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.
On Wednesday, May 20, join us for a Behind the Scenes tour at the newly renovated Chicago Athletic Association hotel led by preservation architect Paul Alessandro of Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. Be the first to see the new roof top bar, and the historic…
Combine math and art for exciting results! Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio and recreate Frank Lloyd Wright's famous stained and leaded glass windows. Great for students 7—12 years old.
How do we understand the impact of the recession on Chicago’s architecture? Join us as we uncover lesser known unbuilt projects, revisit headline grabbing failures (think: the Spire and the Old Post Office), and celebrate successful preservation and adaptive…
The CAF Family Scavenger Hunt is a one hour, non-competitive activity for kids under 10 and their families. Arrive at Buckingham Fountain to start your hunt anytime between 1 and 5pm to discover and explore fun architectural details in a walkable area…
The year 2015 marks the 300th anniversary of the publication of the first English translations of Andrea Palladio's I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura [The Four Books of Architecture]. Charles Hind, Chief Curator and H.J. Heinz Curator of Drawings at the…
This studio is all about thinking and bringing ideas to life! Students will read What Do You Do With an Idea? and use studio materials to design a poster for their best idea. Suitable for ages 3—5; older siblings and friends up to age 7 will also enjoy…
Drinks + Design in the Studio is a monthly, hands-on program for adults (21+). Participants will meet in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio @ CAF to explore the playful side of architecture and design using LEGO® while enjoying an after-work drink.
We all want to build like the pros and now you can every Sunday in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio @ CAF. Come build with LEGO®, solve a design problem and learn the fundamentals to create your own designs. We’ll spark your imagination with a new theme…
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. Come explore the exciting worlds of architecture, engineering and construction…
We're inviting K—12 educators in all subject matters to come explore why design matters through hands-on activities in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio @ CAF. We'll enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres while we build with LEGO®, tinker with robots, solve…
Chicago has more movable bridges than any other city in the world! In this CAFamily Studio, students will learn why Chicago has so many movable bridges and then use studio objects to create their own! This studio is suitable for students age 7—12 and…
The 40th Annual Gala will celebrate Mayor Richard M. Daley's many contributions to the architectural splendor of Chicago. The event will showcase Chicago's finest, including fun and funky food trucks in the Skyline loft and music by Chicago blues siren…
The lessons of Millennium Park still burn bright, as Chicago continues to invest in the creation of new forms of urban recreation space. What do amenities like the ice skating ribbon at Maggie Daley Park and the conversion of the Bloomingdale line into…
Tour the new Motorola Mobility Headquarters at Merchandise Mart. The Gensler-designed Motorola Mobility space incorporates the latest thinking in technology, workplace wellness and sustainable design. Our tour of the 605,000 square-foot space includes…
Working on a project for the Newhouse or Discoverdesign.org Competitions? Come join us at CAF for some one-on-one feedback from professional architect, design and engineering mentors from the Chicago area. Bring your projects or saved project files, or…
Join us for a lecture by Minsuk Cho, founder of MASS Studies in Seoul. As the Commissioner of the Korean Pavilion at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition—la Biennale di Venezia, he was awarded the Golden Lion for the Best National Participation…
Members of the Chicago Architecture Foundation are invited for a screening of Love Under Fire: The Story of Bertha and Potter Palmer.
Work with great architects, designers, engineers, and mentors from the Chicago area! Our hands-on studio-based workshops offer design challenges and real-life program solving. Come explore the exciting worlds of architecture, engineering and construction…
The award winning William Jones College Preparatory High School opened in the fall of 2013, signaling new possibilities and innovation in urban school design. The tour will highlight how creative use of space and light can enrich student learning in an…
Drinks + Design in the Studio is a monthly, hands-on program for adults (21+). Participants will meet in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio @ CAF to explore the playful side of architecture and design using LEGO® while enjoying an after-work drink.