Program Archive

Missed a program? Live too far away to see it in person? Came to an event and want to hear it again? Select digital podcasts and visual presentations are available for you to experience at your leisure.

Listen to selected past Chicago Architecture Foundation programs by visiting Chicago Amplified, Chicago Public Radio's web-based audio archive of public programs held throughout the Chicago region.

  2009 Past Programs

December 16

Building Award-winning Architecture on a Budget
Tim McCormick, M.Div., M.B.A., M.H.R.M., Chief Executive Officer, SOS Children’s Villages Illinois; Jeanne Gang, FAIA, LEED

Set on donated land on Chicago’s South Side, the Lavezzorio Community Center in the SOS Children’s Village has received numerous awards since it opened in 2007. McCormick and Gang discuss the rewards and challenges of nonprofit construction projects including working with a limited budget and donated materials, and how creativity overcame obstacles in financing and design.

December 9

Transforming the Traditional: The Residential Work of Cohen & Hacker
Stuart Cohen, FAIA and Julie Hacker, AIA, Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker Architects LLC

Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker have spent over twenty years designing houses that investigate the use of traditional architectural language with respect to both 20th century abstraction and modern spatial ideas. They will speak about their architecture and how they see it as “transforming the traditional,” the title of a new book about their work.

December 8

The Red Line Green Roofs Initiative
Dave Hampton, Principal, Hampton Avery Architects; Michael Repkin, President, Repkin Biosystems Inc.

The goal of the pilot Red Line Green Roof Initiative is to reimagine a considerable portion of the urban environment—approximately 50,000 square feet—as a diverse, robust, productive, and beautiful constructed rooftop ecosystem, using a major public transit artery as an organizing element to increase visibility by the public.

December 2

Louis Sullivan and Louis Armstrong: Jazz, Architecture and American Culture
Frank Youngwerth, musician, historian and CAF docent, creator of the “Louis Sullivan Lost and Found” walking tour

Beyond designing great buildings, Louis Sullivan expressed a vision in which America would fulfill its democratic promise through the cultivation of its own art forms. An individual who successfully carried out this vision is jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong. This illustrated talk with musical examples considers the fascinating lives and works of each Louis as he relates to the other.

November 18

The Evolution of Grant Park, from 1837 to the Present Day (with a nod to Daniel Burnham)
Lawrence Okrent, President, Okrent Associates

This presentation includes numerous rarely-seen maps, plans, and photographs of Grant Park, tracking its transformation from an area filled with squatters' homes to the beautiful park it is today—thanks in large part to the vision of Burnham and others. A number of the images are from Okrent's own portfolio of aerial photos.

November 14

The Cost of Doing Nothing: Implications for You, Your Biggest Investment, and the Environment
Chris Turley, Turley Architects and Eclipse Master Builders

In these serious economic times, people must make difficult decisions on maintenance and upgrades to their houses that could have serious long-term consequences. Turley explores how to evaluate what to do now, what to put off, strategies for stretching a dollar, and moving you towards the home you always wanted for yourself and the environment.

November 13

Shaping America’s Heartland: Reflections on Landscape Architecture in the Midwest
Co-sponsored by the Cultural Landscape Foundation and the Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

To celebrate the publication, Shaping the American Landscape: New Profiles from the Pioneers of American Landscape Design Project, the symposium, Shaping America’s Heartland, will spotlight specific designers, projects, and trends that collectively reveal our unique and historically significant designed landscape heritage. Speakers will include leading historians, designers, and practitioners.

For more information...

November 11

The Wacker Manual
Jean Linsner, Vice President of Youth Education, Chicago Architecture Foundation

Wacker’s Manual of the Plan of Chicago: Municipal Economy, written in 1911, taught the city’s eighth grade students about the 1909 Plan of Chicago. Jean Linsner shares highlights from this text book, and offers a glimpse at how today’s students and teachers take up the challenges set forth in the Manual.

November 10

Chicago and the Cure to the Cul-de-Sac Syndrome
John Wasik, author

Author John Wasik discusses how communities in Chicago and its environs are addressing the housing crisis and combating what he terms the "Cul-de-Sac Syndrome". Wasik offers insights into ways to improve our current lifestyle through eco-friendly communities, rebuilding and reclaiming inner cities, and improvements in home design.

November 5-7

AAO CONFERENCE
Chicago Architecture Foundation, Chicago, IL

The November event is the inaugural conference of the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO) and its affiliate, the Architecture + Design Education Network (A+DEN). AAO addresses the needs of organizations whose mission is to educate the general public about architecture and the built environment, while A+DEN is a special interest group that deals specifically with K-12 design education. The goal of AAO, and its affiliates, is to create a network to offer peer to peer engagement, professional development, the sharing of best practices, and more.

November 5

A Conversation with the Critics: Imagining the Future of the City
This event was made possible with generous support from the Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers

This unique event presents Chicagoans with an opportunity to hear leading voices in the field of architectural criticism discuss the future of cities worldwide. With a focus on urban planning, infrastructure, and architecture, the critics will consider ideas about model cities and how design serves as a catalyst for change.

Participants included: Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times; Paul Goldberger, The New Yorker; Sarah Williams Goldhagen, The New Republic; Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune

Moderator: Edward Lifson, cultural critic and creator of the radio show Hello Beautiful! and the blog www.HelloBeautifulBlog.com

November 4

Park Monroe
Joseph Dolinar, AIA, Partner, Goettsch Partners;Ken DeMuth, AIA, Senior Associate, Pappageorge Haymes Partners

The top 10 stories of the Mid-Continental Plaza building at 55 East Monroe are being transformed into condominiums with a rooftop pool and garden. Goettsch Partners and Pappageorge Haymes Partners have been enlisted to convert the upper portion to 219 luxury dwellings, including a dramatic exterior facelift affording residents sweeping views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.

November 3

Aqua

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to tour one of the city's most innovative and anticipated residential skyscraper projects—the 82-story Aqua designed by Chicago's Jeanne Gang. Representatives from Studio Gang Architects, Magellan Development, and McHugh Construction will lead us through the building's residential units and amenities. We will experience firsthand the state-of-the-art balcony system, whose concrete forms gradually change in plan over the length of the tower to create a dynamic, rippling effect on the facade.

