Facilities such as stadiums, museums and office buildings are thought to be catalysts to development in neighboring locations. These catalytic facilities many times receive public support to spur this development and also generate activity. This article suggests concepts for assessing the catalytic potential of cultural facilities and recommends design features to maximize the catalytic impact of these facilities. Urban design literature, pedestrian research, and consumer behavior research are used to support these concepts.

This article suggests concepts for assessing the catalytic potential of cultural facilities and recommends design features to maximize the catalytic impact of these facilities.