Urban Landscape Collaborative Llc

Mission and Values

Our mission is about designing spaces and making a difference for the people who use them. We approach each design as a process, beginning with a conversation and building a relationship based on respect and trust. We engage our clients in this discussion to understand their vision, challenges, and budgetary considerations.

We study the site and the surroundings to grasp natural systems, existing patterns of use, and cultural influences. By integrating the knowledge of our client's vision and the comprehensive understanding of the site, we strive to develop solutions that fit the way people live, work, and play.

The final result engages people in the environment, creating a sense of place which, in turn, contributes to a sustainable and economically thriving place. We believe in being an active participant in our communities and are committed to active healthy living, continually exploring and creating better places.

All of us at ULC, from our earliest memories as children, have loved the places we’ve inhabited and have worked each day to continually make them better.

Who We Are:

Urban Landscape Collaborative llc is an award-winning collaboration between Mauro Crestani & Associates + Chris Gent Landscape Studio building on each firm’s strengths to provide each client an individually tailored design to meet their specific needs.

Our projects range in type and scale from small private residences to large scale master plans for regional parks and educational campuses.

ULC is an award-winning collaboration between Mauro Crestani & Associates + Chris Gent Landscape Studio building on each firm’s strengths to provide each client an individually tailored design to meet their specific needs.

· Combined over 70 years in the landscape architecture profession.

· Mauro and Chris met in the mid 80’s working for a midsize interdisciplinary firm made up of architects, civil engineers, planners, landscape architects and surveyors.

· Mauro comes from a strong background of working in large interdisciplinary firms

· Chris has spent over 20 years working for the Chicago Park District and City of Chicago in various capacities

Projects range in type and scale from small private residences to large scale master plans for regional parks and educational campuses.

How We Work

Each design is tailored to our client. We begin by understanding our client’s needs, goals, and objectives. Through site analysis, to understand the site’s strengths and challenges, we develop conceptual plans for both hardscape and softscape. These are supported with visioning images and sketches. We meet to review these initial design ideas, then further refine them.

We further process these plans into schematic designs by refining and melding ideas from the conceptual plans into a strong unified design.