Episode Description

This episode from Beyond the Surface features Maurice Cox, the former Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Maurice shares stories from his influential and wide-ranging career spanning architecture, academia, and politics. His journey has taken him across cities such as New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Charlottesville, as well as abroad in Italy, where he refined his views on the intersection between design and governance.

The episode explores how Maurice uses design as a tool for social transformation—shaping not just buildings, but policies that support equitable community revitalization. He discusses the philosophy behind creating “policies for change,” emphasizing that good design must be paired with civic inclusion, transparency, and trust. His experiences as a mayor, educator, and planning commissioner reveal how intentional design can bridge gaps between communities, policymakers, and private developers to produce sustainable outcomes.

Understand how architecture and planning merge with public service to reimagine city life, especially through initiatives like Chicago’s INVEST South/West program, which focused on empowering historically disinvested neighborhoods. This episode is a compelling listen for architects, planners, and civic leaders interested in using design thinking as a framework for policy and urban equity​.