Great Lakes Century

The Great Lakes Region - US and Canada - has 192 million acres and contain 21% of the word's fresh water and somehow the development of some areas has contributed to decrease water levels and rise the pollution.

To avoid that and preserve the lake's clean water for this and future generations, the master plan project developed for SOM - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill - intends to protect and revitalize this area in a plan for the next 100 years. By doing this, SOM engaged with scientists, politicians, environmentalists, and advocates in a proposal that was approved by the 95 Mayors of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities.

The main argument for this plan is the appearing of invasive species - Asian carp, air pollution - from coal-fired power plants, agriculture runoff - nourishes algae plants and leads to aquatic dead zones, and hard surface covering on nearby cities that flush stormwater and overflow sewers - spoiling beaches after heavy rains. And of course, the increasing population that without any planning worsen the conditions.

It is without a doubt a challenge to develop such a large plan and to work with different planning rules - which in the U.S. are locally controlled, tight money for infrastructure, and short election cycles, but only working in large scale and engaging with all members involved in the urban development and in the maintenance of the natural resources a plan to keep safe a precious natural environment like this can be successful.

More about the project here.

Text and Image Sources:  Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 2011, The Great Lakes Century, accessed 03 May 2014 < http://thegreatlakescenturyblog.som.com/about-us/ >

Litt, S 2013, Game Changers - Planning: The Great Lakes Century, accessed 03 May 2014 < http://www.metropolismag.com/January-2013/Game-Changers-Planning-The-Great-Lakes-Century/>