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.
This Saturday Studio will be led by Oak Park Station lead Evan Watson from FitzGerald Associates Architects. With the architect, students will make decisions, learn about what needs to go inside a building, and build out a design, floor by floor.
We'll explore architecture from a bird's eye view as we follow the journey of Speck the Pigeon, in a globe-hopping tour of the world's most iconic buildings. Alongside Speck, students ages 7-11 will become passionate architecture explorers through walking…
Sports draw big crowds in Chicago. Did you know that Wrigley Field can hold more than 42,000 people? Explore how stadiums are designed with crowds of cheering fans in mind, and create your own LEGO® baseball stadium.
This workshop will explore the technology, design, and people behind the city's tall buildings and connect directly to your STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) curriculum.
Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm to enjoy multiple readings of "Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site" by Sherri Duskey Rinker. Together we'll learn about the tools and trucks on a construction site and decorate our own take-home hard hats.
Have you ever looked at a skyscraper and wondered, "How did they do that?" Campers ages 7-11 will get to know the stories behind the skyline in this five-day camp. We'll explore buildings in the Loop, hosted by architects and designers, then write and…
This Saturday Studio will be led by Oak Park Station lead Evan Watson from FitzGerald Associates Architects. Students will be challenged to design and build a series of buildings for a specific site to meet client needs. Students will learn about massing…
Soaring skyscrapers, deep-dish pizza and improv comedy may be what the city is best known for, but they are only the beginning of Chicago's story. Join author and Chicago Architecture Foundation docent Molly Page as she discusses her new book "100 Things…
To create its new exhibition, CAF recently paired 50 local architects and designers with each of Chicago’s 50 wards. Their mission? To identify one speculative design intervention aimed at improving livability in a given ward.
Join us between 4 and 5:30pm for an exclusive look at CAF’s newest exhibition, “50 Designers, 50 Ideas, 50 Wards” featuring guidance from curator and UrbanLab co-founder Martin Felsen and Matt Messner of AtelierME+MR. CAF’s ambitious new exhibition…
Join Chicago photographer Richard Wasserman at Loyola University Museum of Art for a look at his “Community Uprooted” exhibition, which explores the impact of eminent domain on the lives of Americans across the U.S.
Let's celebrate buildings from around the world using studio materials, a variety of building blocks and our imaginations. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm to enjoy multiple readings of "Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building" by Christy Hale.
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…
Learn the basics from architectural drawing expert Joel Berman! This daylong workshop provides an introduction to architectural free-hand sketching that's appropriate for seasoned artists as well as those with little experience. Supplies are provided…
Join us for an exciting, architecture-rich trip to Springfield, the state capital of Illinois. Our two-day journey will take us to a pair of treasured Frank Lloyd Wright homes and to Springfield’s Greek Revival Old State Capitol building. We’ll also…
Experience a lecture, book signing and reception event featuring Chicago Tribune architecture critic and Pulitzer Prize-winner Blair Kamin, presented in partnership with the Harvard Club of Chicago.
In May, we'll hear a story about a gravity-defying sandwich, then build our own take-home towers, built layer by layer, the way Sammy does it. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm to enjoy multiple readings of Lorraine Francis's "Sammy and the Skyscraper…
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…
Experience a lecture, book signing and reception event featuring architectural historian, curator and writer Abraham Thomas, presented in partnership with The Royal Oak Foundation.
Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is known for his simple designs and the phrase "less is more." Adults and children (grades 3 and up) are invited to join us from 12 to 3pm and discover the details on a site visit, do some outdoor sketches and recreate…
Join us for a celebration of CAF's 50th anniversary! Activities for all ages will take place throughout the historic Railway Exchange Building, home to CAF since 1992. This building-wide anniversary blowout will feature a brand new exhibition, plus talks…
With the upcoming completion of the main branch of the Riverwalk, the City’s long-held vision for our “second shoreline” is coming into focus. But high above the river banks, change is happening just as dramatically. Join us for a design review…
For 50 years, the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) has welcomed the world to our great city and enriched Chicago's reputation as a foremost center of architectural innovation across the globe. On Friday, April 8, CAF will host Gala 2016 at the Hilton…
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…
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…
Join us for an exclusive, members-only presentation and cocktail reception featuring the talented people of the production team behind “Beautiful—The Carole King Musical.” They’ll be sharing with us the challenges and joys of recreating the show’s…
Join us for a morning of making and storytelling. Drop in any time between 9am and 12pm for activities and multiple readings of “Katy and the Big Snow” by Virginia Lee Burton. Katy’s story will inspire us to think about big cities as we work together…
Join us for a magical evening beginning with a pre-show reception in the Cadillac Palace's Suite, enjoy light appetizers and drinks while mingling with fellow members, then make your way to orchestra level seats to experience the breathtaking performance…
Holidays are for togetherness. Celebrate with us every Sunday in December and design the ideal gathering space for you and your family!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but we are having lots of fun at CAF! Join us for a special winter celebration full of hands-on activities and of course, some hot apple cider.
