From DAAP to Chicago

From DAAP to Chicago

Eric Levin builds communities through development

As DAAPworks 2026 opens at the Design Museum of Chicago, bringing the creativity of this year's graduates to one of the world's great design cities, University of Cincinnati DAAP alumnus Eric Levin demonstrates how a design education can lead to leadership in real estate development and city building.

Levin, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) and director of development at Mac Properties, where he oversees residential and mixed-use developments throughout Chicago.

Levin's career reflects the diverse opportunities available to architects beyond traditional practice. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati, he completed a Master of Science in Real Estate Development at Columbia University, combining architectural education with expertise in real estate development, construction management and finance.

Before joining Mac Properties, Levin held development leadership positions at MB Real Estate and IAC. Earlier in his career, he practiced architecture at KlingStubbins and Gary Lee Partners while building professional experience through internships and UC's nationally recognized cooperative education (co-op) program.

Today, Levin's work spans the full lifecycle of development from evaluating sites and coordinating design teams to managing construction and delivering projects that contribute to Chicago's evolving urban landscape. His career illustrates how a DAAP education prepares graduates to move across disciplines, applying design thinking to leadership roles that influence the future of cities.

That interdisciplinary perspective reflects the collaborative approach that defines a DAAP education. Successful development requires architects, planners, engineers, designers, contractors, clients and community stakeholders to work together to transform ideas into places that serve communities for generations.

Levin has also remained connected to DAAP by hiring graduates and supporting cooperative education opportunities at Mac Properties, helping create pathways for students and alumni to begin their careers in Chicago's design and development community.

His continued engagement reflects one of DAAP's defining strengths: a network of alumni who mentor students, create professional opportunities and help strengthen connections between the college and industry.

Alumni like Levin demonstrate that the impact of a DAAP education extends far beyond the classroom. Through leadership, collaboration and a commitment to the built environment, DAAP alumni continue to shape not only individual buildings, but the communities and cities where people live, work and thrive.

As visitors explore DAAPworks Chicago this summer, Levin's career offers a glimpse of where today's graduating students may one day lead, transforming creative ideas into projects that shape cities and improve everyday life.

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Story developed by Carolina DiSalvo and edited for publication by Claudia Rébola.

Photos from Studio Gang.

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