Former Chicago Transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi joins Studio Gang in new planning role

2023-08-24T17:33:00-04:00

While the city’s top transportation post remains vacant, the department’s respected former commissioner has landed a leadership post at the award-winning Chicago architecture firm Studio Gang. Gia Biagi will join Studio Gang as Principal of Urbanism, the firm announced Thursday. Biagi told the Sun-Times that under the newly-created role, she’ll lead Studio Gang’s planning and urban design work nationally.

Biagi told the Sun-Times architecture critic, Lee Bey, her work will help Studio Gang’s efforts to shape “how we think about cities, how we revitalize them, and how that connects to other important systems, whether that’s emphasizing ecology or looking at the important public policy questions on the ground.” She will leverage further experience with the Chicago Park District and the Department of Planning and Development in the execution of her duties.

Previously on Archinect: Studio Gang's Gia Biagi picked to run Chicago Department of Transportation

Gang says Biagi, who worked previously at the firm from 2015 to 2019, shares the same goals and values essential to the core mission of the 12-year-old planning studio. Biagi holds degrees in planning from the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois Chicago.

The CDOT is still searching for a permanent replacement after she stepped down from the role at the end of July.

Studio Gang's Gia Biagi picked to run Chicago Department of Transportation

2019-12-11T13:09:00-05:00

Gia Biagi, principal at Studio Gang, has been nominated by Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot to lead the city's Department of Transportation.

Previously, Biagi has served as the chief of staff at the Chicago Park District and has worked at the Department of Planning and Development. Biagi earned a bachelor's in English literature from the University of Michigan and has a master's in urban planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago, according to a press release.

In a statement, Mayor Lightfoot lauded Biagi's expertise, adding that her "years of on-the-ground experience make her the ideal choice to lead our ambitious agenda for CDOT through the coming decade.”

“As we move ahead, I look forward to working side-by-side with Gia and the entire team at CDOT as we implement our vision for equitable, comprehensive urban planning and transportation that supports every one of our residents, neighborhoods, and businesses, and helps our entire city thrive.”

If her nomination is approved...

Archinect - News

Former Chicago Transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi joins Studio Gang in new planning role

Studio Gang's Gia Biagi picked to run Chicago Department of Transportation