Programs & Events at CAC

The school year is a busy time. We’ve combined all your favorite elements from our design studio, exhibits and Mobile Architecture Lab into a full day of architecture and exploration—just for families! Join us on the second Saturday of every month…

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend when they attend eight or more studios.

The Chicago Architecture Center’s Open House Chicago is a free public festival on October 19 and 20, 2019, that offers behind-the-scenes access to over 350 buildings across Chicago. Explore the hidden gems and architectural treasures of Chicago’s…

Attend the OHC Family Festival on Oct. 19 or 20 at the pavilion, where you can stand on the stage and see the world-renowned sound system and performance space up-close. Self-guided tours and make-and-take activities will be available both days.

Burnham, Wright, Sullivan—they’re all legendary Chicago architects! But this four-part class led by historian Julia Bachrach will illuminate the lives and work of dozens of local architects who have gone largely unnoticed.

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend when they attend eight or more studios.

Join historian Suzanne Hinman as she discusses her new book, “The Grandest Madison Square Garden.” It is a tale of architecture, art and spectacle that unfolds in scandal-ridden 1890s New York, with some Chicago connections.

Join us at our Biennial Family Festival from noon to 4pm! We invite families with children ages 5-12 to come learn about architecture and design through hands-on activities.

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend when they attend eight or more studios.

We invite our littlest learners to listen to a story, create an art project, build and learn at this new drop-off camp. We’ve packed storytelling, problem solving, visual thinking and teamwork into three hours of fun for ages 4-6. Join us!

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend when they attend eight or more studios.

What does the future hold for skyscrapers? We’ll take a look at buildings with flexible floor plates, movable walls, robotic features and other abilities to reconfigure. What bold innovations are still to come? Hear from our panel of experts.

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend when they attend eight or more studios.

Build a gingerbread house inspired by Chicago’s bungalows! Take a mini-tour of the CAC’s Chicago Gallery to learn more about this iconic housing type, then learn tips and tricks to building a gingerbread house from expert pastry chef Gale Gand.

What can architects do to keep rapidly growing urban areas livable? How can they create more sustainable cities? Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen is among those leading the charge to respond to such challenges. Hear how from one of the partners…