Written by: Elizabeth Pye and Pam Zandy
Contributors: Suzi Danziger and Mandi Wedin
Published on: February 4, 2026

Why Art Belongs at the Center of Placemaking
At this year’s Women’s Leadership Initiative Signature Annual Luncheon, ULI Washington members and guests gathered for a timely conversation on the role of art in placemaking—and why creative voices belong at the center of real estate development and community building.

Setting the Tone: Art, Culture, and Civic Life
Opening the program, artist and designer Maggie O’Neill set a powerful tone, urging leaders to rethink how cultural investment shapes civic life. “What we choose to support culturally becomes who we are civically,” she shared, challenging attendees to consider not only who is invited to leadership tables, but whose voices may be missing. Art, she emphasized, is not an accessory to development; it is essential infrastructure for belonging, listening, and community wellbeing. Economic and social benefits are reflected in industry-standard performance metrics like improved tenant retention and increased sales and  supported in published research that defines a clear correlation between art, wellbeing, and value creation. (Speaker recommendation for continued reading: Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross)

Framing the Conversation: Art’s Broader Impact
The panel was moderated by Nancy Miyahira, Director of Arts & Culture Programs at Georgetown Heritage, who framed the discussion by underscoring art’s far-reaching impact—from economic vitality and community resilience to physical and mental health benefits. Her introduction grounded the conversation in the growing body of evidence showing how art contributes to stronger, more connected places with data collected from the ULI Art In Place initiative.

Insights from the Field: Integrating Art Thoughtfully
Panelists Melissa King (CityCenterDC, Hines), Martha McGee (NINE dot ARTS), and Chela Mitchell (Chela Mitchell Gallery) shared practical insights from their work at the intersection of real estate, art, and creative placemaking, exploring how art can and should be integrated into development projects. Melissa and Martha both noted the economic benefit of using art thoughtfully in developments with Martha noting one development specifically that had a $2 return on every 60 cents invested.

Trust, Clarity, and Intentionality
“Trust the artist and they’ll trust you,” urges Mitchell. Successful projects begin with inviting artists into the process early and trusting their expertise, noting that “the best projects I’ve worked on are the ones where art was considered from the beginning.”

McGee addes “clarity is kindness,” encouraging honest, open, and direct communication. She further challenges developers to be savvy and pursue projects with cultural and social impact because data shows that that is good business.

King echoed the need for intentionality, pointing to the importance of “thinking about how the project integrates national and local visitors,” and how art can help create spaces that feel welcoming, relevant, and rooted in place. The payoff is clear – “You want art in your development because you will get loyal followers.”

Placemaking as Experience, Not Just Design
Panelists and attendees alike reflected on placemaking not as a singular design feature, but as the feeling created in the spaces between buildings—the sense of belonging that draws people in and keeps them engaged. From local examples like Palmer Alley at CityCenterDC, Georgetown GLOW, and Union Market, to broader trends shaping how people choose where to live, work, and gather, the conversation underscored how art-driven placemaking is increasingly central to successful development.

Showcasing our Community
Speaker Chela Mitchell and ULI members Aileen Horn, Director of Hospitality at KGD Architecture and Amir Barnett, Civil Engineering Analyst at Kimley-Horn, displayed their works at an on-site art showcase. Across multiple mediums, they shared painting and fabric arts that have cultural and industry connection, underscoring how artistic expression creates a feeling and defines an experience.

Continuing the Conversation
For members interested in exploring these ideas further, ULI will soon release a new report, Best Practices in Artist/Developer Collaboration, which examines many of the themes discussed during the luncheon and offers additional guidance for integrating artists into development processes.

The luncheon concluded with a shared sense that art is not only a catalyst for placemaking but also a guiding force for more community-minded, inclusive development. Thanks to the leadership and vision of the WLI Leadership Committee, this year’s program offered both inspiration and practical insight—leaving attendees with new ways to think about how art can shape places, communities, and the future of our industry.

This annual celebration uplifting the voices of women leaders would not be possible without the vision, support, and drive of our members. ULI Washington extends our praise and gratitude to member leaders of the WLI Signature Events subcommittee Elizabeth Pye, Pam Zandy, Krissy Crawley, Suzi Danziger, Lizzie Dove, Irena Savakova, Lauren Schaeffer, Serena Sowers, and Emalia Tamanikwa.

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