Happy Birthday, Chicago! 189 years ago today, a city was platted on the edge of a lake — and it has never stopped building itself into something greater. From the ashes of 1871 a new skyline rose, creating an architectural language copied around the world. From the drawing boards of historical firms like Adler and Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright came new forms of living in space, while today’s firms and schools continue to shape architectural futures globally. Our rich neigh

Today's social challenges and culture shifts have led to growing isolation, disengagement from community, and a mounting mental health crisis. HeadMaze was built for exactly this moment. The HeadMaze project includes two distinct but intertwined spaces - the “ monument ” and the “ pavilion .”  Both spaces – along with the creative team behind them – activate a platform for city-wide engagement and social impact through immersive experiences, civic activations, and collaborati

Looking back on 2025, the zpd+a team tackled a truly diverse range of projects that challenged and stimulated our creative thinking. From navigating Chicago's permitting processes for historic residences converting to office space and back again, to designing experiential monuments that pushed the boundaries of modular off-site production, to breaking ground on a 20+ acre site in Michigan, to curating a valued client's art collection—the constant scale shifts kept us agile an

For decades, architects have intuitively understood that natural elements improve our built environments, celebrating natural materials, natural light and fresh air. Today, neuroscience is revealing exactly why, and the findings are transforming how we approach commercial design. Biophilic design, the practice of integrating nature and natural elements into the built environment to improve human health and well-being, isn't just aesthetically pleasing. Research shows it funda