design awards.

Scatliff says his company gained some key insights this year. 

“A key learning for us was technology and techniques to stage public and stakeholder engagement for our projects. One might argue that our engagement during COVID-19 was more effective. For the Kapyong Barracks Master Plan, we had approximately 1,000 people engaged from a wide geographic area, and offered real-time online surveys with immediate results that were recorded for further client reflection and their archives. This technique offered benefits that could not have been captured through limited in-person gatherings,” explains Scatliff.

He also sees an opportunity for growth.

“Scatliff + Miller + Murray sees the opportunity to significantly grow our business in public engagement and in the design for active transportation facilities, streetscapes, urban plazas, schools, parks and recreational facilities, and all because of COVID-19,” adds Scatliff.

*This story has been updated and was originally published in The Winnipeg Investor magazine released in November, 2020 during YES! Winnipeg’s Investor Breakfast.