Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Right-of-Way • Tactical Urbanism • Street Grid

Public Realm

Term from Urban Planning industry explained for recruiters

Public Realm refers to all the spaces that everyone can use and access in cities and towns. This includes streets, parks, plazas, and other open areas. Urban planners and designers work on making these spaces welcoming, safe, and useful for all people. When you see this term in resumes, it often relates to projects that improve city spaces for public use. Similar terms you might see are "public space," "civic space," or "urban commons." Think of it as the outdoor living room of a city where people gather, socialize, and move through their daily lives.

Examples in Resumes

Led redesign of downtown Public Realm elements including sidewalks and pedestrian spaces

Developed comprehensive Public Realm strategy for emerging neighborhood development

Created guidelines for Public Space improvements in commercial districts

Managed multiple Urban Commons projects to enhance community gathering spaces

Typical job title: "Urban Planners"

Also try searching for:

Urban Designer Public Space Planner Urban Planner Civic Designer Landscape Architect Public Realm Specialist Urban Design Coordinator

Where to Find Urban Planners

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you approach creating an inclusive public realm strategy for a diverse community?

Expected Answer: Should discuss community engagement, accessibility considerations, cultural sensitivity, and balancing different user needs. Should mention experience leading stakeholder meetings and managing complex projects.

Q: Tell me about a challenging public realm project you managed and how you handled conflicts.

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership in resolving conflicts between different stakeholder groups, budget management, and successful project delivery while maintaining quality and community satisfaction.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when evaluating the success of a public space?

Expected Answer: Should mention user comfort, safety, accessibility, activity levels, maintenance requirements, and methods for gathering user feedback and usage data.

Q: How do you incorporate safety and security in public realm design?

Expected Answer: Should discuss natural surveillance, lighting, clear sight lines, maintenance considerations, and creating spaces that feel welcoming while being secure.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What elements make a successful public space?

Expected Answer: Should discuss basic principles like seating, shade, accessibility, lighting, and activities that attract people to use the space.

Q: How do you gather community input for public realm projects?

Expected Answer: Should mention various engagement methods like surveys, public meetings, online platforms, and basic techniques for documenting community feedback.