October 28

Renaissance in Rail Travel: New Opportunities for Chicago

In an era of rising energy costs and concern about the environment, legislators and citizens, alike, are pushing to change the way Americans travel. Many agree that the best alternative to the automobile is rail transport: it relieves congestion, cuts dependence on foreign oil, and reduces pollution. The aim of this panel is to examine the rail plans that most directly impact the Chicago region, including the proposed Midwest high-speed rail network, the CREATE Regional Rail Plan, and the Regional Transportation Authority’s investments in the expansion of Metra and the CTA.

Panelists included: Luann Hamilton, Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Department of Transportation; Rick Harnish, Executive Director, Midwest High Speed Rail Association; and Mark Walbrun, head of the Passenger Rail and Transit division, TranSystems. The panel will be moderated by Joe Schwieterman, Ph.D., Professor, DePaul University, and Director, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.

October 28

Lake Point Tower: Back-story of an Icon
George Schipporeit, architect; William F. Hartnett, Jr., founder of Hartnett-Shaw Development Company; Kevin Harrington, Professor of Architectural History, Illinois Institute of Technology, and co-author, with Edward Windhorst, of Lake Point Tower: A Design History.

George Schipporeit and John Heinrich designed Lake Point Tower, which boasts a prairie landscaped green roof designed by Alfred Caldwell above the parking structure. It marked the beginning of the transition of the land from its original manufacturing and warehousing uses to its current uses for residential, retail, and entertainment.

October 24

Green Home Chicago www.ghcdesigncenter.com

Green Home Chicago is the Midwest’s preeminent destination for eco-friendly interior design products. Owner Karen Kalmek discusses the vision of her business, which includes sustainable products, community involvement, and the support of local manufacturers. LEED-certified designer Erika Alfaro highlights a wide range of products that are good for the environment and your health.

October 22-23

Evolution of the Skyscraper
New challenges in a world of global warming and recession
CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) Conference

LOCATION Hermann Hall, Illinois Institute of Technology

The world's leading experts on tall buildings convene to reflect on the past two decades and to outline their thoughts on what tall buildings need to become in the future. Key speakers include His Excellency Mohamed Ali Alabbar of Emaar (owner-developer of the tallest building in the world— the Burj Dubai); Eric Trump of the Trump Organization; Adrian Smith of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; a senior representative of the Willis Group; and many more. For further information, see http://ctbuh2009.ctbuh.org.

October 21

What Would Jane Say? City-Builders with Skirts Were Excluded From the Plan of Chicago
Janice Metzger, author of What Would Jane Say?

Metzger’s book looks at women between 1889 and 1909 who were actively involved in improving vital city services. They created the sweat shop law, child labor laws, and the first juvenile court in the nation, in addition to launching public health campaigns, promoting educational innovation and forging cultural connections between mainstream and immigrant communities.

October 17

Studio Gang Architects: Innovative Community Spaces

Architects from Studio Gang lead a tour of two of the firm’s recent projects—both inner-city community centers that serve vibrant South Side neighborhoods. During this tour you’ll see how architects, inspired by donated building materials, created the award-winning Lavezzorio Community Center, and how Chinese culture and feng shui principles resonate throughout the Kam L. Liu Building.

October 15

Conversations with Frank Gehry

Barbara Isenberg discusses her new book, Conversations with Frank Gehry, an unprecedented, intimate portrait of one of the world’s most influential architects. Drawing on her 20 years of interviews with Gehry, she highlights his influences from Le Corbusier to Robert Rauschenberg, his working process, and the career path that led to Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Guggenheim Bilbao, the Pritzker Pavilion, and beyond.

October 14

Serta Headquarters and Other Recent Projects by Andrew Metter of Epstein
Andrew Metter, FAIA, Senior Vice President, Design Studio Director, Epstein

Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin praised the Serta global headquarters in Hoffman Estates as “a quiet beauty that floats lightly, almost dreamily, above the land, evoking Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House.” Metter discusses his unique design for the building and highlights other recent projects. In 2008, Serta International was awarded CAF’s Patron of the Year award for outstanding Commercial Project.

October 13

The Bloomingdale Trail: The Making of Chicago's Premiere Linear Park
Ben Helphand, President and Co-Founder, Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, and Executive Director, NeighborSpace; Andrew Vesselinovitch, Chicago Parks Program Director, The Trust for Public Land, and board member, Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail

Learn about a planned, nearly three-mile-long elevated park running through the heart of Chicago. Built from a former rail line, the Bloomingdale Trail will connect neighborhoods, the river, and our great park system. The trail is designed to promote healthy living, provide a faster and less expensive way to get around, and encourage community growth.

October 7

Building One of the Great Avenues of the World
Lund, Principal, Real Estate Planning Group; John Maxson, Former President & CEO, Greater North Michigan Avenue Association

Using photographs and maps, this presentation traces the development of the City Beautiful Movement in urban planning. It explains how Burnham's excitement for the grand boulevards of Europe was a catalyst for his Plan of Chicago, which proposed the development of North Michigan Avenue into a world class venue for commerce and culture.

October 3

Burnham and Bennett from the Boat: A Special River Cruise with Geoffrey Baer

CAF docent and WTTW Channel 11 program host Geoffrey Baer leads a special river cruise that looks at infrastructure and planning as they relate to Burnham and Bennett’s 1909 Plan of Chicago. As we travel the South and Main Branches of the Chicago River, Baer discusses the 1929 straightening of the river, the creation of Congress Parkway, and the Plan’s ingenious infrastructure recommendations including the double-decked Wacker Drive and the Michigan Avenue Bridge. This unique sunset cruise illuminates the Plan’s central role in shaping the city we know today.

October 1

Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less
are the Keys to Sustainability

Contrary to conventional thinking about the environment, New Yorker staff writer David Owen argues that the greenest community in the United States is not Portland, Oregon, or Snowmass, Colorado, but New York, New York. Most Americans think of crowded cities as ecological nightmares, yet residents of compact urban centers, Owen shows, individually consume less oil, electricity, and water than other Americans. Hear the author share his views on why living in cities is the best way to be green.

September 30

Hidden Truths: the Chicago City Cemetery and Lincoln Park
Pamela Bannos, artist, and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Art Theory and Practice, Northwestern University

Bannos's acclaimed Hidden Truths: the Chicago City Cemetery and Lincoln Park explores the history of one of the city's most popular pleasure grounds. Bannos presents aspects of her project that illustrate the early graveyard, revealing how the physical remains of earlier Chicagoans became buried within the layers of written history.

