Civil Engineer. Civic Strategist. Work in Progress.
I’m Larry M. Summers—civil engineer, civic strategist, and author of Ethical Infrastructure. I build public systems that hold space for people—and share the messy truths behind what it takes.
Hi, I’m Larry.
I live in Indiana with five animals, one lovable fellow ADHDer named Tyler, and a brain that treats time like a polite suggestion.
I’ve spent two decades in civil engineering—but what I really build is dignity into public systems.
This site is the side door. The place for half-finished ideas, honest questions, and the human side of the mission.
If you’re curious about the person behind Ethical Infrastructure, you’re in the right place.
By day: I design cities.
By night: I lose to 12-year-olds in Fortnite and still believe in the Falcons.
Ethical Infrastructure & Field Guide
Ethical Infrastructure isn’t just a couple of books—it’s a civic reckoning.
It reframes public systems not as neutral or technical, but as moral architecture. From sidewalks to storm drains, it asks what our designs say about who belongs, who’s safe, and who gets left behind.
Ethical Infrastructure is written for both public professionals and the communities they serve. It’s a story-driven book that helps readers understand how dignity, trust, and harm are embedded in the systems around us—and what we can do about it.
The Ethical Infrastructure Field Guide is its hands-on companion, built for practitioners who need tools to turn that understanding into action—on job sites, in policy, and under pressure.
Together, they help connect moral clarity to everyday infrastructure decisions.
Speaking, Strategy, and Civic Repair
I work with cities, agencies, and organizations to realign public systems with the people they serve. Whether I’m keynoting a conference, facilitating a workshop, or walking a job site with field staff, I help teams navigate ethical complexity with clarity, care, and purpose.
My consulting work lives under the name Uniqor—a values-driven civic strategy studio focused on restoring trust, strengthening culture, and designing systems that reflect the people they serve. From small towns to state agencies, I support those doing the work under real-world constraints.
You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to ask better questions. That’s where I come in.
Endorsements & Media
Over the past year, both Ethical Infrastructure and The Field Guide have earned support from national leaders, mayors, secretaries of transportation, urbanists, and reformers across the country. From keynote mentions to podcast conversations, this work is part of a growing civic movement to put dignity at the center of design.
You can explore the latest press, interviews, and endorsements over at ethicalinfrastructure.org—including voices like Ray LaHood, Chuck Marohn, Beverly Scott, Jeff Speck, and more.
Meet the team
Larry M. Summers, PE
Civil Engineer | Infrastructure Ethicist | Keeper of the Treat Jar
Designs systems that hold space for people—and pets. Balances civic strategy with snack diplomacy. Often found solving infrastructure dilemmas with a moral compass in one hand and a Pomsky in the other.
Toby
Chief Security Officer
(Barks at literally everything)
Arya
Supreme Overlord of Operations
Brownie
Deputy Director of Drama
Benny
Executive Vice President of Sass & Side-Eye
Oliver
Lead Inspector of Boxes &
Head Purrveyor of Aggressive Affection