Ann Thompson
Ann Thompson, FAIA, is Executive Vice President of Architecture and Design at Related Midwest. In her role, Thompson leads the design and planning of projects across the company’s portfolio of mixed-use, mixed-income, affordable and luxury developments, as well as all engineering, zoning and entitlement efforts. Over 25 years with the company, she has overseen the design of multi-faceted real estate developments across the company’s diverse portfolio of groundbreaking projects. Thompson is a notable thought leader and was recently elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and was also named to Crain’s Chicago Business’s “Notable Women in Construction and Design.”
Thompson directs the work of architecture, urban planning, interior design and engineering to oversee the design and community vision for Related Midwest’s projects, including the reimagination of the historic Lathrop community along the Chicago River and The Row Fulton Market, Chicago’s first high rise built under Illinois’ new 80/20 tax incentive for affordable housing. She has also guided Related Midwest’s work on The 78, which will transform a 62-acre property downtown into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood anchored by an Innovation District designed to drive science and technology research and development in Chicago. The 78 will include 12 acres of publicly accessible green and open space, including a half-mile of pedestrian-friendly riverfront, and a commitment to workforce development that prioritizes lead roles in design and construction for local women- and minority-owned businesses.
In her role, Thompson champions design excellence among a wide variety of stakeholders, seeks impact through community-led development, and prioritizes equity and inclusion in the built environment. Her work in this space includes mentoring early-career women and minority architects and designers, promoting alternative career paths through teaching and civic engagement, and by convening and leading diverse teams on Related’s projects, such as the 120-acre Roosevelt Square master plan.
Thompson is a licensed architect in Illinois and serves as the Board Chair of the Chicago Architecture Center. In addition, she is a member of The International Women’s Forum, The Chicago Network, The American Institute of Architects, and the Advisory Board for the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign School of Architecture. Thompson received her Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.