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Reimagine. Redesign. Repair.
The Illinois Medical District is the heart of Chicagoland's medical research, innovation, and care. But years of targeted urban renewal and inconsistent monocultural development has created a District that is disjointed within itself and from its surroundings. The time is now to address the IMD's future.
We envision an environment that, through reparative planning and community engagement, prioritizes the public realm, strengthens livelihoods, is inclusive to all, and stitches itself with Chicago. By designing new neighborhoods, mixed-use areas, public spaces, and enhanced connectivity, we can remake the IMD into the vibrant neighborhood it has the potential to become.
Featured in the Active Transportation Alliance and StreetsblogChicago
Featured in the Active Transportation Alliance and StreetsblogChicago
The Think Like A City spinoff project, Roosevelt Valley, was recently showcased at the Active Transportation Alliance's 2025 Movers and Shakers Ball. With a focus on transportation as reparative urbanism, the exhibit introduced attendees to the Valley's story of displacement and vision for transformation. Roosevelt Valley was included in StreetsblogChicago's recap of the event.
Discover the Vision.
Discover the Vision.
Explore the full Think Like A City: A Framework for Remaking Places plan document, with insights to our planning and design process, community engagement, and the approaches driving our vision.
Get acquainted with the Illinois Medical District through the Executive Summary, which offers a quick overview of our core principles, design concepts, and community engagement.
Browse through survey data, concept board feedback, focus group responses, and the instruments and tools used in our community engagement strategy in the Appendix.
Principles for the Process.
Principles for the Process.
Healthy urbanism prioritizes the livelihoods, wellbeing, and futurity of its residents, offering both spaces of community and sustainable action. By embracing these design principles, the IMD can leverage its opportunities and address its barriers to bring about a dynamic urban setting.
Prioritize the Public Realm
Prioritize the Public Realm
To become a lively, modern, and balanced district, IMD must create accessible, connected, and resilient public streets and spaces that reflect community needs.
Invite Everyone
Invite Everyone
To augment a 24/7 experience, IMD must create new destinations that diversify the District's nodes, like creating new neighborhood centers with attractive programming.
Strengthen Livelihoods
Strengthen Livelihoods
To build a healthy neighborhood, IMD must focus on offering new and affordable housing options that represent the District's residents, patients, workers and students.
Promote Cohesion and Stitching
Promote Cohesion and Stitching
To optimize its vacant land by repairing urban renewal, IMD must integrate a neighborhood morphology to the District, including scale, streets, and sustainability.
Access the Media Kit.
Access the Media Kit.
For those interested in covering the project for publication, a Think Like A City Media Kit is available with the following content:
press release
project images and captions
quotes and summaries
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