LUNCH & LEARN/DESIGNING BELONGING - DESIGNING BELONGING IN PUBLIC SPACE

Mejay Gula's pursuit of discovering places of belonging traces back to her upbringing in Chicago by immigrant parents and grandparents. From her early years, she recognized that civic spaces were not created with her or her family in mind, having experienced only a handful of cities in the US that provided her with a sense of genuine welcome and acceptance. Often, the simple civic gestures of welcome were sparse and scattered, leaving urban design to fall short of serving its communities effectively. Mejay, therefore, advocates for spaces that facilitate thriving communities, believing that urban design rooted in trust and active listening will foster place and belonging.

Founded in 1990, site design group, ltd. (site) is a nationally award-winning landscape architecture, urban design, and architecture firm based in Chicago, Illinois. As landscape architects, urban designers, planners, arborists, architects, and creative thinkers, they are a staff of 56 diverse and innovative professionals. They are enlivened by their surroundings and strive to produce creative spaces that inspire, restore, and bring communities together. As designers, creative thinkers, and engaged citizens, site understands the value of exterior environments that create a sense of place. Successful placemaking leads to the long-term care and use of these spaces by the public. This is site’s goal in all they do: to create spaces that are valued and sustained by the communities they reside within to maintain long-term relevance and use.

As Senior Project Manager at site, Mejay focuses on diverse landscape and urban design projects, employing creative community engagement strategies to foster collaboration. As an architectural designer, educator, and curator, she works to revitalize overlooked spaces in Chicago, driven by her passion for civic design, historic preservation, and construction. Mejay is also the founder of Tender House Project, a collaborative initiative with local organizations aimed at activating Chicago's underutilized bridgehouses. Through partnerships with the city and community groups, Mejay envisions these neglected structures transforming into a vibrant civic and cultural network, breathing new lifeinto the Chicago River and its surrounding areas

After the program, a meal will be shared. 

RSVP is required.

The Designing Belonging series is part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide collaboration initiated by the Terra Foundation for American Art that highlights the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.

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