September 26

Serta Headquarters

Architect Andrew Metter leads a tour of the Serta global headquarters in Hoffman Estates. Praised by Chicago Tribune critic Blair Kamin as “a quiet beauty that floats lightly, almost dreamily, above the land,” this building houses employees of the nation's No. 3 mattress maker and provides a showplace for the company to display its products. In 2008, Serta International was awarded CAF’s Patron of the Year award for outstanding Commercial Project.

September 23

Beyond Burnham: An Illustrated History of Planning for the Chicago Region
Joe Schwieterman, Ph.D., Professor, DePaul University, and Director, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development; Alan Mammoser, AICP, writer and regional planner

Join Schwieterman and Mammoser for a journey through a century of planning for metropolitan Chicago. From the Plan of Chicago to the push for superhighways and airports and battles over urban sprawl, their new book explores the personalities that helped shape Chicago and the “big plans” they espoused.

September 23

Leon Despres: A Celebration of His Life
with Kenan Heise, Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, John Vinci, Ben Weese, and Bob Irving

Leon Despres (1908–2009) was an Alderman of the Fifth Ward and served in the Chicago City Council for 20 years, where he introduced the first landmarks preservation measure. He initiated the successful fight to preserve Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, single-handedly led a Council effort to save Louis Sullivan’s Stock Exchange and Schiller buildings, and along with his wife Marian, helped to rescue the Glessner House from demolition. He also served on the City Planning Commission from 1979 to 1989 and fought to preserve a long list of other architectural treasures.

This memorial service, hosted in partnership with Landmarks Illinois and the Glessner House Museum, features a panel discussion with Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, architect John Vinci, Commission on Chicago Landmarks member Ben Weese, and longtime CAF docent Bob Irving. The panel will be moderated by Kenan Heise, who coauthored an autobiography of Leon Despres.

  

September 22

Andrew Rebori’s Frank Fisher Apartments

Architect Andrew Rebori's Frank Fisher Apartments (1936) is one of the city's finest pre-World War II modern designs—an exceptional and rare example of the Art Moderne style of architecture. Terry Tatum, Supervising Historian and Director of Research with the City of Chicago’s Historic Preservation Division, leads members on a tour of the landmarked building’s triplex unit, which boasts well-preserved, handcrafted ornamentation by artist Edgar Miller.

September 16

Chicago Central Area Action Plan
Benet Haller, AICP, LEED AP; Director, Urban Design and Planning, Department of Zoning and Planning, City of Chicago

The 2003 Chicago Central Area Plan outlined economic development and land use goals for the city’s downtown, representing a 20-year vision for Chicago’s development. The City recently modified the plan in response to changing demographics and economic conditions. Haller highlights the key transportation and urban design projects in the updated plan.

September 12

ReBuilding Exchange
www.rebuildingexchange.org
In partnership with the Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative and the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association

The ReBuilding Exchange diverts building materials from the waste stream and makes them accessible to the public for reuse at a low cost, protecting community health, creating jobs, and saving resources. Salvaged through sustainable deconstruction practices, the wide range of materials can be incorporated directly into rehab projects or repurposed for other uses. Tour the facility and see a demonstration on how to transform a run down kitchen cabinet into a unique and trendy clothing armoire.

September 11

Miller|Hull in Bucktown

Join Miller|Hull and Ranquist Development for a tour of several projects designed by Miller|Hull in the Bucktown neighborhood. Participants will visit the Urban Sandbox—a mid-rise condominium development—and the site of a single-family home that is currently under construction. The tour will end at a private home designed by David Miller, where members will enjoy a wine and cheese reception.

September 9

Park Monroe Tour and Reception

Goettsch Partners and Pappageorge Haymes Partners have been enlisted to convert the top 10 stories of the Mid-Continental Plaza building at 55 East Monroe into The Park Monroe luxury residences, overlooking Millennium Park with one-of-a-kind panoramic views. Architects Joseph Dolinar and Ken DeMuth lead members on a tour of the condominium units and amenities, which include a rooftop pool and garden. They describe the design goals, challenges, and the process of stripping the building's skin to reinvent the floors of a fully occupied 50 story office tower.

September 9

David Hovey: Design and Development of Two 675-Unit Multi-Family Projects in Chicago, IL and Scottsdale, AZ
David C. Hovey, FAIA, Owner/President/Architect, Optima, Inc.

Hovey discusses the design challenges and resolutions associated with the development of two multi-family projects: Optima Old Orchard Woods—three interlocking and sculpted glass towers alongside a forest preserve north of downtown Chicago; and Optima Camelview Village—11 interconnected, terraced buildings with 17 acres of green roof landscaping in Scottsdale, Arizona.

September 8

Objects | Fields
David Miller, FAIA, Partner, The Miller|Hull Partnership

Showcased in their new book, Public Works, the award-winning and energy-conscious designs of The Miller|Hull Partnership (recipient of the 2003 AIA Architecture Firm of the Year Award) challenge the notion that public buildings must be mundane in appearance or functionality. While the Pacific Northwest is home to the firm—which has defined their modern and regionalist approach to architecture—in recent years, they have embraced the challenge of urban dwellings in Chicago. Miller discusses the firm’s unique design philosophy and highlights recent projects, including several in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood.


Sponsored by:          In partnership with:
    

September 8

Film screening: Green Towns USA: A New Deal
June Finfer, filmmaker and Glory Southwind, co-producer

Part of FDR’s New Deal was the construction of three “Greenbelt” towns to address problems of urban sprawl. Two towns are still thriving, but Greenhills, Ohio, the third, faces devastation. Finfer follows a former Greenhills resident who visits the other towns to see how they are surviving in the 21st century.

September 3

Carson Pirie Scott Restoration

Joseph Freed and Associates has undertaken a massive restoration of the former Carson Pirie Scott & Co. department store since purchasing the building in 2006. One of the key components of this restoration has been the removal, repair, and reinstallation of Louis Sullivan’s iconic cast iron ornamentation. Join us for this rare opportunity to examine up-close some of the cast iron panels before they are reinstalled on the façade and to learn about the restoration from those who spearheaded the project.

