The Foundation for the Chicago
School of Architecture is founded when a group of architects
and preservationists joined together to save H.H. Richardson’s
Glessner House.
1967
CAF curates first exhibition (curated by
Richard Nickel, John Vinci and others) and holds its first public
lecture.
1971
Docent Program graduates the first class
of 33 docents and the Docent Council is formed.
1972
CAF’s Auxiliary Board is formed.
1975
Auxiliary Board hosts CAF’s first gala,
The Rookery Ball.
1977
The Board renames the organization the "Chicago
Architecture Foundation.”
1982
Newhouse Architecture Competition for
high school students begins under the leadership of Senator
Richard Newhouse.
1983
CAF launches its first river tour.
1992
Chicago moves to its current home at
the Santa Fe Building.
1995
CAF hosts lecture by Philip Johnson.
2000
CAF launches Chicago's Little Lady our second
Architecture River Cruise vessel.
2001
CAF opens CitySpace gallery at the ArchiCenter.
2003
CAF first publishes the award-winning
K-8 curriculum,Schoolyards to Skylines.
2004
The Stein Ray & Harris Patron of
the Year Award is established; CAF initiates a high school architecture
curriculum for Chicago Public Schools.
2004
CAF hosts Big & Green
and Chicago Green exhibition on
sustainable architecture.
2005
The Hem C. Gupta lecture series is inaugurated
with Pritzker Prize winning architect, Thom Mayne.
2006
1,000 guests attend The
Ruby Ball held at Union Station.
2006
• Membership of 8,300 • Annual
audience of 624,000 • More than 450 dedicated docents
and volunteers • 88 different architecture tours
• Youth Education Programs reach more than 25,000 students
and teachers annually
