Alphabet / Sidewalk Labs
Overview
Sidewalk Labs, a subsidiary of Alphabet, was established to tackle urban challenges such as mobility, affordability, and sustainability through the integration of technology and policy-driven solutions. My contributions to Sidewalk Labs began with the development of LinkNYC, a transformative public Wi-Fi network launched in New York City. As an artifact of an actual smart city deployment, LinkNYC demonstrated how digital infrastructure could enhance public spaces, setting the stage for Sidewalk Labs’ broader vision and contributing to the approval process for the Toronto project. During my tenure at Intersection—a company formed through Alphabet’s acquisition of Control Group—I contributed to Project City, which later became known as the Yellow Book. This foundational document articulated Sidewalk Labs’ ambitions for creating tech-enabled urban districts and established a blueprint for its groundbreaking initiatives.
The Challenge
Sidewalk Labs sought to articulate a bold, cohesive vision for smart cities, leveraging technology to improve urban living while addressing the complexities of governance, community engagement, and infrastructure integration. The challenge was twofold:
Demonstrating the feasibility and impact of technology-driven urban interventions.
Building a compelling narrative to secure buy-in from stakeholders for large-scale initiatives like the Toronto Eastern Waterfront project.
Solution
Over several years, I played a strategic and creative role in supporting Sidewalk Labs' ambitions, focusing on foundational initiatives and early-stage visioning.Focus Areas
LinkNYC as a Proof of Concept:LinkNYC served as a tangible example of how smart city infrastructure could transform public spaces, providing free public Wi-Fi, digital displays, and civic resources. Its success showcased the potential of integrating digital solutions into the urban fabric, directly informing Sidewalk Labs’ approach to larger-scale projects like Toronto.
Early Contributions to Project City:
I contributed to speculative design activities, including developing future-state personas, journey maps, and conceptual artifacts that shaped the Yellow Book. This document became the cornerstone of Sidewalk Labs’ strategy, outlining the principles, challenges, and opportunities of creating tech-enabled urban districts.
Visioning and Strategic Artifacts:
Created tools and storytelling assets that helped articulate Sidewalk Labs’ vision, aligning stakeholders and providing a clear framework for addressing urban challenges such as mobility, public space utilization, and sustainability.
Collaborative Frameworks:
During my time at Arup, I collaborated with Sidewalk Labs on projects that explored innovative approaches to urban design, focusing on integrating technology into the public realm and creating frameworks for community engagement.
Impact
My work supported Sidewalk Labs in laying the groundwork for its ambitious urban projects, with key outcomes including:LinkNYC as a Catalyst:
LinkNYC became a real-world demonstration of smart city capabilities, providing proof of concept for Sidewalk Labs’ broader vision and aiding in stakeholder approval for the Toronto project.
Project City and the Yellow Book: The foundational strategic work on Project City defined the principles and potential of smart districts, influencing Sidewalk Labs’ approach to urban planning and policy integration.
Stakeholder Alignment:
Through compelling narratives and strategic frameworks, I helped Sidewalk Labs align internal and external stakeholders around a shared vision for the future of cities.