Which buildings do we save and which do we raze? Often, architects, community members, developers, and other stakeholders disagree about which buildings we should save and why. Some see aesthetics and the preservation of the past as the main values to…
Join us in celebrating the holidays with afternoon tea at the Pavilion, home to The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood. This special tradition of afternoon tea debuted at the Langham Hotel, London, in 1865. Enjoy an afternoon of elegance, featuring a…
Use collage materials (and a bit of snow) to recreate a snowy cityscape. Written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats.
"Come to the Table" is an installation made of reconfigurable elements that serve as a platform for dialogue. The construct is a framework to engage local architects, artists and thinkers in questioning What is the State of the Art of Architecture Today? Brian…
We'll be thinking warm thoughts while we explore how architects design outdoor play spaces for kids and families.
Using paper, glue and a steady hand, Design Studio participants will learn about landmark Chicago buildings and then turn them into creative mixed media collages!
"Come to the Table" is an installation made of reconfigurable elements that serve as a platform for dialogue. The construct is a framework for engaging local architects, artists and thinkers in questioning What is the State of the Art of Architecture…
A journey to Scottsdale, Arizona, from November 12-15, brings you to the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. From his first Arizona commission, the Biltmore Hotel, to his masterpiece Taliesin West, you'll gain a more intimate insight to his love of the desert…
School Design Principles for the Next Generation.
The Chicago Architecture Foundation invites you to experience Chicago 1,000 feet above Lake Michigan with a view of the city's majestic skyline, the lakefront, four neighboring states and our very own CAF docent in the sky!
Create your own flying device inspired by Rosie's creative design. Written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts.
Partner Event—First Lady: The Life and Wars of Clementine Churchill
Come to the Table is an installation made of reconfigurable elements that serve as a platform for dialogue. The construct is a framework to engage local architects, artists and thinkers in questioning, "What is the State of the Art of Architecture Today?…
Hear more about global designers pushing the boundaries between architecture and art. Presented in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art.
In the spirit of Open House Chicago, we'll explore the iconic buildings that make Chicago's skyline stand out!
Stanley Tigerman will discuss his 2015 "New Titanic" along with the opening of a special exhibit that includes a selection of past and recent work featuring the 1978 "Titanic" photomontage.
Partner Event—The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London
Work as a team and use your imagination to turn cardboard boxes into a world-class city!
The changing needs for 21st century design have called for a new built environment. How has architecture adapted to the evolving landscape, and what will we see in the future? Speaker: Ned Cramer, Editor in Chief, Architect. Ned Cramer, Assoc. AIA, is…
Hear more about global designers pushing the boundaries between architecture and art. Presented in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Every action has its reaction and Postmodernism proliferated in the 1970-90s as architects pushed back against the staunch simplicity of Modernism. Speaker: Jen Masengarb, Director of Interpretation and Research, CAF. Jen Masengarb, Director of Interpretation…
Explore how cities are designed from the people on the sidewalks to the buildings reaching tall!
Join us for a special meet and greet event with artist Chris Gorz of StudioChris. Chris will be debuting his brand new The Loop Neighborhood Poster exclusively with CAF, and he’ll be signing his work while meeting with guests. Chris' other posters and…
The September 26, 2015 CAF Teen Academy Saturday Studio challenges teens from across Chicago to design for people with differing abilities. Teens will learn about universal design in an experimental learning experience as they step into the shoes of others…
From super tall skyscrapers to super highways, the built environment evolved rapidly in the decades following the post-WWII boom. Speaker: Ed Keegan, Author of Chicago Architecture 1885 to Today. Edward Keegan is the author of three widely acclaimed…
Join us in the studio on Saturday, September 19, and engineer something cool! Invent anything with LittleBits, easy to use electronic building blocks that snap together with magnets. Great for students 7—12 years old.
