ARCHITECT, a digital publication from the American Institute of Architects, highlights the Wild Mile as an example of biocentric architecture, demonstrating the critical role architects play in designing green infrastructure to combat climate change and support biodiversity.
“This project shows us the importance of green infrastructure and how design can bring ideas that solve more than a single problem,” said SOM Urban Design and Planning Partner Doug Voigt. “Projects like the Wild Mile have the ability to show that we not only have the potential to influence decarbonization, but also biodiversity.”
Located along a formerly industrial stretch of the North Branch of the Chicago River, the Wild Mile is envisioned as a mile-long, interactive eco-park, fostering a thriving natural habitat for plants, wildlife, and people. The first phase of the project, along with the recently completed expansion, includes floating gardens, public walkways, and kayak docks, inviting the local community to connect with the river and appreciate the value of nature-based solutions.
Developed in partnership with Urban Rivers and Omni Ecosystems, the park enhances neighborhood connectivity while supporting a resilient urban ecosystem. With the recent completion of its second phase, the Wild Mile has nearly doubled in size, further expanding the urban green space along the river.
ARCHITECT also explores how the Wild Mile’s framework guides the restoration of ecological zones, showcasing the measurable benefits of green infrastructure. Since the creation of the floating park, almost 100 bird species and a surge in fish populations have been recorded.
Using the Wild Mile as a model, Voigt advocates for extending the concept to other ecosystems and regions. Nearly “every city is trying to address the remnants of industrial uses along its waterways,” he said. “Abandoned railways and aging and underutilized infrastructure could be repurposed through this approach of rewilding—of finding places for nature to thrive in areas that it hadn’t.”