Programs & Events at CAC

Join us as we travel south to 95th Street. We’ll explore residential neighborhoods from the early 1900s, as well as modern institutions serving South Side communities today.

Design your holidays with us! The CAC invites members to preview the reimagined Design Store during an evening of members-only festivities at the Center.

Join us for a lively presentation on Mid-Century Modern women architects, developers, interior designers and landscape architects from the 1950s–1970s.

Architect and engineer Werner Sobek has a knack for making the world’s most complex designs possible. His imaginative structural solutions have aided the work of Helmut Jahn, Zaha Hadid, Jean Nouvel, Rem Koolhaas and others over a fruitful career.

Rosehill Cemetery is the final resting place of many individuals involved in the Civil War including political leaders, newspaper editors who shaped public opinion and officers who led brigades.

The pandemic puts health and safety in the workplace to the test, with improved airflow and sanitation taking on new urgency. Learn what goes into designing healthy buildings and how these approaches apply to office and residential settings alike.

Chicago is home to more moveable bridges than any other city in the country, keeping all sides of the city connected despite waterways that cut across them. Explore how these marvels of engineering helped shape the Chicago we know today.

Don’t miss this donor-exclusive virtual tour of the nearly complete St. Regis Chicago (formerly Vista Tower). The architect-led tour reveals design and engineering moves, newly finished spaces and sweeping skyline views. A live Q&A follows.

During the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, the Midway Plaisance offered visitors an array of food and fun, ways to visit far-off places, the first-ever Ferris Wheel and other diversions. But the Midway was more than that.

Join designers and planners from Chicago and London as we discuss how tall buildings and the zero-carbon agenda affect both cities.

From historic buildings that escaped the Chicago Fire of 1871 to stunning contemporary designs, explore how Chicago's schools have been adapted for today's needs.

Twenty-one years in to the new millennium, innovative construction materials are altering Chicago in noticeable ways. CAC docent Kevin Griebenow highlights changes in skyscraper construction and engineering tied to recent material breakthroughs.

Join us for an exclusive screening of Episode 3 of Bruce Orenstein’s new documentary series, The Shame of Chicago, exploring predatory contract home sales in Chicago after World War II. Moderated discussion to follow.

Join us as we commemorate 50 years of the CAC Docent program. Enjoy reflections from a panel of docents as they revisit memorable chapters and look towards the future.

Brooks + Scarpa founding principal Lawrence Scarpa explores how design excellence can revolutionize housing for communities in need, in conversation with Maurice Cox, Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

Architecture in Chicago has long drawn influence from Japan. Trace the connections beginning with parallels to Japanese architectural tradition found in Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and continuing on to Japanese architects practicing in Chicago today.

Research shows Chicago has become more segregated by income over time with growing pockets of extreme wealth and extreme poverty. This special hour-long event tackles the challenges of rebuilding the middle class as we mount recoveries in our cities.

2021 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. Join author Carl Smith as he discusses his new work of nonfiction, Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City.

Terra cotta, brick and stone masonry have been fundamental building materials since the Neolithic age. Join us as we explore how these materials make Chicago’s architecture, even as they are often taken for granted.

Add a splash of color to your child’s day when they spend an hour in our Design Studio creating a masterpiece using color, shapes, and materials.

Don’t miss this up-close investigation of Studio Gang’s exciting new project, Solstice on the Park. Learn how the building carries forward a tradition of architectural innovation in Hyde Park, and see what life is like inside its unique apartments…

Sustainability is more than solar panels and green roofs. Join us as we highlight a range of green building and sustainability initiatives taking place all across Chicago.

Join us as we celebrate the release of Canopy Architecture + Design’s new publication, Between the Leaves: On Housing, exploring the major challenges in creating affordable housing and what we can do to support initiatives in our communities.

Join experts from the Field Museum, Chicago Architecture Center and Chicago History Museum as they share stories of Museum Campus over the past 100 years.

In the early 1900s, Chicago’s “bungalow belt” took shape across the outer-ring neighborhoods. After WWII, at the belt’s far edge, this distinctive housing type often morphed into new hybrid forms. Join us as we explore variations of a classic…

Join us for a unique story time at the inspiring Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens, as we learn about the impact of women in architecture. Let your child’s imagination come to life as we read The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha…

Every city has its foundational stories. In this talk, CAC Program Director Hallie Rosen discusses Chicago: An Illustrated Timeline with author and CAC docent Ellen Shubart, which chronicles the city’s growth from Midwestern outpost to global metropolis…

Please join us for a spectacular evening of celebration at the Old Post Office on the nation’s largest urban private rooftop.

