At the Chicago Architecture Center, our programs and events help you think differently about the places we live, work and play. Get behind-the-scenes access to the city's architectural treasures. Practice your design skills while you play with your family. Participate in expert-led discussions about the latest urban design issues. With these offerings and so many more to choose from, we guarantee there’s something inspiring and fun for you at the CAC.
Chicago is the birthplace of skyscrapers, but it's also known for its innovative bridges. Learn about the Michigan Avenue bridge, a trunnion bascule that was invented right here in Chicago. Build our own bridge and test its strength!
Use your imagination to invent structures out of odds and ends, then test the strength of your creations! Drop in any time before 11am to enjoy multiple readings of “Audrey the Amazing Inventor” by Rachel Valentine.
Author and photographer Mark Hertzberg presents on his new book about Penwern, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed vacation estate on Lake Delevan in southern Wisconsin. Come learn about the harmony between four structures on a breathtaking 10-acre site.
The CAC and WBEZ’s Curious City podcast team are hosting an architecture extravaganza! Hear the story behind a famous Chicago skyscraper through a live performance and help stump top architects in a live game of Architecture Jeopardy.
Did you know art and architecture often intersect? We’ll visit Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building to observe ornamentation and sculptures, then head back to the design studio to create your own building that incorporates art.
Join us on our search for art in architecture! Come learn about buildings inspired by art and ornamentation through hands-on activities and multiple readings of “Maya Lin Artist—Architect of Light and Lines” by Jeanne Walker Harvey.
If tall buildings represent the future of city living, what policies and technologies will help make them affordable to the masses? Get insights from a panel of experts on the design innovations and policy initiatives making inroads today.
In "Chicago: From Vision to Metropolis", journalist Whet Moser dissects the myths, legends and shifting aspirations for our city. Get an informed local’s take on Chicago’s arduous—and often scandalous—journey from trading post to global metropolis…
Efforts to preserve our Modernist architectural icons are ramping up in Chicago and around the nation. In this 100th anniversary year of the Bauhaus, learn about the work underway to re-interpret and protect important Mid-Century Modern buildings.
Come learn about Aqua Tower—a modern skyscraper inspired by water that is both sustainable and beautiful. Then, find your own inspiration in nature and create a planet-friendly creation using LEGO®.
Come celebrate the start of summer programming along the Chicago Riverwalk from May 13-18!
Chicago is synonymous with architecture and Chicagoans—especially CAC members—love to share their knowledge of architecture with family and friends. Come learn fun architecture facts you can share again and again at this members-only event.
Join CAC docents to hear their favorite stories about the larger-than-life characters who made the Chicago River the nation’s crossroad of commerce then transformed it into a cultural destination and a unique urban landscape lined with architectural…
Need a special gift for mom? Looking for something unique for an aunt, grandma or other special mother in your life? In honor of Mother's Day, we're offering members 20% off all weekend at the CAC store.
Join us at What's Next? Designing the Future City, a new forum exploring how business and design leaders can unite to make great cities.