September 2

Toward a Comprehensive Survey of Art Deco in Chicago
Keith Bringe, Chicago Art Deco Survey Director and Editor

The non-profit Chicago Art Deco Society has undertaken the first-ever survey of art deco sites in the Chicago area as the first phase of a project that will result in a major book. The survey has revealed new information, tremendous losses, and preservation triumphs. Bringe reports on the survey’s findings.

August 17

Sustainable Choices for a Greener Chicago Region 

PANELISTS
Rebecca Stanfield, Natural Resources Defense Council
Kevin Shafer, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
Peter Mulvaney, Sustainable Infrastructure Administrator, City of Chicago Dept. of Water Management

The lecture series will consist of panel discussions addressing how emerging federal policy could influence three topics: viable infrastructure, livable communities, and environmental sustainability. The series will examine the possible ramifications, both positive and negative, of federal reform initiatives. It is part of MPC’s work to reform the federal government’s investment strategies so that public money is transparently and accountably linked to the goals of social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic competitiveness. It also reflects CAF’s continued dedication to advancing public interest and education in the built environment.

July 29

Edward H. Bennett: City Planner and Urban Designer
Mary Woolever, Art and Architecture Archivist, Ryerson & Burnham Libraries, the Art Institute of Chicago

Edward H. Bennett, junior partner in Burnham’s architectural practice and co-author of the Plan of Chicago, was a key leader in the City Beautiful movement and a successful designer of urban amenities such as Buckingham Fountain. His career is documented in his archival collection at the Art institute of Chicago, which forms the basis of this presentation.

Image: Michigan Avenue Bridge, N. Michigan Ave. at Chicago River, Chicago, IL, 1920. Edward H. Bennett [architect], Thomas G. Pihlfeldt and Hugh E. Young [engineers], A.G. McGregor [Chicago] [photographer].

July 22

The Book of the Fine Arts Building
David Swan, architect

The Book of the Fine Arts Building was originally issued in 1911 and showed the building in its prime when it dominated the world of art, literature, theater, and musical education in Chicago. Swan addresses the creation of this important building by Solon S. Beman in 1885, and the architect’s role in its various transformations through the years.

July 16

HOK's New Offices in the CNA Building

The Chicago office of the global architecture firm HOK recently relocated to the CNA building, where it occupies 27,000 square feet of space designed by its own Interiors practice. HOK is pursuing LEED-CI Platinum Certification for the office, which incorporates many sustainable features including the use of salvaged materials, day-lighting, and water use reduction through retrofitting or replacing existing fixtures. Principal Tom Polucci leads a tour of the office and highlights several of the firm’s current projects.

July 15

Benjamin H. Marshall: Architect and Bon Vivant
Steven B. Monz, docent/lecturer, Benjamin Marshall Society

Benjamin H. Marshall's designs included vast country estates, palatial residential buildings, sumptuous hotels, and innovative high-rise structures. His circle included anyone with intelligence, style, and wit. Monz paints a portrait of the architect and highlights several of his projects in Chicago, including residential buildings along East Lake Shore Drive, and the Drake and Blackstone Hotels.

July 14

Creating Livable Communities in the Chicago Region

PANELISTS
Todd Brown, ShoreBank
Catherine Baker, AIA, Landon, Bone, Baker Architects
Don Chen, Ford Foundation and founder of Smart Growth America
Doug Farr, FAIA, Farr Associates

The lecture series will consist of panel discussions addressing how emerging federal policy could influence three topics: viable infrastructure, livable communities, and environmental sustainability. The series will examine the possible ramifications, both positive and negative, of federal reform initiatives. It is part of MPC’s work to reform the federal government’s investment strategies so that public money is transparently and accountably linked to the goals of social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic competitiveness. It also reflects CAF’s continued dedication to advancing public interest and education in the built environment.

June 29

Outside In: fc STUDIO inc.
Rachel Crowl, Principal, AIA; Julie Fisher, Principal

Rachel Crowl and Julie Fisher founded Chicago-based fc STUDIO inc. in 1999 with the aim of designing beautiful spaces that don’t sacrifice functionality. Their firm has experienced a shift from small rehabs to substantial new construction projects. Crowl and Fisher discuss their highly collaborative design process and highlight several of their current projects.

June 5

A Reform Roadmap for Viable Infrastructure in the Chicago Region

PANELISTS
Robert Puentes, Brookings Institution
Jacky Grimshaw, Center for Neighborhood Technology
Charles Dowding (ASCE member), Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Northwestern University

The lecture series will consist of panel discussions addressing how emerging federal policy could influence three topics: viable infrastructure, livable communities, and environmental sustainability. The series will examine the possible ramifications, both positive and negative, of federal reform initiatives. It is part of MPC’s work to reform the federal government’s investment strategies so that public money is transparently and accountably linked to the goals of social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic competitiveness. It also reflects CAF’s continued dedication to advancing public interest and education in the built environment.

June 2

Lake Point Tower Tour and Reception
In partnership with the Mies van der Rohe Society at IIT

Take an exclusive tour of Schipporeit and Heinrich’s acclaimed residential complex, Lake Point Tower, in celebration of its 40th anniversary. Highlights include a visit to a residential unit and a tour of the Alfred Caldwell-designed landscape, which comprises a duck pond and 2 1⁄2-acre park. Members will enjoy a reception in Cité and a presentation by experts Kevin Harrington and Edward Windhorst, who will discuss the history of the building, its progressive design and engineering, and its enduring legacy.

July 1

Portrait of a Palace
Andy Pierce, volunteer, Friends of the Uptown; Jerry Mickelson, founder and partner of Jam Productions

This documentary on Chicago’s Uptown Theatre provides an in-depth look at the history of this movie palace and its amazing survival. The film accurately portrays a theatre “that is beyond human dreams of loveliness,” as touted by architects C.W. & Geo. L. Rapp in 1925. Following the screening, Pierce and Mickelson discuss the theater’s history and its planned renovation.

June 23

theWit Hotel Tour and Reception

Jackie Koo of Koo and Associates leads members on a tour of the recently-opened theWit Hotel. Overlooking the Lake Street Elevated train, theWit embraces its urban location with low iron glass at the lobby. The façade boasts a unique design in which the curtain wall pushes back to reveal a chartreuse bolt of energy, which zigzags upward for the height of the building. After touring the interior spaces, members will enjoy a reception at the hotel’s 27th floor rooftop lounge, Roof.