First coming to prominence in the Middle Ages, stained glass has been enhancing buildings around the world for thousands of years. Join us as we explore architecturally significant buildings on Michigan Avenue that feature the magic of stained glass.

The rulebook on historic preservation is ever-changing with the passage of time and constant re-evaluation of the past. How do we identify the built structures and cultural spaces worth fighting for and broaden the very notion of preservation? This two-part…

CAC members are invited to attend this special sneak preview of the OHC 2021 mobile app, trails and virtual programs. This is the perfect time to ask questions and get recommendations to maximize your OHC 2021 experience!

Get a special sneak preview of the OHC 2021 mobile app, trails, sites and virtual programs. This is your chance to ask questions and get recommendations to maximize your OHC 2021 experience!

The 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial traces its roots back to a groundbreaking 2006 CAC (then Chicago Architecture Foundation) exhibit, Learning from North Lawndale: Past, Present and Future. Revisit the making of the exhibit and explore the richness…

The conflagration that tore through Chicago in October 1871 is often credited with rewriting our city’s history. Like most everything from that era, the Great Fire’s aftermath was an opportunity for those on the make. But was it really so clear-cut?

In 2022 we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Frederick Law Olmsted’s birth. Join historian Julia Bachrach as she illuminates Olmsted’s significant contributions to Chicago’s South Side parks. This program is part of Open House Chicago 2021…

While COVID-19 has driven us indoors and online, Chicago architects have still been bringing their visions to life around town. In this special edition of our Current Projects series, we spotlight exciting new works from the past year. This program is…

Join us as we celebrate 25 years of the Driehaus Foundation Award, which encourages quality design in Chicago’s neighborhoods. Our panel discussion will explore the impact of the award and the unique and inspiring partnerships it has fostered. This…

Join us in a conversation with representatives of the Bronzeville Historical Society, Chinese American Museum of Chicago and the National Hellenic Museum on safeguarding cultural heritage in the face of urban change. This program is part of Open House…

Open House Chicago 2021 community partner Access Contemporary Music hosts a panel discussion that explores the intersection of music and architecture. This program is part of Open House Chicago 2021

Join us for a live onstage performance by master storyteller Scott Whitehair. In this original work, Whitehair will weave together personal narratives of triumph and hardship experienced by those who survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

What buildings in Chicago are most endangered this year? Find out at the unveiling of the 19th annual “Chicago 7,” a list from Preservation Chicago that identifies significant structures preservationists hope to protect from the wrecking ball.

Chicago is well-known as “the city of neighborhoods.” Join CAC docents Maria Corpuz and John Hug on a virtual stroll through their South Side neighborhood, East Hyde Park, an area filled with architectural treasures old and new.

Don’t miss this special year-in-review program with CAC President and CEO Lynn Osmond. Hear how local architects, planners and developers pushed ahead with key projects and initiatives during a most challenging 2020.

Chicago has one of the largest collections of Tiffany glass in the country. Join CAC docent Susan Jacobson for a virtual program that examines some the most magnificent art-glass and mosaic installations in the city crafted by Tiffany.

Art Deco epitomized the exuberance of the Roaring 20s, but it also included motifs from ancient times. See how images of Greek gods and goddesses added art and meaning to many of Chicago’s most beautiful Art Deco buildings at this virtual program.

Travel abroad—no passport required—beginning January 30, 2021, through six programs produced in partnership by the Association of Architecture Organizations and AAO members in Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Los Angeles, New York City and Prague.

During 28 years as architecture critic at the Chicago Tribune, Blair Kamin deepened civic awareness of design. Join Kamin as he revisits three decades of skyline-shaping towers, imaginative local projects and transformations of the public realm.

Don’t miss this lecture from 2020 Pritzker Prize laureates Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects, co-presented with the Irish Consulate General in Chicago. Founded in 1978, Grafton lays claim to noteworthy buildings worldwide.

Chicago goes all out for the holidays! Join us to hear about the city’s holiday traditions and the way its iconic architecture gets decorated for the holidays, from the windows at Macy’s on State to the Art Institute of Chicago lions.

Chicago has a storied sports history. Join CAC docent Kent Foutty at this virtual program to learn about the architecture of three fields—one old, one new and one completely redesigned—where many of those stories took place.

Chicago’s skyscraper-studded downtown core is home to a surprising number of houses of worship, serving believers of multiple faiths and representing a wide variety of architectural styles. Join CAC docent David Utech as he highlights six of them.

Discover the stories behind two Frank Lloyd Wright gems in north suburban Glencoe: Booth Cottage and Ravine Bluffs, a collection of homes that showcase Wright’s interest in community planning.

