20 years at CAC: An interview with Lynn Osmond
This year, CAC is celebrating not only our 50th anniversary, but also Lynn Osmond’s 20 years as President and CEO of the organization. Here’s a look back at Lynn’s 20 years at CAC.
Since November 18, 1996, Lynn has been responsible for overseeing all of CAC’s work—from tours and programs to exhibitions and educational activities. She’s also a CAC docent (class of 1997). Lynn is originally from Ontario, Canada. During her time in Chicago over the last two decades, Lynn has made a big impact on CAC and the city. Under her leadership, CAC has become one of Chicago’s 10 largest cultural organizations. CAC and our partners at Chicago’s First Lady Cruises have built the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises into “one of the top 10 tours in the U.S.” according to TripAdvisor reviews. Lynn created Open House Chicago, now in its sixth year, which has engaged hundreds of thousands of people in the architecture and culture of Chicago’s neighborhoods. And she championed the Chicago Model, now in its seventh year on display at CAC. This scale model of the city has become a teaching tool for docents and for educators who are introducing school children to Chicago’s architecture for the first time.
We recently sat down with Lynn to ask her about her time here at CAC.
How has CAC changed during your time here?
In so many ways. Our audience, budget, staff and docents have all grown. In 1996 we served just over 200,000 people a year. Last year we served 643,000. Our budget went from $3 million to $20 million. We’ve really had an imprint on the city.
What impact has CAC had on Chicago?
A few years ago, I was at a lecture by [Spanish architect] Santiago Calatrava in Chicago. He said that ‘CAC created architectural tourism in this country.’ I think that sums it up best.
During your time at CAC, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’ll say two because I’m really proud of both Open House Chicago and the Chicago Model.
What’s one of your favorite memories at CAC?
Two years ago with the AAF, the American Architectural Foundation. Standing on stage in Washington DC when they presented CAC with the Keystone Award was a wonderful moment. [The Keystone Award is a ‘national award that honors an individual or organization from outside the field of architecture for exemplary leadership that has increased the value of architecture and design in our culture.’ Past winners include the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and former Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley.]
One of my other favorite moments happens almost every day—I always get a thrill seeing the docents preparing to go on tours in the atrium and our volunteers talking with visitors around the Model. I love the energy of the docents and volunteers and seeing the reactions of our guests.
What is Chicago’s biggest design challenge right now?
I think one challenge is the quality of the buildings. We say at CAC that the city is our museum and we need to keep expanding our collection and adding well-designed new buildings. We need to continue the quality [of architecture] that we had in the 20th century into the 21st century.
If you could meet any historic Chicago architectural figure, who would it be?
Louis Sullivan. His work is so original and I think his story is interesting. It’s riches to rags not rags to riches. And then I would also say Fazlur Khan. I did get to meet Bruce Graham [Khan’s collaborator on the Willis (Sears) Tower and 875 N. Michigan Ave], but I would have liked to meet Khan. When Chicago was building the tallest buildings in the world, he was the one figuring out the engineering behind it.
And lastly, a simple one: what’s your favorite building?