Civic & Industry Initiatives
The Chicago Architecture Center’s Civic & Industry initiatives bring together residents, architects, policymakers, and business leaders to shape a more equitable and well-designed city.
The Chicago Architecture Center’s Civic & Industry initiatives bring together residents, architects, policymakers, and business leaders to shape a more equitable and well-designed city.
(Pictured above: Chicago Community Planning Academy, Class of 2025)
The Chicago Architecture Center is committed to advancing a future where design strengthens every neighborhood, elevates civic voices, and supports thoughtful growth across the city.
Our Civic & Industry programs bring people together across sectors—community members, industry professionals, civic leaders, students, and emerging designers—to collaborate on solutions that make Chicago more equitable, resilient, and vibrant.
These initiatives reflect CAC’s role as both a convener and a catalyst. From deep community-based learning to large-scale urban policy conversations, our programs help bridge the gap between design expertise and public impact.
Through partnerships with universities, civic organizations, industry leaders, and neighborhood advocates, we spark new ideas and make space for constructive dialogue about the choices shaping Chicago’s built environment.
Explore the programs below to learn more about each initiative and how to participate:
Chicago Community Planning Academy gathering at Starling by Duo/. Photo by Jon Kuta
