BU Sociologist Comments on Urban Development and “Third Places”
In a lot of ways, Mugar fills in the cracks of campus life: it’s not home, it’s not work or class, it’s the very definition of a growing cultural movement—it’s a third place.
What began as an academic concept—the term “third space” was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg to describe public gathering spaces found outside of work and home—has found purchase with people from BU librarians to TikTokers to Boston city councilors.
From the New York Times in February: “The value of public gathering spaces was well known, but there was no term for it. [Oldenburg’s] phrase took hold and remains popular.” As a phrase, the paper said, ”third places” turned up more than 2,500 times over a year in both academic and professional publications. During that time, the term has taken on different definitions and encompassed more and more territory. And while there’s a basic logic to the idea that people should have places to form affinity, the idea of protecting—and expanding—third places is touted as a radical solution to an avalanche of contemporary issues.
To read more, visit BU Today where this article originally appeared on April 30, 2025.