Programs & Events at CAC

Watch Buckingham Fountain spring to life at ComEd’s annual "Switch on Summer" event! Listen to live music and take part in free family activities from 4-7pm and admire the fountain when it gets turned on at 6pm.

Join us and take in the mystical world of Aladdin! We’ll start with a presentation from a member of the Aladdin production team who will discuss sets, costumes and more. After the presentation, enjoy the Cadillac Palace Suite for a reception before…

The new book "Chicago: Classic Photographs" showcases 100 images of the city taken over the past century by revered photographers. Enjoy a tour through the collection and a book signing with editors Richard Cahan and Michael Williams.

We partnered with ArcLight Cinemas Chicago to bring you an exclusive monthly film series that explores how filmmakers use our city and its architecture to tell extraordinary stories. The selected films will be screened and followed by a discussion and…

Join CAF for a curated trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. We'll visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (including a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house) and the Thorncrown Chapel. Lodging will be at the trendy 21c Museum Hotel. Travelers may add an…

Join us from 12-3pm in our ArcelorMittal Design Studio to work with architects, designers and professional mentors from the Chicago area. These hands-on studios help develop basic architecture and design skills while solving real-world challenges.

Chicago has a tremendous legacy of landscape design. In this four-part educational series, historian Julia Bachrach leads discussions on the evolution of landscape architecture in Chicago and takes us on a half-day tour to influential sites.

Once a landscape of butchers and purveyors, Fulton Market is suddenly Chicago’s hottest district for development. Major undertakings by developer Sterling Bay are bringing new dynamism to the area. Join us to review the design of two key projects.

The 2017 Chicago Architecture Foundation Gala, No Small Plans, will take place on Thursday, April 6, at Morgan MFG in the West Loop. Proceeds will benefit CAF's education initiatives for Chicago students. Cocktail attire suggested.

Creatures of all shapes and sizes have homes. Come build a home that is just right for your favorite animal! We’ll make a mini-diorama and create an animal out of clay. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm for multiple readings of "Home" by Carson…

Obsolete public structures can be found in every Chicago neighborhood. Increasingly, however, these spaces are not being demolished. Architects are assisting in their preservation by re-defining the buildings through creative reuse.

Explore social impact design from 12-3pm with guest architect Ashley Rodriguez, associate at Demonica Kemper Architects. We’ll see examples of her work, go on a walking tour in the Loop and use sketching and bubble diagrams to develop our own designs…

Sixty years ago Frank Lloyd Wright envisioned a mile high tower for Chicago. Finally, we have entered the era of the mega-tall skyscraper (2,000+ feet). How high can buildings possibly go? Our expert speakers tackle this and more.

The Public Trust Doctrine introduced Chicagoans to the notion of an open, public lakefront. While many agree with the doctrine, the past century has been filled with battles over the land. Our panel discusses our lakefront’s past and future.

What makes a building strong? Touch materials like steel and concrete, then design your own house to keep out the big bad wolf! Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm for readings of "The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale" by Steven Guarnaccia.