Join us for a virtual roundtable conversation exploring ideas for a renewed LaSalle Street corridor, which currently finds itself at a crossroads. How does an austere financial district transform into a vibrant 24-hour neighborhood, and who will call this neighborhood home? In many ways, the fate of the LaSalle Street corridor and the broader downtown […]
Through the years, the land and water around Chicago have been radically altered. In 1900, the river was reversed. Meanwhile, Michigan Avenue by Grant Park used to be lakefront property! Join us as we explore the ebb and flow of our celebrated lake and river. Standing at upper Wacker Drive and Columbus, it’s always astonishing […]
Join us for a roundtable conversation exploring ideas for a renewed LaSalle Street corridor, which currently finds itself at a crossroads. How does an austere financial district transform into a vibrant 24-hour neighborhood, and who will call this neighborhood home? In many ways, the fate of the LaSalle Street corridor and the broader downtown are […]
Join us for a roundtable conversation exploring ideas for a renewed LaSalle Street corridor, which currently finds itself at a crossroads. How does an austere financial district transform into a vibrant 24-hour neighborhood, and who will call this neighborhood home? In many ways, the fate of the LaSalle Street corridor and the broader downtown are […]
This winter the CAC will be transforming our galleries into a temporary cineplex and welcoming the New York City-based Architecture & Design Film Festival. The line-up includes 15 feature films and more than a dozen free film shorts from all across the world, each sharing a unique story of innovation and sustainability in architecture, design and […]
Learn fun facts about significant Chicago buildings and key architectural terms, styles and materials with CAC's Director of Interpretation, Adam Rubin. A must-see for architecture enthusiasts! Chicago is synonymous with architecture and Chicagoans love to share their knowledge of architecture with family and friends. Gain fascinating insights about Chicago’s architecture that you’ll want to share […]
The CAC’s newest exhibition highlights the Bronzeville Lakefront megadevelopment slated for the former Michael Reese Hospital campus and how a reimagined Singer Pavilion can help bridge this site’s past and future. Join us for a conversation with designers, architects and educators on the promise of collaborative neighborhood development. This program is FREE with advanced registration. […]
Our annual Engineering Fest is back! Join us for a day of discovery, as children ages 8-14 are invited to build and learn, view the CAC's special exhibitions, meet engineers and explore how architecture and engineering partner to create the cities we know and love. The theme for this year's festival is Engineering Neighborhoods. Over […]
Join Preservation Chicago as they reveal Chicago’s 7 Most Endangered list for 2023. For 20 years, this list of imminently threatened historic buildings and community assets is used to mobilize the support necessary to save these sites from demolition. This program is FREE with advanced registration. Both In-Person & Virtual options are available. Ward Miller, […]
When we think of stained glass windows, we often think of Churches. Synagogues also have a rich tradition of stained-glass windows. Join us as we explore how these windows beautify sacred spaces across Chicago. In 2021 Chicagoans were alerted to the possibility of the Loop Synagogue closing due to the impact of the pandemic. Fortunately, […]
Join us for a special STEM festival designed just for girls ages 11-17! Girls will build, learn and network with professionals from more than 15 different STEM organizations. WHAT TO EXPECT AT GIRLS BUILD! DAY The day includes an all-female panel discussion about STEM careers. While drop-in attendance is allowed, we encourage you to plan […]
In December 2022 Pullman National Monument was designated a National Historical Park. It’s only the second national park site in Illinois. Join Pullman Park Ranger, Grace Kruse, to learn about the Pullman “experiment” and what this designation means to Chicago and the South Side. This program is FREE with advanced registration. Learn about the Pullman […]
This exhibition tells the story of building with mass timber and features architectural models of mass timber projects, from public spaces to office buildings.
Join us for a special panel discussion exploring the wide world of mass timber design and construction, coinciding with the opening of our new exhibition, ReFramed: The Future of Cities in Wood. This program is FREE with advanced registration. Both In-Person & Virtual options are available. Following the panel discussion, attendees will be able to view […]
Art Deco is not just for downtown. Explore the city’s north, west and south sides and discover a variety of landmark Art Deco buildings whose lavish and colorful ornament reflect the prosperity and optimism of the Roaring 20s. The buildings highlighted in this program—big banks, small commercial buildings and residences both big and small—are among […]
What can Chicago’s ballparks tell us about the evolution of our city? Pulitzer Prize winning architecture critic Paul Goldberger will discuss the connection between American cities and America’s favorite pastime. This program is $15 to attend and $7 for CAC Members. In a discussion of his 2019 book Ballpark: Baseball in the American City, Goldberger offers some […]
Stained glass has been enhancing buildings around the world for thousands of years. Discover how these windows are designed and then make your own acrylic stained-glass window. This hands-on session will begin with a tour of one of Chicago’s most iconic stained glass windows, the Preston Bradley Hall’s Tiffany Dome at the Chicago Cultural Center. […]
This intimate event brings co-curators for ReFramed and ReCovered into conversation around the many benefits that trees impart to cities. Learn about the vision and themes of these complementary exhibits and join the curators for a gallery tour. This program is $15 for admission and $7 for CAC Members. In “ReCovered: Chicago’s Urban Tree Canopy” […]
How can you look at an historic building and know that it should be preserved or landmarked? Join Adam Rubin, CAC Director of Interpretation, and member of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, and learn what to look for to determine if a building qualifies for preservation designation. Chicago’s historic resources lend our city its unique […]
Believe it or not, all of architecture boils down to seven basic structures. Yet they can be combined in more than 5,000 ways to create our built environment. Join us to learn more.