The power of co-creation: designing spaces with and for communities

Making time for intentional process 

In an era that feels like urgency is the dominant theme, it can feel impossible to rethink streamlined processes. But when designing for a community that has been seeking funding and place for decades, the risk of not taking pause is too great. For a project to be truly successful, it must be rooted in the aspirations, stories, and knowledge of those who will inhabit it. 

Collaborative design allows different forms of knowledge, experience, and expertise to be integrated into a co-creative process, paving the way for practical, relevant, and inspiring solutions. 

When the project team adopts a collaborative approach, dialogue and exchange become powerful drivers. Together, the community and designers can create a distinctive signature that is sensitive and deeply anchored in people’s lived reality. 

When we engage in upfront conversations, we greatly reduce the risk of missteps that could derail progress later. 

Co-creation: an essential synergy 

A co-creation process can only succeed with the involvement of stakeholders and designers who responsibly curate by asking the right questions and listening. From the very beginning, it is essential to establish an open and reciprocal relationship between community members and architects, urban designers, landscape architects, and other experts. This dynamic of listening and mutual respect makes it possible to orchestrate a creative process that reflects the collective culture, needs, and priorities. 

Lessons from the USAY Youth Centre 

The example of the USAY Youth Centre, inaugurated in Forest Lawn (Calgary), illustrates the richness of this approach. Lemay and the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth worked hand in hand to create an authentic piece of architecture, based on a design approach grounded in a deep understanding of the needs of Indigenous youth. 

Located on the traditional territory of the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Iyarhe Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina Nations, as well as the Métis Nation of Alberta – Region 3, the Center was designed to be a safe and welcoming place. Its identity reflects the experiences, dreams, and definitions of safety and sense of home expressed by the youth themselves. 

When design becomes dialogue 

The co-creation process was not limited to the USAY Centre. During Design Week Calgary in August 2025, the collaborative workshop “Pathways for Indigenous Youth Housing Design” brought together Indigenous youth, elders, designers, community partners, and political and financial leaders. Together, they brainstormed housing solutions for Indigenous youth in Calgary. But importantly before this open workshop, the USAY youth were engaged both through surveys and dedicated round tables. Their input fundamentally shaped the basis of design and questions posed at the August workshop. Having many voices inform the basis of project understanding will allow USAY and Lemay to build a holistic framework for rethinking Indigenous youth housing needs. 

This approach highlights the power of open dialogue, where professional expertise is combined with intimate knowledge of lived experience. It also demonstrated that collaborative design can generate not only ideas, but also lasting alliances and shared perspectives. 

A journey of listening and reinvention 

All too often, development projects are carried out with minimal consultation, leaving out the voices of those most affected. Collaborative design, on the other hand, encourages us to truly listen, challenge our assumptions, and explore blind spots. 

It is by thinking outside the box that we can reveal invisible obstacles and invent new ways of doing things. In the built environment, this approach is an essential lever for overcoming silos and creating spaces that are deeply adapted to the identity of a community. 

Towards spaces built with and by communities 

Sharing ideas, stories, and perspectives transforms the way we design collective spaces. Instead of imposing solutions, co-creation paves the way for projects that resonate, bring people together, and strengthen the sense of belonging. 

The USAY Youth Centre and the dialogues it has inspired show that the future of architecture lies not only in technology, but also in the ability to listen, learn, and build with the community. 

Only by creating together can we shape places where everyone feels truly at home.