Chicago Riverwalk Summer Kick-off Celebration
Come celebrate the start of summer programming along the Chicago Riverwalk! We’re leading a FREE morning river cruise and five FREE walking tours during this day-long event hosted by the city.
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
Programs by Format
Programs by Audience
Teen Open Studio - May 10
Are you a CPS student looking for some feedback and guidance on your project for the 2018 Newhouse Architecture + Design Competition? Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm, Feb. 1 through May 10 (closed Feb. 15 & March 29)…
Read and Build: Parks - May 6
Learn about architecture from a builder termite named Roberto. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm to enjoy multiple readings of Nina Laden's "Roberto, The Insect Architect” and make your own animal habitat.
Current Projects: New Buildings by John Ronan
This program has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Teen Open Studio - May 3
Are you a CPS student looking for some feedback and guidance on your project for the 2018 Newhouse Architecture + Design Competition? Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm, Feb. 1 through May 10 (closed Feb. 15 & March 29)…
Insider Look: Mies, Modernism & 111 E. Wacker
The May 10 date for this program has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Members Only: CAF 101 - May, 2018
Join us for an inside look at CAF's mission, vision and current activities. This presentation, geared towards new members, will provide insight on the inner workings of CAF and the importance of membership support.
Read and Build: Parks - May 2
Learn about architecture from a builder termite named Roberto. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm to enjoy multiple readings of Nina Laden's "Roberto, The Insect Architect” and make your own animal habitat.
Teen Open Studio - April 26
Are you a CPS student looking for some feedback and guidance on your project for the 2018 Newhouse Architecture + Design Competition? Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm, Feb. 1 through May 10 (closed Feb. 15 & March 29)…
Daytime Talk: The Next Century of Burnham’s Forest Preserves
The Forest Preserves of Cook County's Next Century Conservation Plan lays the groundwork for bringing 30,000 acres—nearly half its total area—back to ecological health and adding 21,000 new acres. Get an update from General Superintendent Arnold Randall…
Guest Lecture: Ancient Prairies and Fragmented Landscapes
The great swath of prairies from Canada to Texas has inspired and guided the photography of Terry Evans for 40 years. During this talk organized by MAS Context, Terry will show photos of ancient prairie, fracking sites and Chicago's environmental pollution…
Teen Open Studio - April 19
Are you a CPS student looking for some feedback and guidance on your project for the 2018 Newhouse Architecture + Design Competition? Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm, Feb. 1 through May 10 (closed Feb. 15 & March 29)…
Architect Talk: Making Old Cities New with WilkinsonEyre
What can Chicago learn from adaptive reuse projects in other parts of the world? Hear Dominc Bettison, director of London-based WilkinsonEyre, explain how his firm has ingeniously reinvented neglected spaces in aging cities.
LEGO® Build Workshop: Harold Washington Library
The beauty is in the details! We’ll visit Harold Washington Library to examine its details and decode symbols that reference Chicago’s history. Then, we’ll make the building come alive as a LEGO® creation in our Design Studio.
Design Dialogues: Lakeshore East at 15
Architect Adrian Smith filed the Lakeshore East master plan in 2002. Fifteen years later, it’s worth pausing to look back at how this wholly new neighborhood has evolved. Join Adrian and others with deep ties to Lakeshore East as they reflect on its…