Strategic Leadership for Complex Urban Development

Mike Pfeffer is the founder of Forge Project Consulting, a development advisory practice built on the belief that great places are created through clarity, collaboration, and a relentless focus on executable vision. With more than two decades shaping complex urban districts in Chicago and across the world, Mike brings the rare ability to translate ambitious concepts into buildable and enduring outcomes. His work reflects strategic rigor, deep design fluency and disciplined leadership that advances projects through every stage of complexity.

During his tenure as Senior Vice President at Related Midwest, Mike played a central role in delivering some of the region’s most transformative developments. His portfolio includes The 78, a 62-acre extension of Chicago’s core; Quantum Shore, a public and private innovation district anchored by the nation’s first at-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer; and 400 Lake Shore Drive, the long-awaited redevelopment of the former Chicago Spire site. Across these initiatives, Mike guided entitlement strategy, municipal negotiation, community engagement, and cross-functional coordination with a commitment to lasting value and civic impact.

Mike’s leadership approach centers on honesty, precision, and partnership. He excels at navigating political, regulatory, and community landscapes, creating the strategic and organizational structures that allow cities, institutions, and private partners to move forward with confidence