As we become a planet of city-dwellers, planners and urban designers have an imperative to design communities that perform better than ever before. But what exactly does ?performance? mean" Communities should have energy and water-saving systems, but at a high level there also needs to be a more holistic approach to creating a sense of place and connection, while at the same time being accessible to different demographics and vibrant all throughout the day. Here are five essential ingredients for designing a high-performance community.

Perkins+Will's proposed plan for Mission Rock in San Francisco. Image © Rendering by Steelblue/Perkins+Will, San Francisco Giants

As we become a planet of city-dwellers, planners and urban designers have an imperative to design communities that perform better than ever before. But what exactly does ?performance? mean" Communities should have energy and water-saving systems, but at a high level there also needs to be a more holistic approach to creating a sense of place and connection, while at the same time being accessible to different demographics and vibrant all throughout the day. Here are five essential ingredients for designing a high-performance community.
Perkins+Will's Warm Springs Community Plan in Fremont, California. Image © Perkins+Will

1. Increased MobilityHigh performance communities, by design, require access to local and regional transit as well as ease of movement for multiple ...