Don’t miss this signature lecture with internationally renowned architect Jeanne Gang, founding principal of Studio Gang. In more than 20 years of practice, Studio Gang has pushed the envelope to create stunning buildings and landscapes that strengthen…

Hear from North Lawndale residents about the positive impact more than 50 community gardens are making in their West Side neighborhood.

Exclusively for CAC members • Join hip-hop artist, community organizer, teacher and writer Che “Rhymefest” Kweku on a virtual tour to places that changed the course of his life and career, in Chicago’s Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods.

CAC docent Mike McMains joins two community leaders, Allan Lindrup and Yvette Moyo, for this live-streamed, virtual tour of the South Shore neighborhood, showcasing its rich history and beautiful architecture.

Exclusively for CAC members • ”Walking Chicago” author, freelance journalist and photographer Robert Loerzel shares some of his favorite buildings and places in Edgewater and Rogers Park during this virtual tour.

Take a virtual tour of the former Central Park Theater in North Lawndale, a 1917 movie palace that marked the start of a fruitful partnership between architects Rapp and Rapp and theater corporation Balaban and Katz.

Exclusively for CAC members • Hear fascinating stories about the multi-year, award-winning Chicago Riverwalk project, from two women who worked together to bring it to fruition: architect Carol Ross Barney and CAC docent Michelle Woods.

This special collection of virtual tours and brief performances brings attendees “into” spaces they wouldn’t ordinarily see at storied Chicago music venues, including the Avalon Regal Theater, The Forum, Thalia Hall and the Vic Theatre.

OHC 2020 community partner Chicago Cultural Alliance co-convenes this discussion among representatives from its member organizations. Hear (im)migration stories from panelists and discover local sites that are meaningful for their communities.

Join OHC 2020 community partner Design Evanston for a look at its new book, "Evanston’s Design Heritage," featuring 127 notable architects, designers, landscape architects and planners who lived or worked in the suburb since its founding in 1863.

Exclusively for CAC members • 93XRT radio host Lin Brehmer stops at sites of significance in the history of rock music in downtown Chicago on this virtual tour.

Based on the CAC’s popular "Get to Know Your House" series, this program provides attendees with tips for researching their historic homes, using Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood as a case study.

Learn about recent efforts by the City of Evanston to recognize sites and buildings that speak to the role African Americans played in shaping the suburb. This conversation is co-convened by the Evanston History Center, an OHC 2020 community partner.

Join CAC docents Lance Friedmann, Wayne Johnson, Kelly Jones and Alison Schlickman as they share highlights among the many new buildings, neighborhood developments and works of public art along the Chicago River.

After decades of disinvestment, could historic preservation be used as a tool to help rebuild vibrancy in the Roseland neighborhood? Find out at this roundtable discussion, co-convened with OHC 2020 community partner Preservation Chicago.

Take a 45-minute live, virtual tour with CAC docent Mary Jo Hoag's in downtown Chicago to discover stunning buildings designed by female architects, including the Equitable Building, Aqua Tower and Vista Tower.

Exclusively for CAC members • Join Jazz Institute of Chicago executive director Heather Ireland Robinson on a video tour through the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side, where she grew up.

Hear recent architecture school graduate Migel Santos’ fascinating proposal to revitalize a decommissioned rail line on the South Side, with hopes of boosting socioeconomic equity and neighborhood vitality.

Exclusively for CAC members • Visit the curious, mural-filled rooms of the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse on this virtual tour with Free Street Theater, which is headquartered in the historic building.

Exclusively for CAC members • Hear what inspired the design of the CAC and discover the skyline-altering work of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture on this virtual tour with renowned architect Gordon Gill.

Chicago’s historic preservation movement is now more than half a century old. Learn how local landmarking came into being and how its use and impact have gone far beyond preservation, with Chicago’s diverse Third Ward serving as a case study.

OHC 2020 community partner Hyde Park Art Center co-convenes this roundtable discussion about artist-driven community activations, creative projects and placemaking across Chicago.

Calling all Chicago enthusiasts! Test your knowledge of the city’s architecture at our exciting virtual trivia night. Compete in teams led by local personalities and win exciting prizes!

Hear the stories of Chicago women activists and learn what reforms they led, particularly on Chicago’s Near South Side, during this virtual program on July 15 and September 2 led by CAC docent Ellen Shubart.

Take a virtual walk around Wrigley Field and learn interesting tidbits about the architecture surrounding the historic baseball stadium on this 45-minute tour with CAC docent Kent Foutty on September 22.

Hear the secrets and stories behind a stretch of row houses situated between Wrigley Field and Graceland Cemetery on this live, 45-minute virtual tour of Alta Vista Terrace with CAC docent Kent Foutty.

