Cities Dialogue: designing cultural and leisure destinations for global cities

Webinar

Friday 01 May 2026
10:00 - 11:00

Members Only

Free

Simon Devitt

As part of NLA's Cities programme, join this webinar to learn how cultural and leisure spaces are positively contributing to global cities.

Cultural and leisure spaces are increasingly central to how cities grow, define identity, attract investment and build civic life. From stadiums and theatres to cultural institutions and public spaces, these spaces are no longer standalone projects but catalysts for wider urban transformation, shaping identity, attracting investment and fostering civic life.

This Cities Dialogue brings together leading built environment experts delivering cultural and leisure destinations across the globe. Through international case studies, the discussion will demonstrate how these projects extend far beyond their physical boundaries - driving regeneration and inclusive placemaking, supporting diverse communities, and embedding long-term environmental and economic resilience.

As part of the NLA insight study Connected Capital: London and the World’s Built Environment, this panel discussion will also highlight London’s global leadership in integrating architecture, engineering, placemaking and operations into cohesive civic destinations. The export is not simply design excellence, but a holistic approach: managing complex, multidisciplinary teams; designing for inclusivity and climate responsiveness; and creating places that balance commercial viability with meaningful cultural and social return.

Ultimately, this dialogue explores how culture and leisure can act as powerful drivers of placemaking, shaping cities that are economically successful, socially inclusive and embedded within long-term development.

Programme

09:55 Speakers join via Zoom

10:00 Welcome from the Chair

Adara Wicaksono, Programme Manager, NLA

10:05 Court Theatre, New Zealand

Roger Watts, Director, Haworth Tompkins

10:15 Al-Ahly Stadium, Egypt

Tayomara Gama, Sports Leader, Senior Associate, Gensler

10:25 Hage, Sweden
Tim Lucas, Partner, Price & Myers

10:35 Panel Discussion

Speakers above

10:50 Q&A

11:00 End

Speaker biographies

Roger Watts

Director, Haworth Tompkins

Adara Wicaksono

Programme Manager, NLA

Tayomara Gama

Sports Leader, Senior Associate, Gensler

Tim Lucas

Partner, Price & Myers

Members Only

Free

NLA Webinar on Zoom

Once you have registered, a reminder to confirm the event details and a link to access the webinar will be sent a day before the event. If you have any questions, please contact the NLA Events Team: events@nla.london.

Accessibility

This webinar will have the closed captioning and automatic transcript functions enabled. Please ensure you manually turn these on when you join. If you would like more information, or have any access requirements, please let us know what these are and how we can best accommodate these by emailing events@nla.london.