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Connect. Clean. Cultivate. Create. Coexist.
Calumet: Off the Grid, emerges from two combined Master of City Design (MCD) Studios at the University of Illinois at Chicago: the New Delta Studio (Spring 2025) and the Pullman Charrette (Summer 2025). Together, they represent an evolving, interdisciplinary effort to imagine a more just, connected, and ecologically restored future for the Calumet region.
The New Delta laid the foundation with a regional vision rooted in environmental recovery, trail and transit connectivity, and the Pullman Charrette imagined a relationship between industry, nature, and community. The Pullman Charrette built on that vision through direct engagement in Historic Pullman, translating large-scale ideas into local design interventions shaped by community voice. This plan isn’t just the result of academic work; it comes from a deep respect for the people and ecologies that make up the Calumet region. It’s meant to spark ideas, offer possibilities, and invite others to join in the ongoing work of regeneration, together.
Full Plan Document
Full Plan Document
Read the full Calumet Off The Grid: A New Delta plan to explore our vision, planning and design process, community engagement, and the strategies shaping our approach.
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Explore the 115th Street Corridor through the Executive Summary for an overview of our core principles, design concepts, and community-driven process.
Appendix
Appendix
Browse the Appendix for survey results, concept board feedback, focus group insights, and the tools and analysis that shaped our community engagement strategy. .
Principles for the Process
Connect
Connect
Connect is about linking neighborhoods, ecosystems, and people together both physically and culturally.
Clean
Clean
Clean focuses on environmental recovery, cleaning up pollution and repairing damage from past industry.
Cultivate
Cultivate
Cultivate refers to the opportunities for people to play, explore, and reconnect with nature and each other.
Create
Create
Create means building new spaces that reflect community identity while supporting equitable growth.
Coexist
Coexist
Coexist explores how industry, housing, and nature can grow side by side, reducing conflict and barriers.
Community Engagement Video (Coming Soon!)
Gallery
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