# A global hub for urban innovation

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2018-08-16

amazon, amazon-hq2, bloomberg-lp, bnn-bloomberg, cities, dan-doctoroff, development, economic-development, global-hub, hq2, laboratory, new-york-city, quayside, sidewalk-labs, sidewalk-toronto, toronto, uncategorized, urban-innovation, urbanism, waterfront-toronto

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[Dan Doctoroff](https://twitter.com/dandoctoroff?lang=en), the CEO of Sidewalk Labs (and the former deputy mayor of New York City), was recently interviewed by [BNN Bloomberg](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/alphabet-s-digital-city-eyes-world-s-biggest-timber-project-1.1123556) about the company’s plans and ambitions for [Quayside](http://brandondonnelly.com/post/160534932403/building-a-city-from-the-internet-up) here in Toronto. 

He talks about the project; their interest in timber construction; how the company, Sidewalk Labs, might ultimately make money; and how their mission is to create a global hub for urban innovation.

This last point is, of course, the most exciting opportunity – both for Sidewalk Labs/Alphabet and for Toronto. And it’s why many people believe that Quayside will end up a far greater (economic development) coup compared to HQ2.

The interview is only 10 minutes. If you can’t see it embedded below, [click here](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/alphabet-s-digital-city-eyes-world-s-biggest-timber-project-1.1123556).

[https://webapps.9c9media.com/vidi-player/1.5.1/share/iframe.html?currentId=1461888&config=bnn/share.json&kruxId=InSaVlLc&cid=%5B%7B%22contentId%22%3A1461888%2C%22ad%22%3A%7B%22adsite%22%3A%22ctv.bnn%22%2C%22adzone%22%3A%22ctv.bnn%22%7D%7D%5D](https://webapps.9c9media.com/vidi-player/1.5.1/share/iframe.html?currentId=1461888&config=bnn/share.json&kruxId=InSaVlLc&cid=%5B%7B%22contentId%22%3A1461888%2C%22ad%22%3A%7B%22adsite%22%3A%22ctv.bnn%22%2C%22adzone%22%3A%22ctv.bnn%22%7D%7D%5D)

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/a-global-hub-for-urban-innovation)*