Mark Wagstaff

A defining moment of Mark’s education happened on his commute to grad school, cycling along the Chicago lakefront. “I was struck by the beauty, but also troubled by areas of disrepair along the protective structures,” he recalls, already sounding every bit the waterfront engineer. So upon graduation, he landed what has become a 25-year job to improve it. “The Chicago Shoreline Protection Project has been the most influential activity of my career,” says Mark. “I am a firm believer in the transformative power of infrastructure to provide a platform for social equity. Public spaces offer a way to connect with others and find personal rejuvenation. They provide a canvas for so much in life to thrive.” Mark says the project also helped him assimilate and find his identity in the US. His British roots come through in his love of music. He’s a fan of KEXP in Seattle, streaming “new and obscure musicians,” like the late-night DJ show he grew up with on the BBC.