June 20

What Makes My Home Energy Efficient?
Paul Knight, Domus Plus

An energy efficient home takes a combination of insulation, air sealing, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, good windows, exhaust fans, appliances, and lighting. This seminar outlines these items and how they relate to the ENERGY STAR Program, answering questions of how to make your home an energy efficient one.

June 17

Daniel Burnham, Urban Visionary
Donald L. Miller, author of City of the Century, The Epic of Chicago and the Making of Modern America

By the mid-1880s, Burnham and other young Chicago visionaries believed that while Chicago’s cyclonic, unregulated economic growth had made it the master city of the mid-continent it was also creating massive environmental and social problems that threatened the habitability of many parts of the city. Burnham believed that it was time for a citywide effort to tame its most destructive impulses through enlightened urban planning and inspired civic architecture.

Burnham’s effort to create an urban community that balances order and freedom, growth and control, capitalism and community still resonates today. We are now at a point in our development as a nation where we can learn important lessons from the civic debate that Burnham inspired about the costs and benefits of unregulated capitalism.

June 17

AIA Chicago Lifetime Achievement: Gertrude Kerbis, FAIA
Gertrude Lempp Kerbis, FAIA, architect; Karen Carter, filmmaker, director, and documentary producer; Zurich Esposito, Executive Vice President, AIA Chicago

Kerbis is the subject of this documentary film, produced to honor her as the 2008 AIA Chicago Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Celebrated for modernist masterworks, she has created a legacy of design innovation that has had profound influence on younger generations. Kerbis shares her perspective on her career and the practice of architecture.

June 10

Frank Lloyd Wright: The Hidden Geometry
John Shoaff, architect

Drawing on specific examples from the Prairie Style and Usonian homes, this lecture illustrates how Frank Lloyd Wright brilliantly employed a very simple hidden geometry to create works of unparalleled clarity, vitality, and integrity. The principles revealed enhance our understanding of the physiology of perception and have implications for more general design application.

June 9

Student Housing Doubles as Environmental Learning Lab
Dirk Denison, FAIA, Dirk Denison Architects

Denison shares his proposal for new student residence halls at IIT. This highly sustainable venture not only raises the bar with respect to green technologies but also engages students in a real-time evaluation of the building’s performance. The twin wings have been designed to expand housing options while using a combination of mixed-mode natural ventilation, solar orientation, and high-performance facades.

June 3

Women of Influence
Mary Jo Hoag and Laurie Russell, CAF docents

This program highlights the remarkable women buried at Graceland Cemetery who played an influential role in Chicago’s development, including early settlers, pioneers in social and civic reform, and advocates for the arts and architecture. Hoag and Russell, creators of the Women of Influence walking tour, deliver this illustrated lecture.

May 29

Burnham, Chicago, and Beyond: Politics, Planning, and the Progressive Era City
Co-sponsored by 

In 1909 Daniel Burnham published the Plan of Chicago, one of the most significant and influential documents in the history of urban planning. With the 100th anniversary of the plan, the symposium offers an opportunity to critically analyze the conditions of the urban environment that engendered the plan as well as its impact in Chicago and elsewhere. Co-organized with DePaul University, this conference addresses the important questions and conflicts raised by Burnham as well as the urban and architectural environment of the time.

May 27

The Chicago 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid: A Conversation with Lee Bey and Lori Healey

Lee Bey interviews Chicago 2016 President Lori Healey about the Olympic and Paralympic bid for 2016. Healey will share her reflections on the process of creating the bid, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) visit to Chicago last month, and what the bid means for Chicago's built environment. This program presents an exciting opportunity to foster public dialogue on various issues facing our city, with an emphasis on the proposed Olympic Village on the site of the former Michael Reese Hospital and the Olympic stadium planned for Washington Park.

May 27

One and the Same: Burnham the Architect and Burnham the Planner
Kristen Schaffer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Architecture, North Carolina State University

In many discussions of Burnham's career, his work as an architect is treated separately, and often less favorably, than his work as a planner. Yet he himself viewed the world and his role in it, holistically. This lecture examines Burnham's emphasis on the provision of public space as a connection between his architectural and planning work.

May 26

Trump International Hotel & Tower – Chicago

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP architect and engineer-led tour of Trump International Hotel & Tower—the tallest building project in the United States since the SOM-designed Sears Tower (1974). Members will learn about the engineering innovation and architectural design of this newest addition to the Chicago skyline, making a special visit to the 89th floor (penthouse) and the 90th floor (mechanical).

May 20

Unlocking the Door to Daydreaming—Intimacy in Nordic and Midwest Modernism
Don McKay, Principal, Nagle Hartray; recipient of the University of Illinois 2007 Plym Traveling Fellowship


Nordic architecture and a strain of Midwestern architecture exemplified by the work of architects like Harry Weese are often described as “humanist Modernism.” This lecture addresses the geographic and cultural situations that led to similar design approaches and to the intimacy that gives this architecture its particular appeal.

May 13

Connecting Art to Millennium Park: The Nichols Bridgeway
John Lupinos, Senior Project Manager, The Rise Group, LLC

When it opens in May, the Nichols Bridgeway will form a dynamic connection between Millennium Park and the Art Institute. Inspired by a sleek racing shell, the bridge features anti-slip technology, heating elements, and universal accessibility. Lupinos discusses the addition, which will afford outstanding views of the Michigan Avenue streetwall, the lakefront, and Millennium Park.

May 12

Form Follows Performance: Super Tall + Super Sustainable
Adrian Smith, AIA, Design Partner, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

Smith + Gill Architecture strives to create designs that aid society, advance modern technology, and sustain the environment. Smith discusses the firm’s visionary plans for Chicago, including the greening of the Sears Tower, the creation of a sustainable park at the southwest corner of Grant Park, and the construction of an eco-bridge off Monroe Harbor.

May 9

Buckminster Fuller: Starting With the Universe

Elizabeth Smith, James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Programs at the MCA, leads a walkthrough of the exhibition Buckminster Fuller: Starting With the Universe, which explores Fuller’s extraordinary body of work, focusing on his wide-ranging and sometimes controversial role within the worlds of art, architecture, and utopian thought.

