The Great Lakes region contains 11,000 miles of coastline and 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water. Preserving this natural resource is critical, but there is currently no comprehensive plan in place to guide the area’s growth. The exhibition Great Cities, Great Lakes, Great Basin at the Chicago Architecture Foundation features architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s 100-year vision for the region surrounding the Great Lakes. SOM Partner Philip Enquist and the Urban Planning and Design studio compiled over five years’ worth of research to build a shared vision for living in this great natural resource.