Relationality and Reciprocity in Civic Design: Public Engagement and Offshore Wind Development in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract

Offshore wind projects are inherently complex, requiring the integration of social, environmental and technical planning. Meaningful engagement with communities is critical to ensuring procedural fairness, trust and equity throughout the development process. Yet, the role of civic design in shaping these outcomes remains unexplored. This thesis investigates how relationality and reciprocity are fostered through the civic design of public engagements for offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine. Through qualitative analysis of public meeting transcripts – using thematic coding and memo writing in Atlas.ti – this study identifies civic design elements and recurring engagement themes.

The findings highlight relational accountability as a mechanism for building trust, transparency and procedural fairness. They also explore how civic design can support reciprocity, while revealing how structural barriers can undermine relationality. This research demonstrates the possibilities and limitations of civic design in fostering relational and reciprocal public engagements. It concludes with recommendations for incorporating civic design elements that promote sustained, reciprocal relationships, accountability and long-term community involvement in offshore wind development.