In the Berkeley Prize essay competition for 2002 (see p119), architecture students were asked to consider the role of the street in fostering public life by addressing the following Question:

Throughout history, the Street has served as a mediator between our public and private lives. With rapid change occurring today in every culture, the traditional social value of the street is also undergoing change and in many instances is losing this human element. As an architect, how do you address this issue?

A third year student at the University of Waterloo, Thomas-Bernard Kenniff, was awarded the prize for the following essay.