Southbank Park serves as the “front door” to the seven-acre Southbank planned development along the Chicago River. The design team focused on landscaping for a natural habitat open to the public yet maintained by the private owner. The parkland connects to an accessible riverwalk via multiple gently curving walkways. Schuler Shook’s lighting design approach was to work within that ecosystem, creating spaces for people to gather while controlling illumination in areas intended for bird migration and wildlife.