The Chicago Metro Section and DePaul University Chaddick Institute's Municipal Design Review Network (MDRN) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with professionals that are tackling the design challenges associated with converting existing commercial building stock into housing.

The recording of this 5/24/23 event is available for all to watch.

PANELISTS:

Jeff Brady, AICP is the Director of Community Development for the Village of Glenview (northern suburb of Chicago), who oversees a roster of fifty employees and contractors responsible for the planning, inspectional services and engineering operations of a forward-thinking and financially strong community with a wide variety of neighborhoods, active commercial districts, and exceptional schools and parks.  The Community Development team promotes economic development, crafts policies to create iconic developments, ensures building regulations are upheld, and implements a $30M annual capital improvement program consistent with the Village’s goal to make life better for its 48,000 residents and over 1,300 businesses.

Mary Madden, Principal at Madden Planning, has more than 25 years of experience in urban planning and design, and historic preservation. She has worked in communities ranging from aging mill towns to mid-sized cities; from vibrant college towns to booming suburbs—focusing on revising zoning codes to promote smart growth and New Urbanism. Based in Fayetteville, AR, Mary frequently speaks and writes about urban design and form-based codes. She co-authored APA’s 2022 Zoning Practice report “Zoning for Office-to- Housing Conversions”. Before beginning solo-practice, Mary was a principal of Ferrell Madden; worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and was co-director of the Mayors’ Institute on City Design.

Juan M. Villafañe, AIA, LEED AP BD+C is an architect and Partner at Krueck Sexton Partners in Chicago and co-chairs the Public Policy Committee for the Urban Land Institute Chicago.  At KSP, Juan operates across different scales, blending his expertise in urban, architecture, and interior space design. His successful projects in Chicago, Buenos Aires, Singapore, Sri Lanka and other areas informs his approach to finding the specificity of places and further informs KSP’s sustainable architectural practice. One of Juan’s projects currently under construction is the International Square Food Market, in Washington D.C., which reimagines an office atrium lobby as a naturally ventilated urban experience for all the senses.

DISCUSSANT:

• Antonia Botero, Principal, Maddproject LLC

Intro/Outtro music by DMD_Production from Pixabay