Image: Boris Artzybasheff , R. Buckminster Fuller, 1963.
courtesy: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine

May 9

Greening Your Vintage Home
Matt Cole, Project Coordinator, the Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative; Annette Conti, Executive Director, the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association

In honor of National Historic Preservation Month, Matt Cole and Annette Conti discuss practical, affordable ways to green your vintage home. They will highlight strategies for making homes more energy efficient, improving indoor air quality, and conserving resources. They will also discuss the mix of financial, technical, and historic preservation programming offered by each organization. A key goal of the workshop is to help homeowners understand the link between green and vintage.

May 7

Dubai and the World’s Tallest Building: the Burj Dubai
George J. Efstathiou, FAIA, Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; William F. Baker, S.E, C.E., P.E., FASCE, FIStructE, Structural and Civil Engineering Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Dubai has been the superlative of the decade: the biggest boom town with the biggest projects. Burj Dubai is the ultimate—a super tall building that defines the spirit of the culture, commerce, and people of Dubai. This project represents not only state-of-the-art tall building design, but also the successful collaboration between architecture and engineering with its pioneering "buttressed core" system and sophisticated aerodynamics. Once completed, it will be the tallest man-made structure ever created.

Efstathiou and Baker will address the unprecedented growth of Dubai over the past decade and explain how the global economic downturn has affected this booming city. They will highlight the innovative systems and technologies that made the Burj Dubai possible and discuss the project’s current construction status as it nears completion during an economically uncertain time.

May 6

Planning in Chicago before the Plan of Chicago
Carl Smith, Franklyn Bliss Snyder Professor of Englishand American Studies and Professor of History, Northwestern University

As we commemorate the centennial of the Plan of Chicago—arguably the most influential document in the history of American urban planning—it is important to recognize that the Plan was the result of a broader ferment both locally and beyond. In this illustrated talk, Professor Carl Smith discusses this pre-history of the Plan of Chicago.

May 2

Preview CAF's New Model of Chicago at Columbian Model & Exhibit Works, Ltd.

Columbian Model & Exhibit Works, Ltd., one of the largest architectural model making firms in the Midwest, is developing a large-scale interpretive model of the city of Chicago for the Chicago Architecture Foundation. This model, which replicates the greater downtown area at a scale of 1 inch=50 feet, will be the first of its kind in the U.S. and will serve as the central component of a major public exhibition, Chicago Model City, which opens at CAF on June 11. On this special-access tour, members will learn about the complex process of creating CAF's model, and will have the chance to see how CAF's model compares to other models in the shop. This is an exciting opportunity to preview CAF's model before the finishing touches are put on and it is transported to the atrium of the Santa Fe Building for installation in early June.

April 29

Before Burnham: Private Planning and the Town of Pullman
Lynn Becker, freelance writer on architecture and curator of BoomTowns! Chicago Architects Design New Worlds

Decades before the publication of Daniel Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago, railroad sleeping car tycoon George M. Pullman created his own “model city” just outside the city limits. Becker explores the juncture of public interest and private enterprise in the plan and history of the town of Pullman.

Image: Lake Vista, Administration Building, Hotel Florence, Arcade Building and Train Station, c. 1885. courtesy: The Pullman State Historic Site, Collection of Paul Petraitis

April 24

BIG: Blacks in Green
Naomi Davis, founder of BIG and Daughters Trust/ The Village Builders

Blacks in Green (BIG) is an environmental organization whose vision is to create “self-sustaining African diaspora communities” and foster black participation in the new green economy. Founder Naomi Davis presents BIG’s core teaching, Oasis-Making, which defines the sustainability challenge of African American communities, and discusses the organization’s green economic development solution.

April 22

Tour of Gensler’s New Offices in the Sullivan Center

The Chicago office of this global design firm recently relocated to the Sullivan Center—the former Carson Pirie Scott & Co. department store designed by Louis Sullivan. Occupying 50,000 square feet, Gensler’s office incorporates Sullivan’s iconic architectural features, such as the original columns, mosaic tiling, and windows, into its contemporary design. Principal and CAF Trustee Carlos Martinez leads a tour of the office and highlights several of the firm’s current projects.

April 22

Sailing Spaceship Earth: Buckminster Fuller’s Environmentalism
Sean Keller, Assistant Professor of Architectural History and Theory, Illinois Institute of Technology

The life mission of R. Buckminster Fuller—creator of the geodesic dome and the Dymaxion car—was to create design solutions that benefited humanity while consuming the fewest resources. This talk considers Fuller’s contradictory vision of the environment, technology, and politics, and coincides with the exhibition, Buckminster Fuller: Starting with the Universe, on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art March 14-June 21, 2009.

Image: Boris Artzybasheff , R. Buckminster Fuller, 1963.
courtesy: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine

April 21

Achieving LEED Platinum at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston
Helen J. Kessler, FAIA, LEED AP, President, HJKessler Associates; Julie Dorfman, Founder and Chair, Environmental Task Force, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation

Using the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation as an example, this lecture addresses the process for achieving LEED Platinum. Kessler and Dorfman highlight the synagogue’s green features—including cabinets made of pressed sunflower seeds, a storm water detention garden, and energy efficient sinks—and discuss the congregation’s unwavering commitment to long-term sustainable practices.

April 20

From the Microscope to the Macro-scope: Applying Biomimicry to the Built Environment
Mary Ann Lazarus, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Vice President and Firmwide Director of Sustainable Design, HOK; Tim Gaidis, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Senior Associate and Sustainable Design Practice Leader, HOK

Biomimicry is a relatively new science that studies nature’s systems and processes and then imitates or takes inspiration from them to solve human problems. Sustainable design leaders from global architectural firm HOK discuss how biomimicry applies to architectural design and review project lessons from HOK’s alliance with the Biomimicry Guild.

April 18

Overview of Green Home Remodeling Guides at Greenmaker Building Supply

Perfect for homeowners planning an environmentally friendly renovation, this workshop provides an overview of the City of Chicago’s Green Home Remodeling Guides. Participants view examples of green building solutions for the home; and learn how to hire professionals and salvage and reuse materials. The program takes place at Greenmaker Building Supply, a vendor of environmentally sensitive building materials.

Greenmaker Building Supply, 2500 North Pulaski Road, Chicago.

