Hi there!
My name is Nate Storring, and I am a nonprofit professional and writer with 10 years of experience connecting the public to urban design, planning, and policy. Currently, I serve as Co-Executive Director at Project for Public Spaces, an international nonprofit that helps people strengthen their communities through public space.
I'm also the co-editor of two published books, Hyperlocal: Place Governance in a Fragmented World (Brookings Institution Press, 2022), which explores the role of place-based organizations in dismantling and reinforcing urban inequality, and Vital Little Plans: The Short Works of Jane Jacobs (Random House, 2016), which collected for the first time a career-spanning selection of articles, essays, and speeches by one of the most influential urbanists of the twentieth century. My writing about cities, civic engagement, public space, and entrepreneurship has also appeared in CityLab, Next City, Citiscope, The Globe and Mail, Canadian Architect, The Brookings Institution, and Project for Public Spaces.
In my spare time, I co-host Springfield Googolplex, the movie podcast for fans of The Simpsons, and maintain The Simpsons Movie Reference Database.
Curriculum Vitae
To learn more about my professional experience, Please visit my LinkedIn profile.
Education
MA, Public Humanities, Brown University, Providence, RI, 2014
BFA, Criticism & Curatorial Practices, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011
Publications
Co-Editor, Hyperlocal: Place Governance in a Fragmented World, Brookings Institution Press, 2022
Co-Author,“The Forces of Decline and Regeneration: Jane Jacobs and Gentrification,” Aesthetics of Gentrification: Seductive Spaces and Exclusive Communities in the Neoliberal City, eds. Christoph Lindner and Gerard Sandoval, Amsterdam University Press, March 22, 2021
Lead Editor, Navigating Main Street: A People-First Transportation Toolkit, Main Street America, Oct. 2, 2019
Publication Team, How to Turn a Place Around, Project for Public Spaces, Oct. 2018
Co-Author, “Assessing Your Innovation District: A How-To Guide,” The Brookings Institution, Feb. 21, 2018
Co-Author, “Advancing a New Wave of Urban Competitiveness: The Role of Mayors in the Rise of Innovation Districts,” The Brookings Institution, June, 2017
Co-Editor, Vital Little Plans: The Short Works of Jane Jacobs, Random House, October 11, 2016
Archival Researcher, Eberhard Zeidler, Buildings Cities Life, Dundurn Press, 2011
Articles & Essays
“Toward Market Cities: Strengthening Market Systems in Three North American Cities,” Project for Public Spaces, October 16, 2020 (Ghostwriting)
“Essential Places: Warren Logan on Open Streets Beyond Brunch and Bike Lanes,” Project for Public Spaces, June 26, 2020 (Interview)
“Equitable Development During & After COVID-19: Five Takeaways,” Project for Public Spaces, June 12, 2020
“The Recovery Will Happen in Public Space,” Project for Public Spaces, May 16, 2020 (Ghostwriting)
“Homelessness & Public Space During COVID-19: Seven Takeaways,” Project for Public Spaces, April 24, 2020
“Farmers Markets Are Vital During COVID-19, but They Need More Support,” The Brookings Institution, April 8, 2020
“You Asked, We Answered: How Can Public Space Managers Help Fight COVID-19?” Project for Public Spaces, March 19, 2020 (Japanese Translation)
“The Regional Role of Innovation Districts,” Regional Trends Spotlight: Connectivity, Thrive Regional Partnership, January 8, 2020
“2019: A Year in Review,” Project for Public Spaces, Dec. 23, 2019
“Conference Report: The 3rd International Placemaking Week,” Project for Public Spaces, Dec. 20, 2019
“A Playbook for Inclusive Placemaking: Community Process,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, May 31, 2019
“Opportunities for transformative placemaking: Chattanooga Innovation District, Tennessee,” The Brookings Institution, Nov. 9, 2018
“Opportunities for transformative placemaking: Columbia Gateway, Maryland,” The Brookings Institution, Nov. 9, 2018
“The Champion of Little Plans,” The American Interest, Jun. 7, 2018
“Making It Your Own: Improvisation in Public Space,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Mar. 8, 2018
“Get Into Your Comfort Zone: Five Indicators of Comfort in Public Spaces,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Mar. 2, 2018
“Public Space is for Lovers,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, February 14, 2018
“If We Had $50 Million: 5 Big Ideas for Sidewalk Toronto’s First Year,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Jan. 19, 2018
“Open Letter: This Is What Democracy Looks Like,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Feb. 6, 2017 (Ghostwriting)
“Reading Jane Jacobs Anew,” CityLab, Oct. 10, 2016
“Placemaking and the promise of the New Urban Agenda,” Citiscope, Oct. 10, 2016
“Remembering and Understanding Jane Jacobs, Beyond Left and Right,” The Globe and Mail, Oct. 1, 2016
“Architecture of Place: Buildings that Work for People,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Aug. 16, 2016
“Public Space at the Crossroads of Everything,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Jul. 8, 2016
“Jane Jacobs at 100 Roundup,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, May 17, 2016
