Showcase 2026: Grad Student Rethinks Connection Through Third Spaces
By Sophie Coker
ALBANY, N.Y. (March 31, 2026) — From neighborhood cafés to local parks and busy shopping malls, the places where people gather outside of home, work and school are often known as “third spaces.” These shared environments give people a place to relax, connect, and build community.
University at Albany graduate student Pallav Savaliya has identified a shortage of third spaces in urban life across the United States, particularly for young people.
His research on the topic will be on display at Showcase 2026, the University at Albany’s annual celebration of student research, scholarship and creative activity.
“There's a critical lack of space where students and young adults can simply exist, hang out, and find relief from their daily routines,” Savaliya said.
The Future of Third Spaces
Savaliya, originally from Gujarat, India, is a Master of Regional Planning (MRP) student in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability. After studying architecture in India, he found an interest in the environment and community development, which brought him to UAlbany to study urban design and community-focused planning.
Even well-designed third spaces aren’t without flaws, Savaliya says, with limited seating, underused land, and safety concerns often standing in the way of their full potential.
“As planners, we have the responsibility to design cities that are convenient, safe and welcoming. I’m passionate about creating places that are beautiful and accessible,” he said. “Too often, people see downtown areas as unsafe or not suitable for kids, and that’s a mindset I want to help change.”
His research on third spaces seeks to expand the idea of a neutral social space to give way to hybrid spaces – combining natural and built elements.
Green spaces represent open areas that connect people to nature, lifestyle and the environment, including sitting areas, shaded zones, or water features. Concrete elements provide covered spaces and structured areas that offer coziness and shelter.
When green and concrete are connected in hybrid spaces, nature becomes comfortable, Savaliya said. “I believe that when there is more freedom and more space, people can enjoy a better quality of life, because the spaces we inhabit directly affect our health.”
Privacy is a cornerstone of hybrid third spaces. During COVID-19, when people were confined to their homes, the way a space functioned had a direct impact on health, lifestyle, and behavior. Today, in an AI-driven world, Savaliya says that people have high expectations and need spaces that provide both privacy and openness simultaneously.
“Connecting with green spaces encourages social interaction, networking, and stronger bonds with others,” he says.
Highlighting Student Research
The University will hold its fourth annual Showcase from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30. The daylong event will feature poster sessions, presentations, performances and exhibitions highlighting student research, scholarship and creative work across multiple disciplines and all around the Uptown Campus. The MFA show will be held in the University Art Museum.
UAlbany students, faculty and staff, as well as prospective students, alumni, community members and school groups are invited to attend. The event is free and open to the public. Savaliya hopes to shift perspectives at Showcase Day, viewing it as a chance to engage with people of all ages and articulate Gen Z’s desire for third spaces to those with the power to turn the idea into reality.
“I think that Showcase Day is one of the only places where the students are able to visit with other generations and get to know each other,” Savaliya said.