International architecture practice Buro Ole Scheeren Group is helping re-imagine the form and function of skyscrapers around the world. Founding principal Ole Scheeren will illuminate the firm’s unique approach to every project.

Hear the fascinating story behind Farnsworth House, an iconic International Style home located about 60 miles west of Chicago designed by famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

A prolific architect, trailblazing city planner and civic leader, Daniel Burnham has been described as both a pragmatic realist and a visionary idealist. CAC docent Marcia Matavulj dives into this apparent contradiction on July 25 and Sept. 5.

The CAC’s annual Churches by Bus tour celebrates 25 years in 2020. Two CAC docents who lead the tour will share the evolution of church architecture in Chicago and highlight three local examples at this program on July 29 and August 29.

With a focus on Chicago’s River North neighborhood, CAC docent Jeff Marcella—an expert in both buildings and beer—will lead this online version of one of the CAC’s popular Pub Tours on July 18 and August 26.

Chicago author and historian Dominic A. Pacyga leads this presentation on his 2019 book “American Warsaw: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Polish Chicago,” which explores the impact Chicago’s Polish community has made on the city’s culture and politics…

In Chicago, the Gothic style is often found in church designs, but can also be seen in many academic, commercial, municipal and residential buildings. Join CAC docent Dr. Thomas R. Stelmack on July 22 or August 22 to discover this intricate style.

Driven by tourism, multiple historic Chicago skyscrapers have recently been reimagined as chic hotels. CAC docent Monica Rodriguez leads this online version of the CAC’s popular tour, “Hotel Boom: Making Old New Again,” on July 11 and August 19…

Tune in to the CAC’s Facebook page for a 45-minute, virtual walking tour with CAC docent Mike McMains about Printers Row, a unique landmark district filled with beautiful mid-rise commercial buildings, many converted to residential lofts.

Part of the CAC's “What's Next” series • COVID-19 has created significant challenges to urban transit systems and efforts to reshape mobility in cities worldwide. Hear what strategies are on the table in Chicago for the future of transportation…

Chicago is the birthplace of innovations that allowed for the design and construction of the world’s first skyscrapers. CAC docent Bill Lipsman takes a closer look at these engineering breakthroughs on July 8 and Aug. 15.

Ready to think like an architect? Join us June 29-July 3 or July 6-10 for a virtual camp to learn architecture basics. Campers ages 8-10 will be introduced to sketching and model building through guided lessons, activities and virtual walking tours.

Tune in to the CAC’s Facebook page for a 45-minute, virtual walking tour about the history of the “L” with CAC docent Mike McMains, who’ll livestream interesting perspectives, tell stories at street level and take questions LIVE in the comments…

Join CAC docent Brian Kelly on July 1 or August 8 as he shares how innovative collaborations between merchants and architects, along with the emergence of architecturally significant department stores, brought a retail revolution to State Street.

The CAC Auxiliary Board’s annual river cruise fundraiser has been converted into an exciting virtual experience for 2020! Take a CAC-curated, self-guided tour of the Chicago Riverwalk and attend an online event to support the CAC Teen Fellows program…

Hear the story of the Chicago Riverwalk on June 20 or August 5 from Michelle Woods, a CAC docent and City of Chicago project manager who oversees the maintenance, operations and concession program for the 1.25-mile trail.

Discover the stories behind murals across Chicago on June 24 or August 1 with CAC docent Maurice Champagne. Learn how talented muralists use public art to enliven architecture, reflect social issues and honor both ordinary people and famous figures.

Every building has a past. Ellen Shubart talks with author and fellow CAC docent Joni Hirsch Blackman about Blackman’s book, “This Used to be Chicago,” and the stories it reveals about nearly 90 local buildings.

Discover the Chicago history and collaborate with fellow campers to design and build an ideal neighborhood in this online urban planning camp July 20-24. Campers ages 11-14 will go on virtual tours and talk with experts about their design decisions.

Explore what makes Chicago’s neighborhoods unique and reimagine a corner of your own neighborhood at this virtual camp July 20-24 for ages 8-10. Learn introductory model making, sketching and observational skills.

Part of the CAC’s “What’s Next” series • Bringing people, ideas, goods and services together are hallmarks of urban life. So how are places designed with that in mind adapting to the challenges—both immediate and prolonged—of the current…

Discover women who made lasting impacts on Chicago with a visit to their final resting places in Graceland Cemetery. CAC docent Mary Jo Hoag leads this 45-minute live, virtual tour in the beautiful North Side cemetery on July 7 and July 12.