ILASLA and APA-IL Chicago Metro Section are team up again to provide a fun and engaging program for planners and landscape architects. This webinar was held on May 28, 2020.

In previous years we’ve toured Chicago’s Millennium Park and the Riverwalk, shared the street and some Vietnamese food on Argyle, and spent a night among the trees (at the Morton Arboretum). This year, we’re excited to visit…your living room (or wherever you choose to join us).

For this year’s annual partnership event, ILASLA and APA-IL hosted an online forum to discuss COVID-19 and the near- and long-term potential impacts of social distancing on the planning, landscape architecture, and urban design professions. How are consulting and design firms changing their operations to respond to social distancing requirements? With regard to public engagement, what impacts of social distancing will be permanent? Do we need to design more flexible urban spaces to accommodate distancing in the future?

This event is brought to you by APA-IL Tier I Sponsor Houseal Lavigne
 
and ILASLA Sponsors: ANOVA and Unilock

SPEAKERS:

This event will feature several volunteer moderators as well as a group of panelists to provide opening remarks. The panelists include:
 
Eileen Franz, AICP - City Planner, City of Elmhurst. During her time in Elmhurst, Eileen has worked on the Downtown Plan update and subsequent rezoning ofthe Downtown area. Prior to working at the City of Elmhurst, she worked at the Will County Land Use Department for 10 years doing planning, zoning administration and historic preservation. Eileen has a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Iowa and a Master's in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
 
Brandon Nolin, AICP - Senior Project Manager, Houseal Lavigne. Brandon has 13 years of planning, community engagement, and market analysis experience and specializes in comprehensive planning and economic development. He uses his background in archaeology, statistics, and market research to develop data-driven plans that are both physically achievable and economically viable. Brandon has worked in communities of all shapes and sizes. He has created award-winning plans to reposition disinvested communities like Flint, MI and North Lawndale on Chicago’s west side; leverage key redevelopment opportunities in growing downtowns; revitalize aging commercial corridors in inner ring suburbs; and strengthen small rural towns and emerging suburban communities.
  
Scott Stewart, Ph.D., Affiliate ASLA. Executive Director of Millennium Park Foundation is deeply passionate about the value and role of public space. His goal is to create free, open, and culturally representative experiences for people in public spaces of artistic and architectural significance. He believes Millennium Park is the international standard-bearer in this regard, and believes his role with the Foundation is to maintain the uncompromisingly high standards in art, architecture, landscape architecture, and cultural programming that have made the Park an icon.
 
Scott has previously held positions with Lurie Garden, Park District of Oak Park, Morton College, Kankakee Community College, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. He is extensively published on topics ranging from the evolving roles of public gardens and parks to rare plant species propagation and conservation. Scott holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Florida, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Illinois College.
 
Emanuel “Chris” Welch - Partner, Ancel Glink. Chris practices in the area of litigation for governmental clients with over 20 years in practice. Chris has served as a State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly since January 2013 representing the Seventh District. Nationally, he has presented for the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., the National Conference of Black State Legislatures and the State Innovation Exchange (SIX) Conference.