Please join us for a special Panel Discussion led by ChiDesign Ideas Competition Jurors.
How will the coming explosion of retiring Baby Boomers affect Chicago?
Join us every Sunday in August for LEGO® Build Workshops to explore universal design with LEGO®! The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 impacted the built environment by emphasizing the need for creating habitable and accessible space for…
Join CAF and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for a brief historic overview of the State Street retail corridor and an opportunity to imagine what might be next for 202—220 South State Street. These buildings, owned by the GSA, are the…
Let's take the underused spaces in our city and transform them into vibrant parks.
On Saturday, August 15, go on a facilitator-led Scavenger Hunt to find out the secrets and stories of some the city's best buildings! Great for families and students 7—12 years old.
Join the Chicago Architecture Foundation Auxiliary Board for the annual river cruise fundraiser benefiting CAF’s Taliesin Scholars. This year’s theme is A Speakeasy Soirée. Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, raffle prizes and on-board entertainment will be provided…
We’ll read about the three little pigs, use mixed-media studio materials to decorate paper houses, and discover which material is too strong for the big bad wolf! Suitable for ages 3—5; older siblings and friends up to age 7 will also enjoy this studio…
July 27–31, 9am–3pm (5-day camp). Recommended for ages 7–11. Math, science, language arts, social science and fine arts come together in every building, but stories are what bring buildings to life. In Skylines 101 students will get to know Chicago's…
Come explore explore architecture and experiment with making a building's surface! You will 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 every month to drive…
Come explore architecture and experiment with making a building's surface! This event is free and open to all teens.
Join us from 6—9pm on July 23 for a mid-year event just for you, our CAF Members! Enjoy a glass of wine and light snacks as you mingle with fellow members, meet some of CAF’s vendors and artists, shop with exclusive discounts and win prizes. You also…
Drop-in from 10—2pm in the Millennium Park Family Fun Tent and help us create an enormous, evolving public sculpture designed by kids, for kids! All ages welcome. Great for families!
Many long-vacant historic office buildings are benefiting from Chicago’s ambitious tourism goals, as hotel conversions are popping up all over the loop. Will we continue to see more hotels like the Virgin, LondonHouse at the London Guarantee, and the…
On July 9, 2015, come see the Fred and Pamela Buffett Place—a completely renovated, environmentally-friendly, supportive housing community by Landon Bone Baker Architects in 2014. This transformation of the 1920s Diplomat Hotel in Lakeview won a Chicago…
Let’s go on a scavenger hunt around the block to see Larry’s favorite spots in Chicago! Suitable for ages 3—5; older siblings and friends up to age 7 will also enjoy this studio.
Come explore how designers emphasize details to make our built environment more intriguing! You will 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 every month…
In June we'll learn to see like designers as we explore our city and create unique structures using the design principle of "emphasis."
Stand out! This month we explore the most attention grabbing Principle of Design: Emphasis. Together, we’ll create designs with EMPHASIS or a visual focal point utilizing LEGO® Architecture Studio bricks.
The Old Dearborn Bank Building, a 27-story Art Deco landmark, opened in January 2015, showcasing the architectural features restored and recreated for this hip hotel. Members of the Burnham Society will be among the first to experience the new rooftop…
With the upcoming completion of the main branch of the Riverwalk, the City's long-held vision for our "second shoreline" is starting to come into focus. How will the designs for this six-block overhaul transform the former industrial waterway into a…
Join us for an exclusive members-only presentation and cocktail reception as Richard Jaris, Senior Associate and Scenic Designer at the Rockwell Group, provides insight into the creative design that brings this set of "ON YOUR FEET!" to life. Afterwards…
What are you passionate about? This month we will read about Iggy Peck Architect, a young designer passionate about buildings! We'll think like Iggy on a interactive walking tour. Suitable for ages 3—5; older siblings and friends up to age 7 will also…
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…
Gordon is a trustee of CAF and partner at Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. He uses cutting-edge materials to build the world's tallest skyscrapers, but at home he admires the 6-foot-4-inch, chocolate-brown brick wall that encloses his secret-garden…
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.
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…