c.OS: Software & Hardware

The iPhone would be nothing without the iOS that runs it. Similarly, the places we love require smart, up-to-date operating systems. This has, in many ways, never been more true. And while the planning industry’s master plans have been getting smarter about tactical interventions, short-term implementation and quick fixes, they are still too often filled with long-term grandiose projects that can and will never happen without the tools and resources on the ground to implement them.

These operating systems, typically invisible and back of house, need to be constantly adapting their software and hardware strategies to meet the needs of the customer, the market, the small business owner or, most recently, the pandemic. In many ways the master plans that we write for our clients and partners are like the iphone itself. We hold them in our hands, and they have the potential to unleash powerful, life-changing outcomes; but without a corresponding operating system, they can be meaningless. This is why we are growing our company to offer operating system development for our partners across the country. Our three-pronged approach to updating or building new community operating systems includes: 

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Flexibility, while powerful, does not come easy for institutions. This is where the modern operating system itself enters the equation. A smart OS makes it all work. Largely unseen and sometimes intentionally hidden, the internal workings of an efficient place operation are like a well-oiled machine. The makeup of a Board of Directors, smart bylaws, efficient decision-making processes, donor relationships, a precise mission/vision and clear governance may be boring to most but are critical to creating and sustaining the places people love.

SOFTWARE

Like a smartphone, a smart community operating system can be divided into two main categories, software and hardware. The first, software, is everything that the user sees, feels and experiences when visiting a place. The mix, location and scheduling of tactical projects, events and programming, beautification initiatives, public art, signage, retailers (pop up and permanent) and much more are all part of the software package. The software, unlike the hardware, can be designed to be nimble and flexible - sometimes changing from weekend to weekend. 

HARDWARE

The hardware of a community operating system includes the physical design, development and rehabilitation of the buildings, streets, plazas and storefronts we know as part of our day-to-day lives. While less nimble than the software of a place, hardware strategies do need to be adjusted or sometimes replaced every few years. Market dynamics may shift, interest rates may rise or the cost of goods may change. These factors, and so many more, can necessitate a brick and mortar strategy shift at seemingly a moment’s notice. 

As our YARD EXP work continues to grow, we are becoming more involved in creating and/or updating community operating systems to ensure that the growth, management, maintenance and activation of places work strategically together as we prepare for the inevitable changes coming to our favorite places and how we interact with them. Message us for more information