Behind-the-Scenes: GEMS World Academy Upper School
This program has been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Programs & Events at CAC
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.
Program Archive
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Programs by Audience
LEGO® Build Workshop: Chicago Cultural Center
Construct a LEGO® structure with arches, domes and vaults after seeing these architectural elements in-person on a short visit to the Chicago Cultural Center! Come learn about this amazing 1897 landmark and gain inspiration for your own creation.
Millennium Park Family Fun Tent
Join CAC at Millennium Park’s Family Fun Festival from Aug. 5-9. We’ll offer engaging, hands-on activities to inspire families to discover why design matters! Learn about architecture and the city through activities that encourage looking, drawing…
Read and Build: Science of Architecture
Have you ever wondered how buildings stand tall and strong? Join us to learn about the science of architecture! Drop in any time before 11am to enjoy multiple readings of “Elara STEM Girl” by Leela Ayyar.
Discovering Bronzeville’s Lost Past at IIT
Last year, an astonishing architectural discovery occurred at the Illinois Institute of Technology—remnants of a World’s Fair-era building were found under Crown Hall. Hear about Bronzeville’s lost past and how IIT is trying to recapture some of…
Auxiliary Board River Cruise Fundraiser: Pirates on the River
Argh you ready for a fun night on the river? Join the CAC Auxiliary Board on their annual river cruise fundraiser benefiting the CAC’s education programs! Guests will enjoy a sunset cruise with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and on-board entertainment…
Girls Build! Summer 2019 Camp
In this week-long camp, you'll collaborate with other girls ages 11-14, develop leadership skills, meet female architects and learn about design thinking, engineering, architecture and digital design.
How Bauhaus Took Hold in Chicago
Hear how Chicago inherited German Bauhaus design with a look at the lasting influence of two famed Illinois Institute of Technology professors: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and László Moholy-Nagy.
No Small Plans Professional Development Workshop
This training, on July 24 and 25, will familiarize participating educators with themes and issues within the graphic novel, and explain how they can use the graphic novel to support teaching and learning in the classroom.
Geoffrey Baer's Architecture Road Trips
Planning a late-summer getaway? On July 22 CAC docent and WTTW host Geoffrey Baer will share his architecture road trip suggestions during this special event. Learn about rewarding stops in popular destinations and must-see sites in smaller towns.
LEGO® Build Workshop: Engineering Bridges
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!
Read and Build: Inventions
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.
Frank Lloyd Wright's Penwern: A Summer Estate
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.
Curious City at the Center
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.
LEGO® Build Workshop: Art in Architecture
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.