Omni to Activate Vacant Lot During Chicago Architecture Biennial

In coordination with The Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB), Omni Ecosystems has begun work on Seed a Lot: Sidewalk Share. This project transforms a 21-foot setback of a 1-acre vacant lot, just north of Omni’s headquarters and across the street from Bronzeville Classical School, into an immersive rewilding landscape. This creates a natural space for communal respite, relaxation and gathering, and provides habitat for native pollinators. It highlights resiliency and the ability to reclaim a former industrial site within a short time frame, while actively working to reverse the effects of past disinvestment. As one of the few landscape architecture studios participating in the Biennial, Omni provides a template for the activation of vacant space and corridor creation in urban settings; illustrating the benefits of more equitable public access to green spaces with educational tools about native landscapes. Seed a Lot: Sidewalk Share opens September 17, with program hours of 10AM - 4PM, seven days a week, through October 31.

CAB is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating an international forum on architecture and urban life. With this year’s edition, The Available City, CAB moves out of its historic venue at the Chicago Cultural Center to a variety of outdoor settings and two indoor venues. The 2021 Biennial spans ten neighborhoods, with partner sites ranging from vacant lots and community gardens to historic sites and schools.