mmcité 7

Come curious.

What makes a public space truly work? Not the objects we put into it but what people can do because they're there.

Ride instead of drive.
Meet someone.
Share a meal.
Find a moment to yourself.
Feel comfortable enough to stay.

At ASLA 2026, we're exploring those moments through design, and we want you to come see it for yourself.

Los Angeles Convention Center, South Level 1, Halls G/H/J
Booth 1811
September 16–18, 2026

Come curious. Take a closer look. See you there

DING DING!

Sustainability isn't only about sourcing responsibly, it's about longevity. mmcité's FSC Certified Jatoba naturally resists rot and pests, so there's no need for harsh chemical treatments. Because the wood is so dense, it holds up to years of heavy public use without breaking down.

The result: furniture that lasts longer, and a planet that benefits from less waste.

Join mmcité's Albert Harris for a CE|Strong Virtual Workshop

Mark your calendar for a CEU-accredited session on inclusive public space design.

INCLUSIVITY: People, Public Furniture, and Public Space

mmcité's own Albert Harris will present this workshop, exploring how thoughtful furniture design and site planning can make public spaces genuinely accessible and welcoming for everyone.

Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Format: Virtual
Credit: 2 PDH, LA CES/HSW, AIA/HSW

Register here:

One platform to connect | Zoom Modernize workflows with Zoom's trusted collaboration tools: including video meetings, Zoom Chat, VoIP phone, webinars, whiteboard, contact center, and events.

Ever notice how much better a park feels when the furniture actually fits the people using it? That is the idea behind mmcité's children's furniture line. Woody Baby brings a kid-sized version of our classic bench design; the Baby Orbit collection adds tables and seating for outdoor learning; and the Radium cube seats bring a pop of color to any playground. Perfect for parks, schoolyards, and anywhere young explorers gather.

A bench is never just a bench.

It's where a first date turns into "do you want to get coffee again next week?" It's where your mom tells the same story for the hundredth time, and you let her, because some things are worth hearing twice. It's where an old friend catches you up on ten years in twenty minutes flat. And sometimes, it's just you, a coffee, and five quiet minutes before the day asks anything of you.

The Platform bench doesn't care which version of "together" you bring to it. Raised just enough to feel like its own little world, built to hold a moment for as long as you need it to.

Who's it going to be with you? A first date, an old friend, family, or a party of one?

Summer Learning, Elevated: CLARB ProSeries Returns August 26

Landscape architects: earn up to 3 HSW/PDH credits in one afternoon at CLARB's Summer Learning Lineup, live in Calgary or online, free for active CLARB Record Holders.

The lineup wraps with a session we're especially excited about:
Biophilic Design in Public Space, presented by our very own, Albert Harris of mmcité USA.

Discover how site furnishings, including seating, shelters, and planters, can embody biophilic design principles to boost physical, psychological, and social well-being in public spaces. You'll learn to specify natural materials and organic forms that reduce environmental stress, improve safety through spatial clarity, and create truly restorative, nature-connected places.

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. MDT (Course 3 of 3)
Location: Hyatt Regency Calgary. Also available virtually and on-demand.
Credit: 1 PDH, LA CES/HSW

Also on the schedule that day:
When Shade Is Not a Tree, presented by Earthscape Play and USA SHADE
Designing for Multigenerational Play, presented by Earthscape Play

Register now and get ahead on your CE goals before fall projects ramp up.
Register here: https://f.mtr.cool/ncqmvvclqw

Ever wonder what a park bench (or bus shelter) could do besides... sit there?

Say hello to mmcité's smartcité collection: Woody Solar, Blocq Solar, and Pin. Three ways to bring solar power into a public space, from a single seat to an entire shelter.

Woody Solar keeps the warm, clean lines of the classic Woody bench, but adds two 140Wp solar panels overhead, a battery system, and USB charging ports on the sides. It can also be extended with optional Wi-Fi and smart sensors that track things like temperature, humidity, noise, and air quality, turning a simple bench into a quiet little data point for the city around it.

Blocq Solar takes a bolder approach. The seat itself is a photovoltaic panel wrapped in safety glass, sitting on that signature sharp-angled block silhouette. It powers USB ports and wireless charging, with an optional Wi-Fi hotspot that reaches up to 100 meters.

Pin takes solar beyond the bench entirely. It's a modular shelter system that can be arranged into bus shelters, bike shelters, covered walkways, gazebos, or a small kiosk, and the roof itself can be built as a photovoltaic panel (with a green roof option too). It's a way to bring solar to a much bigger footprint, while covering people at the same time.

Why it matters for a project:

- Amenity without extra infrastructure. No trenching for power lines. These pieces bring their own energy source, so charging stations and Wi-Fi hotspots can go anywhere the sun reaches, whether that's a single bench or a full shelter.

- A story to tell. Sustainability-minded clients, campuses, and municipalities get a tangible, visible piece of green tech. It's not just furniture; it's a talking point.

- Room to grow. Since the sensors and connectivity are optional add-ons, a project can start simple with solar power and layer in smart features later as needs (or budgets) evolve.

If your next project has a plaza, transit stop, or gathering space that could use a little extra utility (and a lot of charm) solar might be the upgrade that makes it memorable.