Bringing urban planning expertise into multi-disciplinary design

HED Welcomes Lesley Roth, AIA, AICP, LEED AP, To Establish Urban Planning and Design Practice

CHICAGO, IL, October 28, 2026 — HED announces the integration of its Urban Planning and Design practice, led by Lesley Roth, AIA, AICP, LEED AP. The new practice connects urban planning with HED’s architecture, engineering, and landscape architecture work to create connected, resilient communities.

The practice will integrate urban design and place-based planning to catalyze investment, strengthen economic vitality, and create distinctive, connected places – by partnering with public and private sector leaders to shape transformative districts, vibrant downtowns, thriving campuses, and transit-oriented neighborhoods that translate long-term vision into lasting value.

Roth brings more than 25 years of architecture and planning experience across the United States and internationally. She has led planning processes for public, institutional, and private-sector clients to address complex design challenges through urban strategies, placemaking, public and stakeholder engagement, and sustainable planning that prioritizes design excellence and future-focused solutions. Her portfolio includes City of Chicago Citywide Plan, Morgan Park Commons, Clinton-Peabody Redevelopment Plan, City of St. Louis Plan Area 1, Village of Riverdale Transit-Oriented Development and Mobility Action Plan.

For Roth, the integration of urban planning is critical in shaping more responsive communities. “Strong communities are built through shared vision, inclusive placemaking, and thoughtful design,” she said. “When planning is integrated into the design process, it creates opportunities to address complex challenges and create livable environments that celebrate people and place.”

“Lesley Roth will build an urban planning and design practice that brings community engagement and long-range thinking into projects from the outset,” said Enrique Suarez, CEO of HED. “Her work will expand HED’s planning services, from campus and district plans to transit-oriented development and design guidelines and help our clients meaningfully connect to the communities they serve.”

Roth brings recognized leadership in architecture, planning, and community development, with honors including Architect of the Year at the 2023 Illinois Real Estate Awards, recognition as a 2022 Crain’s Notable Leader in Community Development, and a Community Inspiration award from the Far South Community Development Corporation. Committed to her communities, her board and volunteer work include organizations like inclusive of the Peggy Nortebaert Nature Museum and Lambda Alpha International Society for Land Economics and Advisory Board Member for the UIC Department of Urban Planning Policy graduate program. She also served on the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development’s Committee on Design and previously served as president of the Illinois chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

To learn more about HED’s work in the Community sector, visit hed.co/sectors/community.