Design For Joy Workshop

DESIGN FOR JOY WORKSHOP

DATE: Choose one of two Workshop dates;

Thursday September 24, 2026

Friday, September 25, 2026

TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for a light breakfast

Lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Inter Arts Matrix, Studio 38 at Globe Studios

141 Whitney Place, Kitchener, ON N2G 2X8

Parking Is Available at the rear of the building. Please enter through the front entrance.

OAA Continuing Education:  3 Structured Learning Hours

REGISTRATION: This event is $20 for GVSA members and $45 for non-members. Registration Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026

Please note: Registration is limited to 12 attendees per date.

About the Workshop

The Grand Valley Society of Architects is pleased to host Design for JOY, an interactive workshop led by Paul Kalbfleisch and Brian Roth, OALA, CSLA. This hands-on session equips architects, planners, municipal leaders, and community development professionals with practical strategies for creating places that strengthen social connection and enhance the public value of architecture. Participants will be introduced to Play Thinking, an experience-first approach to public space design that draws on behavioural science, performance art, and social ritual.

Workshop Objectives

·        Shift conversations about architecture and planning toward equity, cultural storytelling, and shared civic joy.

·        Apply practical design strategies that enhance the social value and community impact of the built environment.

·        Foster stronger collaborations among architects, municipalities, and community organizations.

·        Strengthen public understanding of the role architects play in creating vibrant, inclusive, and resilient cities.

Facilitators

Paul Kalbfleisch (Founder, PAUL Consulting) is the co-author of The JOY Experiments: Reimagining Mid-Sized Cities to Heal Our Divided Society and an internationally recognized advocate for play-based city building. Paul has previously delivered Design for JOY workshops and related JOY based sessions for critical civic stakeholders; including municipalities, BIAs, planners, and development leaders; where participants are introduced to core JOY methodologies like public play, designing for societal resilience, and creating citizen centered public environments. His speaking engagements include the United Nations World Urban Forum, TEDx, and Architecture Sarasota's Beyond Our Borders series. Paul’s keynote public speaking inspires a shift in city building perspectives that helps us to see that our future prosperity, both socially and economically is in PLAY.

Brian Roth, OALA, CSLA (Senior Landscape Architect, GSP Group) is a landscape architect with more than 40 years of professional experience. Over the past three years, Brian has collaborated closely with Paul in developing and refining the JOY principles and design prompts, translating JOY concepts into tangible design processes grounded in ecology, natural systems, and meaningful urban public spaces.