Societal integration that matters: place making experience of Macquarie Park Innovation District, Sydney

Place making is recognised as a key strategy for supporting knowledge generation and innovation activities in the contemporary knowledge and innovation spaces. This study aims to probe into place making approaches in this context by focusing on the societal integration issue—a critical element in the place making practice. The paper places one of the fastest growing knowledge and innovation spaces from Australia—Macquarie Park Innovation District of Sydney, the largest knowledge and innovation cluster of the country—under the microscope. The methodological approach includes an interview-based qualitative analysis to capture the perceptions of a diverse range of key stakeholders. The study finds that: (a) Societal integration is a core objective of the place making strategy in knowledge and innovation spaces, and strengthens knowledge-based urban development endeavours, and; (b) Transparency in politico-economic processes, connectivity in physical and socio-cultural realms, and coordination between distinct and diverse needs of stakeholders are critical for place making through societal integration.