MKSK is a collective of Planners, Urban Designers, and Landscape Architects, founded in 1990, who are passionate about the interaction between people and place. We are an employee-owned practice with a network of twelve metropolitan studios in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and the District of Columbia. MKSK works to solve the pressing issues in our cities and communities, and plan, design and build places where people want to live. MKSK approaches planning and design with a clear understanding that each place is unique and has economic, social, environmental, historical, and cultural influences which should be explored through thoughtful, context-sensitive design. We help communities and our clients meet the challenges of changing global conditions by addressing resiliency and sustainability through the MKSK LAB for Climate and Biodiversity Resilience. We shape places to improve lives, and we share our transformational stories and the power of strong planning and design to inspire ourselves, our peers, and the world to work together for the common good. Together we plan and design a world in which we all want to live.

We have adopted a three-pronged philosophy that seeks to maximize these contextual benefits of our plans and designs on communities.

Build on Local Strengths. The strategies for the design and planning of significant community infrastructure must be faithful to the historical, cultural, and social qualities that are unique to each part of the community. By carefully discerning and then building on these authentic qualities, we can encourage civic pride, community stewardship, and a strong sense of place.

Build for People. The defining quality of our approach is improving the relationship of place and people. Decades of research has brought to light the role that our communities and built environment play in shaping our experiences and life outcomes, and this research has supported a body of urban design knowledge that underpins all of our work.

Build Long-Term Value. By focusing on the relationship of people and place first, we are building the framework for long-term value. When planned and designed well public spaces play a unique role in driving economic value and community benefit. There is a growing global recognition of the significant positive impact that these spaces can have on economic competitiveness, public health, social well-being, environmental uplift, and a wide range of equity dynamics. Managing, programming, and connecting these public spaces to the rest of the community is important as we plan for the future and design for the future.

Together We Plan and Design a World in Which We All Want to Live.

SHAPE PLACE.

IMPROVE LIVES.

SHARE THE STORY.

Published on October 2, 2023