Christopher Zull

As the firm’s transportation practice leader, Chris works collaboratively with clients to build and transform cities. From supporting the early phases of a project through ideation, public engagement, and setting strategy, to helping navigate construction logistics, Chris leads community clients to successful outcomes.  

First and foremost, Chris seeks to understand. By asking questions, listening intently, investigating, and continually learning, he develops a deep appreciation for the problems and challenges clients are trying to solve. This information is then used to drive decisions and design purposeful spaces and places that make communities unique.  

For over 15 years, Chris worked as both a traffic engineer and traffic safety manager for the City of Grand Rapids. His firsthand experience navigating political, public, and budgeting demands within a municipality allows Chris to empathize with clients and share targeted insight.  

“Mobility and land use are intrinsically connected,” says Chris. “We must contemplate safety, access, and mobility with an aspirational vision for the future.”

In 2018, Chris received the Silver National Planning Achievement Award for transportation planning on the Grand Rapids Vital Streets Plan. And in 2017, he won the Governor’s Outstanding Traffic Safety Achievement Award for the Driving Change campaign.