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.
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.