At 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 CAC.
This month we'll learn about animal architecture from an insect builder, a termite named Roberto. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm to make your take-home birdhouse and enjoy multiple readings of Nina Laden's "Roberto, The Insect Architect."
Teens ages 13—18 will explore a new theme each month and work with great architects, designers, engineers and mentors from the Chicago area! In our ArcelorMittal Design Studio, we'll offer hands-on, studio-based workshops, fun design challenges and…
Join us for a lecture and book signing event featuring Matthew Christopher's "Abandoned America" project, which captures the mesmerizing beauty and lost history of the derelict buildings dotting our country's landscape. In gorgeous photography, Christopher's…
In this two-part educational series (March 16 and 23), we'll explore the development of Chicago as a city of neighborhoods and the various types of home styles we have built. From parishes to zoning to annexation, hear how the fabric of Chicago was stitched…
Hear more about global designers pushing the boundaries between architecture and art. Presented in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm for a morning of making and storytelling, with multiple readings of "Home" by Carson Ellis. Together we'll learn about different types of homes, then design and build your own dream home using studio materials.
Chicago is the birthplace of skyscrapers, but it's also known for its innovative bridges. In this LEGO® Build Workshop, we'll learn about three different types of bridges and how engineers built them strong enough to span the Chicago River. We'll also…
Nothing planned for your kids' day off from school? No problem. Let them play and discover with CAF's LEGO® Mindstorms 1.0! From 10am to 3:30pm, your kids can learn to program and design for LEGO® Mindstorms, the robotics construction kits that give…
We begin our 2016 Design Dialogues lecture series with a look at recent trends that are changing work and the workplace. How will we all commute to our next jobs? And to what place, real or virtual, will many of us be asked to travel? Join us for a discussion…
Join us for a morning of making and storytelling. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm for activities and multiple readings of "Young Frank, Architect" by Frank Viva. We'll learn about different styles of design from old Frank and young Frank as we build…
Join Paul Durica—author, historian and producer of Pocket Guide to Hell—for a deeper read of this season’s One Book, One Chicago selection The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream. At each session, we’ll dive into Thomas Dyja’s…
Work with great architects, designers, engineers and mentors from the Chicago area! Our hands-on, studio-based workshops offer design challenges and real-life problem solving. Free to attend and open to all teens, Saturday Studio sessions let you explore…
Think outside the box and design a dream house! This Girls Build! camp is specially crafted to engage girls ages 11–14 in architecture and design. From 2 to 5pm on select Sundays in January, February and March, girls will work through the design process…
How do architects and designers come up with such great ideas? They use the design process! Join us in our ArcelorMittal Design Studio as we identify a design problem, build our ideas with LEGO® and present our solutions. LEGO® Build: Design Process…
Children ages 7–11 are invited to join us from 9am to 12pm on select Saturdays from January through March in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio, where we’ll work in teams and use the design process to imagine city skylines of the future. Campers will discover…
