Alicia Berg announced she will be leaving her role as vice president of campus environment at Columbia College to take a new position at the University of Chicago.
At U of C, Berg will be the new assistant vice president of campus planning and sustainability. She will work under the direction of Steve Wiesenthal, the senior associate vice president for facilities and university architect.
Berg has an extensive background in real estate and urban development and previously served as the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. During her time with the planning department, Berg was an early advocate for the designation of Wrigley Field as an official landmark. She was also played a key role in Boeing’s decision to move its headquarters from Seattle to Chicago in 2001.
While serving as Columbia’s vice president of campus environment, Berg successfully oversaw the college’s real estate transactions and sustainability efforts. In 2010, she led the development of the Media Production Center, which was Columbia’s first building to receive LEED Gold certification.
Berg has served as the chairman of the organization Landmarks Illinois since 2013. The nonprofit is dedicated to preserving architecturally and historically significant structures throughout Illinois.
In a statement announcing her resignation from Columbia, Berg wrote, “In my new position, I will continue to focus on the kinds of projects that I’ve always loved doing—improving the quality of the built environment for people.”
-Katie Cliff