“Eight Placemaking Principles for Innovation Districts,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, May 10, 2016
“Here’s How to Celebrate Jane Jacobs’ 100th Birthday,” Next City, Apr. 25, 2016
“So You Think You Have an Innovation District?” The Metropolitan Revolution, Brookings Institution, Mar. 30, 2016
“Place Governance through Neighborhood Planning Offices,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Mar. 23, 2016
“How Breaking Down Government Silos Empowers Placemaking,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Feb. 2, 2016
“Shared Work Spaces and the Power of Place,” Project for Public Spaces Blog, Nov. 24, 2015
“Street Smarts,” Canadian Architect, Oct. 2013
“Visual Order: Its limitations and possibilities in Toronto and West Hollywood,” City Builder Book Club, Apr. 10, 2012
“The Struggle for the Centre: One City’s Adventure with Modernity,” Numero Cinq Magazine, Nov. 2011
Programs & Events
Co-Organizer, 4th International Placemaking Week, Baltimore, MD, 2024
Co-Organizer, 3rd International Placemaking Week, Chattanooga, TN, 2019
Co-Organizer, 2nd International Placemaking Week, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2017
Co-Organizer, 1st International Placemaking Week, Vancouver, BC, 2016
City Organizer, Jane’s Walk, Providence, RI, 2012–14
Presentations & Workshops
“The Forces of Decline and Regeneration: Jane Jacobs and Gentrification,” Aesthetics of Gentrification, University of Oregon, Portland, OR, April 7, 2019
“Harnessing the Third Place: Placemaking for Learning, Creativity, and Economic Development,” Main Street Now, Seattle, WA, March 25, 2019
Chair, “Creating Place Super Session,” Walk Bike Places conference, New Orleans, LA, Sep. 17, 2018
Citizen Jane Panel Discussion, Bristol Festival of Ideas, Bristol, UK, Oct. 20, 2017
“Understanding the Theories of Agglomeration and Open Innovation,” Innovation and the Public Realm, Center for London, London, UK, Oct. 17, 2017
“Public and Private Spaces of Innovation,” Placemaking Week, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Oct. 12, 2017
“Off the Page: Vital Little Plans,” Museum of the City of New York, May 2, 2017
Spring Lecture, Providence Preservation Society, Providence, RI, Mar. 21, 2017
“Vital Little Plans: A Conversation about Jane Jacobs and Public Writing,” Brown University, Providence, RI, Mar. 21, 2017
“Jane Jacobs Tribute,” International Festival of Authors, Toronto, ON, Oct. 29, 2016
“Arriscraft Lecture: Vital Little Plans: Jane Jacobs on Cities, Economics and Ethics,” University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Oct. 27, 2016
“Jane Jacobs and the Livable City,” Ottawa Writers Festival, Ottawa, ON, Oct. 22, 2016
“Placemaking & Innovation,” U.S. Conference of Mayors, Working Group on Innovation Districts, Pittsburgh, PA, Oct.17, 2016
“Architecture Centers: Promoting Urban Awareness,” A Better World by Design, Providence, RI, Sep. 24, 2016
“WaterFire, The Working Waterfront Festival and Civic Pride,” The Art of Placemaking conference, Providence, RI, 2013
“WaterFire, The Working Waterfront Festival and Civic Pride,” Applied Analytics in Humanities and Social Sciences conference, Bryant University, Smithfield, RI, 2013
Exhibitions & Displays
Building Boston, BSA Space, Boston, MA, 2015
Photographing Places (Researcher), MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA, 2015
R-Line bus shelter historical panels, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Providence, RI, 2014
Chicago Model City (Redesign), Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago, IL, 2013
Mobilized Freewheelers: Youth Cyclists Gearing Up for Change, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2013
Learning the City, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2013
The Heart of Our Cities, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012–13
Your Ontario Place, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012
Berlin on the Go: Towards a Pedestrian Friendly City, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012
Toronto: Cinema City, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012
Mind the Gap: Inequality in Toronto and What To Do About It, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2012
ReVisions: New/Old Ideas for Toronto, Urbanspace Gallery, Toronto, ON, 2011
The Large Chair & Other Stories, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2009
Design, Media & Other Projects
Audio Producer & Project Manager, Imagine Providence, Swearer Center for Public Service, Brown University, Providence, RI, 2014
Graphic & Web Designer, Seasonal Campaigns, NUMUS Concerts, Kitchener, ON, 2007–14
Videographer & Editor, Park Toolkit video series, Park People, Toronto, ON, 2011
Awards
Medal in Criticism, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011
Nora E. Vaughan Award, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011
First Capital Realty Criticism & Curatorial Practices Award, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011
Spoke Club Membership Prize, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2011
Dr. Eugene A. Poggetto Scholarship, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, 2010
Leading Edge in Visual Arts Award, KW Arts Awards, Kitchener, ON, 2007