As Principal in Charge at O2 Planning and Design, Chris Hardwicke led the Edmonton Downtown Public Places Plan: a 100-year vision for a complete network of public spaces and pedestrian connections linking Edmonton's downtown core to the river valley. The plan encompassed recreational, cultural, and entertainment spaces, grounded in an evidence-based analytical foundation that included public life studies of key streets and spaces across the downtown.

Activity counts were conducted across two distinct seasons to establish baseline metrics for post-development comparison, directly informing both design priorities and operational recommendations. Policy frameworks were developed across a broad range of considerations including safety, social inclusion, equity, micro-climate protection, winter activation, tourism, and mobility. The plan was delivered in close collaboration with City of Edmonton staff and a broad stakeholder group, navigating a complex multi-agency environment to achieve a shared, implementable vision.

The Edmonton Public Places Plan demonstrates Chris's capacity to lead long-range planning processes grounded in rigorous evidence and designed for genuine implementation. The multi-season analytical approach, emphasis on micro-climate and winter activation, equity and inclusion framework, and integration of recreational, social, and mobility considerations across a complex public space network are all directly transferable to comparable municipal contexts. Edmonton's scale and complexity demonstrates these methodologies can be right-sized without sacrificing rigour or innovation.