April 15

The Tribe Versus the City-State: An Architectural Conundrum for the Jewish Project
(The Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie)
Stanley Tigerman, FAIA, Tigerman McCurry Architects

Throughout millennia, Jews have struggled with tribalism. Over time, the City-State replaced tribalism, exacerbating anti-Semitism and culminating in the 20th century's holocaust. Tigerman challenges the convention that the City-State is preferable to tribalism and addresses the architectural manifestations of these different ways of aggregating populations. The Illinois Holocaust Museum is presented as an example.

April 14

Tryon Farm: A Unique Conservation Community in LaPorte County, Indiana
Edward J. Noonan, Chairman, Chicago Associates Planners and Architects

Architect-developer Ed Noonan is designing simple, affordable contemporary houses using sustainable materials and techniques on an old dairy farm near Chicago. The houses are grouped so that two-thirds of the 170 acres will remain open. Noonan discusses how these sustainable techniques provide an opportunity for the coexistence of ecology and the built environment.

April 8

Inside the Modern Wing
Meredith Mack, Deputy Director and COO, the Art Institute of Chicago

The Modern Wing is the Art Institute's most important and largest addition since the construction of the 1893 Michigan Avenue building and creates a contemporary identity for the museum. Mack discusses architect Renzo Piano's design, the building's architectural features, and what visitors can expect to see when the wing opens in May 2009.

April 4

Ecology of Design
Michael Iversen, University of Illinois at Chicago

This lecture gives participants the framework to understand the purpose and impact of green design. Iverson discusses the principles of sustainability by examining the effects of civilization on the environment, and suggests alternatives to conventional design paradigms that contribute to environmental problems such as pollution and resource depletion.

March 25

One Museum Park East, Museum Park and the Central Station Planned Development
Jeff Renterghem, AIA, Senior Associate at Pappageorge & Haymes, Ltd.

Prominently located at the southwest corner of Roosevelt Road and Columbus Drive, One Museum Park East is the flagship project for Museum Park and the Central Station neighborhood. The luxury high rise residential building is the first of four planned towers that will define the south streetwall of Grant Park.

Image: Concept view from Grant Park

March 24

The Dream for True Urbanism in the Middle East: Recent Planning and Development
in Abu Dhabi
Larry Beasley, Distinguished Practice Professorof Planning, University of British Columbia and founding principal of Beasley and Associates.

With wealth, talent, and tenacity, the emirate of Abu Dhabi is determined to transcend the development trends in the Middle East. Beasley, Special Advisor on planning for the government of Abu Dhabi, discusses this planning agenda—the sustainable principles being pursued, the civic initiatives for quality of life, and the special efforts to build a provocative and evocative capital city.

March 21

Mid-Century Modernism at the University of Chicago

This tour highlights two recently restored gems of mid-century modernism on the University of Chicago campus—Mies van der Rohe’s School of Social Service Administration (1963) and Eero Saarinen’s Law School complex (1960). Architect Rico Cedro discusses the restoration of the façade of Mies’s only building on campus, which was undertaken in order to achieve a greater transparency and clarity closer to the original intention of the architect. Mark Hirons, design principal at OWP/P, addresses the renovation of Saarinen’s Law School complex, a thirteen year-long project that enhanced the facility’s functionality while staying true to Saarinen’s original design.

March 18

Coming to the Table: Expanding Architecture and Fostering Partnerships
Bryan Bell, Founder and Executive Director, Design Corps; Katie Swenson, Director, Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellowship; and John Cary, Executive Director, Public Architecture


CONVERGE: EXCHANGE seeks to engage activist practitioners in communities within and outside Chicago in a conversation about innovative strategies applied and experiences gained in local economies, built environments, and beyond.

This two-day event begins on Wednesday, March 18, commencing with an exciting and timely presentation by Bryan Bell (Founder and Executive Director, Design Corps), Katie Swenson (Director, Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellowship) and John Cary (Executive Director, Public Architecture). The presentation will showcase projects from other parts of the country that can serve as case studies for Chicago.

Presented by ADPSR, SHED Studio Egan Urban Center

Sponsored by Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Rose Architectural Fellowship (a program of Enterprise Community Partners), Design Corps, Chicago Architecture Foundation

March 18

An Architectural Whodunit: The Renovation of “Carlson Cottage”
Paul Steinbrecher, AIA, Principal, InterActive Design, Architects;
Neal David, AIA, Vice President of Facilities, Lincoln Park Zoo

In 2008, Lincoln Park Zoo transformed the historic Carlson Cottage from an eyesore to an architectural treasure. The 120-year-old “comfort station” (restroom facility) was closed 40 years ago and no period photographs or drawings to guide the rehabilitation could be found. Steinbrecher and David describe their experiences in preservation sleuthing and the surprises that they uncovered.

March 11

A Tale of Two Towers: The Heritage and The Legacy on Millennium Park
Dick Shields, Principal, Mesa Development

Dick Shields discusses the evolution of two important residential buildings and their relationship to Millennium Park during the last ten years. He outlines the design process of both buildings, their place in the Michigan/Wabash corridor, and the vision they embrace in the Daley Administration’s plan to revitalize downtown urban living.

March 10

LEED for Schools
Joseph F. Clair, P.E., Director of Campus Energy and Sustainability, Illinois Institute of Technology

Recognizing that the improvement of school buildings affects both the learning environment as well as the health of a large portion of the population, the U.S. Green Building Council has tailored its LEED rating system for school construction. This presentation reviews LEED for schools, the updates in LEED 2009, and how these have been applied in the Chicago building market.

March 7

Eco-friendly Landscaping Options in the Urban Environment
Greg Raymond, Managing Member, Ecogardens, LLC; Shawn Weidner, Ecogardens, LLC; Andrew Clauson, owner, Lake Street Landscape Supply

To coincide with the beginning of the spring planting season, this workshop explores and evaluates environmentally responsible landscaping alternatives for the urban environment. Raymond discusses green roofs, rain gardens, living walls, rain water harvesting, and natural landscape care as some of the options that lessen environmental impact without sacrificing aesthetics.

March 4

Homecoming: The Staybridge Hotel on LaSalle
Joe Valerio, FAIA, Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, Inc.

Since architect Joe Valerio returned to his hometown of Chicago in 1985, the majority of his projects have been out of town. In a true homecoming, Valerio speaks about his firm’s three major high-rise projects nearing completion in Chicago: The Staybridge Hotel, 1401 South State Street Apartments and 161 West Kinzie.

