Brett Weidl

Brett's passion lies in creating inclusive landscapes in the urban public realm; enabling equitable access and strengthened connectivity between people and vibrant public spaces; transforming lives and fostering communities through opportunities for shared collective community experiences.

With over two decades of experience, Brett is dedicated to shaping urban spaces and strengthening communities through people-focused design that promotes increased equity, accessibility, and beauty. Her passion lies in creating inclusive landscapes in the public realm to strengthen connectivity between people and vibrant public spaces to foster communities through shared collective experiences.

Brett’s keen focus on community stems from many years of volunteer work in her own neighborhood of Uptown, Chicago, where she advocated for public realm improvements, developed placemaking initiatives, and shaped positive programming and improvements throughout the neighborhood.

Brett began her career at the firm as an intern in 2004 in Columbus, Ohio where she contributed to legacy firm projects such Bicentennial Park, the Scioto Mile, and the Columbus Children’s Hospital. Five years later Brett relocated to Chicago where she spent fourteen years developing her career before rejoining the firm in 2022 to lead the opening of MKSK’s first Chicago studio. Since then, she’s grown the studio to 10 talented professionals and garnered 13 prestigious regional and national awards for innovative and transformational work in landscape architecture, urban design, and planning, including the 2024 American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award in Urban Design for the Winthrop Family Historical Garden located in Chicago’s Uptown community.

Brett leads teams with enthusiasm and devotes herself to clear communication throughout the process, working in tandem with her clients’ needs and focusing on delivering assignments with the highest level of excellence. Brett’s work has been nationally recognized with design and planning awards; she is a regional and national speaker on public space design, community engagement, and equity in design while investing heavily in her community. Brett is active in a number of local and national organizations as Director with the Chicago Central Area Committee (CCAC), Director with WxLA (Women in Landscape Architecture), and a Committee Chair with ILASLA (Illinois Chapter of Landscape Architecture). Brett and the Chicago studio team also participate in the University of Chicago’s Master’s in City Design studios throughout the year. Additionally, she currently serves as a Board Member with MKSK and as Principal Chair of MKSK’s DEI Initiative. In 2026, Brett was named in Crain's Chicago Business Notable Leaders in Architecture, Engineering & Construction for 2026.