Terry Guen Design Associates

This Chicago-based landscape architecture and urban design firm was founded in 1997 to create highly visual, site specific ecologically-based public landscapes. A large part of TGDA’s philosophy is based upon appreciation of the complex Earth processes and seeking to accommodate basic needs of the living environment within built work. Reconstructing blighted zones with natural materials, Terry Guen and staff of four designers work with local experts in fields of restoration, ecology, and forestry, native plants, project architects and engineers to visualize design solutions that can be sustained through long-term stewardship.

Photos courtesy of Terry Guen Design Associates

Duck Pond, Fontana

The village of Fontana requested TGDA to provide a master plan and ecological stewardship interpretation for the 130-acre duck pond recreation area. The area that once served as a wastewater treatment plant and a dump was transformed into Fontana's ecological and recreational gift for future generations. Located two miles from Geneva Lake, this municipal property includes a former landfill site and public works facilities which is being restored following a program of land planning for natural areas restoration in combination with the development of new recreational activities and facilities.

South Lake Shore Drive Reconstruction, Chicago

The firm provided landscape architectural construction drawings and specifications for the award-winning reconstruction of South Lakeshore Drive. TGDA’s work included landscape field verification and tagging of existing Jackson Park trees; park and tree protection documents for three phases of construction; landscape master plan design for five new underpasses; public process and approvals with the Jackson and Hyde Park communities; coordination with engineer, park district, CDOT; coordination with landscape architect and team for Burnham section of reconstruction project.

Millennium Park, Chicago

Terry Guen Design Associates was responsible for landscape design, construction documentation, and construction review of all planting areas for the 24.5-acre park. The work included design coordination with the project director, numerous artists and architects, the Millennium Park Inc. Donor Organization, public agencies, and engineering and field coordination of the landscape installation. Plantings include over 400 canopy and ornamental trees, thousands of shrubs and perennials installed within a four-foot soil profile, a reinforced sand-based concert lawn and extensive, 8” deep green roof.