All People
Headshot of Carolyn Esswein in front of a bookcase.

Carolyn Esswein

  • Associate Professor, Urban Planning
  • Co-Chair, Urban Planning

Education

  • Master of Architecture, UW-Madison
  • Master of Urban Planning, UW-Madison
  • Bachelor of Science: Interior UW-Madison

Biography

Carolyn is a designer, planner, and educator whose work has shaped neighborhoods and communities across Wisconsin for more than three decades. She is recognized for bridging campus and community, integrating excellence in professional practice with practice-based education. Drawing on 30 years of community planning and urban design consulting, Carolyn brings a collaborative, engagement-driven approach to projects ranging from neighborhood-scale initiatives to regional development efforts.

Her consulting work has produced innovative strategies that have become models for communities statewide. She managed the design and development of the first new town centers in the Milwaukee region—Drexel Square in Oak Creek and City Center in New Berlin—and early in her career led the City of Milwaukee’s first Comprehensive Neighborhood Area Plan, which established a framework replicated in 14 area plans. Her economic development initiatives have supported new housing and homeownership opportunities, including more than $70 million in residential investment in Milwaukee’s Lindsay Heights neighborhood.

From 2012 to 2023, Carolyn served as Director of Community Design Solutions, where she led more than 350 community-based projects and helped catalyze over $300 million in local investment. Through a collaborative charette process, she convened students, local architects, community stakeholders, developers, funders, and city staff to ensure diverse perspectives informed corridor redevelopment and policy decisions. This work has influenced both project outcomes and how the City of Milwaukee engages with communities. She continues to facilitate charettes through her consulting firm, with 15 completed to date and additional projects underway.

A signature focus of Carolyn’s work is the transformation of schoolyards into outdoor learning environments that integrate play, environmental education, and stormwater management. Through this initiative with Reflo, SARUP students collaborate with MPS students and educators to develop conceptual designs that support fundraising, permitting, and construction. The partnership has transformed more than 40 schoolyards and has received local and national awards, including recognition from the Brookings Institution for its environmental and educational impact.

Carolyn’s practice-based teaching spans graduate client-based capstone projects, urban design and development studios, and urban design seminars. Student work under her guidance has informed major planning and development decisions including the location of Fiserv Forum, Harbor District redevelopment opportunities, policies for ADUs and vacant parcels, and downtown Milwaukee development that maximizes walkability and placemaking.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Madison and Master of Architecture & Master of Urban Planning degrees from UW-Milwaukee. Carolyn is accredited by the Congress for New Urbanism and is one of five Wisconsin planners to be recognized as a Fellow by the American Institute of Certified Planners, the highest national achievement for planners, and the only woman with this recognition in Wisconsin. In addition to her academic role Carolyn is the owner of Ce Planning Studio, LLC, a community planning and engagement firm.

Links

Recent & Selected Works

Aerial view of a school campus with red brick buildings, playgrounds, basketball courts, green lawn, and surrounding neighborhood in autumn.
Partner with Reflo to transform Milwaukee Public Schoolyards.
Graphic for North 35th Street Charrette 2025 showing a rendering of a mixed-use building with outdoor plaza, “The Wells Co.” signage, and partner logos.
Facilitate community engagement events to create neighborhood investment opportunities.
Color site plan map showing buildings with labeled square footage, streets, parking lots, trees, landscaped areas, and a small stream across a mixed-use development.
Designed and managed the process to create a new town center for Oak Creek.
Aerial view of a landscaped park with curved brick paths, gardens, and groups of people gathered on grass and around tables near a small plaza.
Converted two Milwaukee vacant parcels into a neighborhood gathering place.
Modern office lounge with tables, patterned ottomans, and yellow chairs on carpeted floor, separated by glass walls and bright overhead lighting.
Create interactive student spaces around campus, Lubar Business School.
Aerial rendering of modern townhomes surrounding a shared green courtyard with walkways, trees, benches, and a small pavilion.
Housing study with City of Waukesha to explore different scales and densities.
Exposing UWM graduate students to the variety campus sustainable practices
Facilitate community engagement events to create investment opportunities

Articles & Selected Papers

Brookings Institution. “How Milwaukee Public Schools are transforming the learning environment with Green Schoolyards.” By Carolyn Esswein and Justin Hegarty. August 2024. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-milwaukee-public-schools-are-transforming-the-learning-environment-with-green-schoolyards/

Awards

Fellow of the College of American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP). May 2022