Episode Description

This episode the Beyond the Surface features Dawveed Scully, the Managing Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Development at the City of Chicago. Prior to this role, Dawveed was an Associate Principal in the urban design and planning studio at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). He is a licensed architect in Illinois and an AICP-certified urban planner.

Dawveed shares his design philosophies that integrate architecture and urban planning to foster healthy communities. The conversation explores how strategic planning and thoughtful design can improve urban environments, contribute to social equity, and enhance residents’ quality of life.

Listeners gain insight into the interdisciplinary approach Dawveed applies in public sector projects, balancing architectural creativity with urban systems and policy considerations. The episode highlights the importance of collaboration between designers, planners, and communities to achieve inclusive, sustainable outcomes.

Dawveed reflects on his transition from private practice to public leadership, sharing lessons learned and his vision for Chicago’s future growth and development. His stories emphasize designing with an awareness of health, equity, and resilience as essential elements of the built environment.

This episode is valuable for architects, urban planners, policymakers, and anyone interested in how integrated design and planning shape healthier, more vibrant cities.