Koya | Diversified Search Group partnered with the Chicago Architecture Center to recruit for its CEO role.
The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people to discover why design matters. A national leader in architecture and design education, offering tours, program, exhibitions, and more that are part of adynamic journey of lifelong journey to be stronger and more equitable.
The search resulted in the appointment of Eleanor Gorski to this role.
Gorski will step into the Chief Executive’s role with over 25 years of experience in architecture, historic preservation, and urban planning from her prior work for the city’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD), tenure as director of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, and recent academic appointment at the UIC School of Architecture.
Prior to leading CAC, she was the head of the Cook County Land Bank Authority, she engineered a significant turnaround in operations and was responsible for overall management of the CCLBA including its extensive real estate holdings. She developed real estate and economic development policy, procedures and strategic planning within the construct of the Land Bank authorizing ordinance.
From 2017 to 2020, Gorski led the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD) successfully completing notable projects, such as the creation of a community review process for the Chicago Plan Commission and numerous design guidelines for city landmark districts and neighborhoods. Her work in financial incentive legislation provided groundbreaking assistance for small businesses in communities of need through the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund and helped to preserve landmarks with the Class L tax incentive.
She has received widespread recognition, winning the Rome Prize for Historic Preservation from the American Academy, AIA Chicago’s Distinguished Award, the ULI Chicago Breakthrough Award, and recognition from C40 Cities Climate Leadership Grou and Landmarks Illinois. She is also a member of the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy.
Gorski graduated Summa cum Laude from Penn State University where she double majored in Art History and History. She received her Master’s in Architecture from University of Illinois at Urbana –Champaign.