February 28

Being Green with Lighting
Scott Shellberg, Evergreen Oak Electric/Crest Lighting Studios

Many homeowners have become frustrated with green lighting fixtures that awkwardly fit into existing hardware or give rooms an unnatural glow. Shellberg discusses sustainable home lighting options—LED, fluorescent, incandescent lighting and dimming—and the simple ways to manage energy while satisfying design aesthetics.

February 25

Underground Chicago: Historic Basements in the Loop

Led by CAF docent and trustee Henry Kuehn, this walking tour provides a rare opportunity to investigate the underground infrastructure of two buildings, the Monadnock and the Bank of America Building (135 S. LaSalle). Explore structural footings, mechanical systems and vestiges of old Loop rail systems during this unique tour.

Februrary 25

Chicago: Airport City
Robert Bruegmann, PhD, Professor of Art History, Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Illinois at Chicago

Airports have had a large impact on the economy and physical form of urban regions. Once built, they tend to cause a major reordering of a metropolis. Nowhere has this been truer than in Chicago—and nowhere are the stakes higher if public authorities fail to reinvest sufficiently in them.

February 18

Airport as Landscape
Robert Burley, Photographer

As a graduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Robert Burley spent four years (1984–89) investigating the uncharted urban landscape of O’Hare airport with a large format camera. Burley gives an illustrated lecture on his photographic work featured in CAF’s exhibition: ORD: Documenting the Definitive Modern Airport.

Image: Light Ladders Leading Plane Into R4 (1984)

February 17

On, Above, and Beyond the Tarmac: The Endless Dialogue Between Airplanes and Airport Design
John Zukowsky, Chief Curator of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York; former Curator of Architecture at the Art Institute of Chicago

The illustrated lecture examines the relationship between airplanes and the architectural facilities created to dignify and functionally process the occupants, crew and passengers of aircraft. Zukowsky showcases both commercial and military aviation examples and speculates about the future of air travel. He raises questions that architects may have to answer regarding new airport construction.

February 11

The Roosevelt Collection
Keith Campbell, AIA, VP, RTKL Associates Inc.

Slated for completion in 2009, the Roosevelt Collection is one of the most ambitious ongoing residential developments in Chicago’s rapidly-developing South Loop. It features condos, retail spaces, a multiplex theater and a two-acre public park just steps form the Chicago River, ultimately blurring the distinction between commercial enterprise and public space.

February 10

O'Hare Modernization Program Sustainable Initiative
Michael Boland, First Deputy Director, O'Hare Modernization Program

Boland discusses the creation and use of the Sustainable Design Manual (SDM), which outlines environmentally friendly initiatives undertaken by the OMP. The SDM is an integral part of the overall design and construction for the OMP, and has become a prototype for other airport designs.

February 4

6 North Michigan: Cataloging the Transformation of the Original Montgomery Ward Headquarters
Melissa H. Clark, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Associate, DeStefano Partners

DeStefano Partners is converting 6 North Michigan, formerly the Montgomery Ward headquarters, to a condominium development. The total renovation entails complete interior demolition and reconstruction of all the partitions, building services, elevators and stairs. The turret is being painstakingly reconstructed to include the ornate 19th floor arches and balconies.

Image: 6 North Michigan Avenue.
courtesy: DeStefano + Partners

January 28

Murphy/Jahn and O’Hare—50 Years of Airport Architecture
Tom Chambers, VP/Principal Architect, Murphy/Jahn

For more than 50 years, Murphy/Jahn and its predecessor firm, C.F. Murphy Associates, have been the driving force behind architecture at O’Hare airport. Chambers discusses how the firm’s work at O’Hare has evolved from the corporate Miesian style of the late 1950s to Helmut Jahn’s vision and integration of architecture and engineering.

January 27

The Spirit in Architecture: John Lautner
Introduction by Bette Jane Cohen, Director

This film examines the life and work of the late American architect John Lautner. His buildings are celebrated for their structural originality and sculptural force. Lautner’s Malin House—which hovers over a canyon balanced on a single support—is considered one of the most important examples of architecture in Southern California. Lautner is currently the subject of a traveling retrospective exhibition organized by UCLA's Hammer Museum.

January 24

Reducing Global Climate Change One Day at a Time: Sustainable Practices for Everyone
Kevin Pierce, AIA, Director of Sustainable Design, Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure

This session debunks myths and takes a principled approach to evaluating everyday choices that can impact the environment. Interactive and informative, this workshop helps participants evaluate options and commit to a sustainable practice.

January 21

The Planned Restoration of Mies's Carr Chapel
Gunny Harboe, Principal, Harboe Architects, PC

The only Mies building intended for religious services, Robert F. Carr Chapel of St. Savior on the IIT campus is also Mies’s only campus building with brick load-bearing walls. Harboe, instrumental in the restoration of Mies’s S.R. Crown Hall, discusses the planned restoration of this unique Mies structure.

January 16

ORD: Documenting the Definitive Modern Airport
Charles Waldheim, Principal and Founder of Urban Agency, Toronto

Charles Waldheim discusses the selection of architectural photographs by Hedrich Blessing and Robert Burley that illustrate the design legacy at O’Hare.

Image: Hedrich Blessing, View of Upper Level Ticketing Lobby, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (1963 ) courtesy: Chicago History Museum

January 14

What is Universal Design?
Ramesh Gulatee, Architect, LifeCare Design Studio

The intent and goal of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is to provide accessibility to the built environment for everyone. Unfortunately, overlapping jurisdictions and differing interpretations of ADA have limited its success. Ramesh Gulatee discusses Universal Design, which allows for the creation of accessible environments without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

January 13

South Chicago LEED ND Initiative
Marilyn Engwall, Project Manager, City of Chicago

The U.S. Green Building Council's latest program is Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND)—the first national certification system for sustainable neighborhood design and development. The City of Chicago is sponsoring one of the largest LEED ND projects in the country at the former U.S. Steel site.

January 7

Preservation in the 2008 AIA Honor Awards
Walker Johnson, FAIA, Johnson Lasky Architects

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Awards Program is the profession’s highest recognition of works that exemplify excellence in architecture and urban design. Three projects submitted in 2008 were created by teams of design and restoration architects. Jury member Walker Johnson provides an overview of these projects, reviewing design qualities of both disciplines.

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