site design group, ltd.

#sitesquad Senior Project Manager, Mejay Gula, AIA, NOMA, will be speaking at the 2025 National Planning Conference in Denver this Monday alongside Cassandra Rice and Sarah McColley, AICP, LEED AP ND of Perkins&Will and Ashanti Leach of Territory Urban. We hope to see you there! 💭 Topic: Shaping Spaces: Centering Youth Voices in Planning 📆 When: Monday, March 31, 8:30 am 🗒️Panel Description: Broaden the lens through which you approach the public realm by focusing on an often-forgotten or overlooked demographic: youth, and specifically, teenage girls. Teenagers are among the most frequent users of public spaces — some of the only places youth can claim for themselves. However, public spaces are often designed with fields, courts, and skate parks that push teenage girls to the periphery. Just as we’re starting to reckon with the fact that public space design is not gender neutral for adults, we must realize this is also the case for children and adolescents. Current planning practice must consider how boys and girls play and socialize, how teenagers use their environment, and how societal constructs influence their behavior. Hear diverse perspectives on designing for teens, from research to project management and community engagement. Through case studies like the Western Avenue Corridor Plan, the Haughville Riverfront Plan, and the Clarkston Greenway Plan, learn the importance of giving teens agency and flexibility in planning. Learn how to best collaborate and partner with teen organizations during different phases of the planning process. The panel dedicates this session to the memory of Aditi Subramanian, whose passion for this work continues to provide inspiration and guidance. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/giDkuZWY #NPC25 #UrbanPlanning #YouthEngagement #EquityInDesign

St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago is iconic. From lively celebrations to the unforgettable sight of the vibrant green river. Designed as a dynamic, accessible space along the river’s edge, Riverwalk East offers one of the best vantage points to experience the city’s iconic waterway and its festive transformation. 🍀

LABash 2025 here we come! Stop by Booth 22 at the expo to meet our #sitesquad team members and learn about our work in landscape architecture. Whether you’re exploring career paths or just want to chat about design, we’d love to connect! 📍 : University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada 📆 : March 14 | 8:30am – 5pm 📆 : March 15 | 8am – 2pm

Ahead of #InternationalWomensDay tomorrow, we recognize and celebrate the incredible women on our team every day. Their talent, creativity, and leadership shape the spaces we design and the future of landscape architecture. To the incredible women of site and our colleagues across the industry, thank you for shaping the future of landscape architecture and design. Your impact is felt in every space you create! Happy International Women’s Day, everyone!

We’re heading to the K-State Design Expo! Stop by our booth to learn about our team and our work in landscape architecture and urban design. We look forward to seeing you there! 📍: Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS 🗓: Friday, February 28, 2025 ⏰: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Exciting updates ahead! The CTA is unveiling the final designs for the space beneath the new Red Line tracks in Edgewater and Uptown as part of the RPM Project. Our team has been involved in shaping this space, and we’ll be at the public meetings on Feb. 25-26. Hope to see you there! Check out the latest press release here: https://lnkd.in/gdSikdKJ

While every project is unique, each design shares a similar structured approach. The process begins with an Analysis phase, where we review the existing conditions, dive into the history of the site, and research opportunities and ideas. The next phase encompasses Design, which may begin with a Feasibility or Master Planning effort to outline a phased or planned strategic approach to move forward. Design at a more detailed level may include Conceptual Design, Schematic Design, and Design Development, where the design evolves from goals, context, and strategic directions into refined and detailed design that evolves into the specifics – plants, materials, furnishings, lighting, and more. Often, beginning in the Analysis phase and throughout the Design phase, Community and Stakeholder Engagement takes place to solicit ideas, input, and feedback on the design direction from key project players and the public. Construction Administration is the part of the process where the drawings come to life and includes regular visits to the construction site to report on progress and help resolve issues. These steps guide every project from vision to reality, ensuring that each space serves its purpose and enhances the lives of those who experience it.

Winter brings a fresh perspective to the Field Museum's outdoor spaces, blending timeless architecture, art, and Chicago’s wintry charm. Even in cold weather, the museum’s chilly grounds offer seasonal discoveries through native plantings that embrace the season’s changes.

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, February 1, for the Chicago Architecture Center's screening of "Sitting Still," a film by Gina Angelone profiling the iconic landscape architect Laurie Olin (OLIN). Our Founding Principal, Ernest Wong, fASLA, will lead a Q&A with Gina about the inspiration for the film, the process of filming, and more about Laurie's prolific career. Architecture & Design Film Festival Screening: "Sitting Still" When: February 1, 2025, 5:30 pm Where: Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street Learn more about the event and watch the film trailer at: https://lnkd.in/exWdV-Dn. We hope to see you there!

Happy Lunar New Year! From all of us at Site Design Group, we wish you health, happiness, and prosperity in 2025, the Year of the Snake!