What the Project Is About
Leading community-centered, sustainable projects across the country, this initiative represents a dynamic mix of civil engineering and green infrastructure expertise. The project encompasses a wide range of endeavors – from a corridor plan with transportation, stormwater + placemaking solutions to a corporate headquarters relocation driven by growth, sustainability, inclusivity + community investment. Among its pioneering ventures is a community-led vision for the world’s first 17-acre floating eco-park along the Chicago River, offering an innovative twist to urban design… Even an industrial site has been reimagined as an entertainment venue using innovative GI concepts, and an adaptive reuse HQ has emerged, driven by sustainability, inclusivity, and community investment. Other projects include a community park formed within a transformative mixed-use development, a world-class healthcare facility that provides patients, families + staff a tranquil respite, and the transformation of a contaminated lot into a space where nature can be enjoyed. Further, the initiative tackles environmental challenges head-on: helping schools meet state stormwater regulations while innovating stormwater management through best practices, capturing millions of gallons of stormwater to help protect Lake Michigan, rainscaping mission-driven properties in St. Louis, and advancing blue-green infrastructure in San Diego. This bath of visionary projects reflects a deep commitment to creating urban spaces that are thoughtful, equitable, and forward-thinking.
Main Benefits
- A corridor plan combining transportation, stormwater, and placemaking solutions for multi-dimensional urban transit.
- A corporate headquarters relocation that is all about growth, sustainability, inclusivity, and community investment.
- The creation of a 17-acre floating eco-park – a one-of-a-kind community-led vision along the Chicago River.
- Innovation in industrial spaces transforming them into venues for vibrant entertainment through GI solutions.
- The utilization of adaptive reuse for HQ spaces, reinforcing sustainability, inclusivity, and community ties.
- Projects aimed at capturing millions of gallons of stormwater, safeguarding Lake Michigan and enhancing urban resilience.
- An emphasis on planning services including plan creation, GIS mapping, ESJ advisory, funding strategies, and engagement.
Innovative Planning & Engagement
At its core, the project is as much about strategy as it is about construction. Greenprint’s planning and engagement services create a platform where community outreach and innovative communication blend seamlessly. The planning services articulate clear project priorities, backed by GIS mapping and analysis. Services extend to ESJ advisory and training, crafting funding inventories + strategies while facilitating coalition building and managing stakeholder advisory groups. On the engagement side, community outreach merges with education + capacity building efforts, strategic communications and creative storytelling, ensuring that public voices are heard through focus groups, interviews, and surveys. These combined efforts result in a planning framework that seamlessly integrates environmental justice into the project’s ethos – a testament to planning, stormwater, and urban sustainable development that runs deep.
Community-Driven Designs
The heart of every project is community involvement and robust design thinking. From a corporate relocation driven by growth + community investment to a multi-use park that transforms urban spaces, the approach centers on giving the community a significant role in shaping their environment. This vision extends to innovative projects like a floating eco-park that serves as a green haven along the Chicago River. The projects are not just infrastructure upgrades; they are community aspirations built into every creative solution. There’s a sincere investment in enabling communities to actively participate in redefining where they live, work, and play. This design philosophy resonates through creative services that include storytelling, translation, public affairs, and even capacity building – elements that bring a human touch to cutting-edge civil engineering.
Sustainable Urban Transformations
Sustainability is the pulse of this project. Whether revitalizing play spaces while enhancing stormwater systems or capturing millions of gallons of stormwater through innovative management practices, each aspect of the work is underpinned by a commitment to urban sustainability and equity. A transformative adaptive reuse project for a headquarters and the re-imagination of an industrial site into an entertainment venue illustrate the power of sustainable practices in redefining urban spaces. Even patient care is transformed through a world-class healthcare facility that offers families a tranquil and restorative environment. Outdoors, contaminated lots are reborn as natural sanctuaries, and schools are aided in meeting stringent stormwater regulations. These transformations are not isolated tasks; they fit together like pieces of a larger, coherent vision of urban renewal.
Aligning Equity, Innovation, and Nature
The project strikes a fine balance between environmental stewardship and community equity. Projects such as innovating stormwater management and rainscaping mission-driven properties bring forward the importance of aligning technology with natural systems. The phrase “green infrastructure” stands as more than a buzzword – it is the cornerstone of practical, everyday improvements that benefit urban areas. Urban and civil engineering challenges are met with planning services that include GIS mapping, ESJ advisory, and strategic communications. This mix of equity-driven goals and sustainable practices ensures that every project not only meets functional requirements but also builds community pride and long-term resilience in a rapidly evolving urban landscape.
Project Impact
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Promoting urban planning that centers on public wellbeing and ecological stability.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – Integrating stormwater management and innovative GI practices to mitigate climate impacts.
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – Capturing millions of gallons of stormwater to protect vital water resources like Lake Michigan.
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Ensuring that sustainable infrastructure advancements benefit all community members equally.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – Transforming contaminated lots into green spaces contributes to a healthier urban ecosystem.
Future Vision and Strategy
The future strategy builds on a foundation of proven successes and bold visions. With projects ranging from corporate relocations to urban placemaking initiatives, development, and innovative stormwater management, the approach is geared toward shaping urban landscapes that are resilient and forward-looking. Civil engineering meets community investment and strategic planning, offering urban spaces that are vibrant and responsive. The blend of technical and creative services fosters engagement that reinforces community pride, enabling natural systems to coexist with urban growth… This ongoing saga of transformation is fueled by a commitment to ensuring that every design element is sustainable, equitable, and inherently innovative. From planning to execution, the projects deliver not just functional infrastructure, but a transformative narrative that embraces modern civil engineering, urban sustainable design, and community-led action. In short, it is a blueprint for the future, where green infrastructure isn’t just an add-on – it’s an essential, living part of urban evolution, paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable tomorrow.
