Programs & Events at CAC

Chicago is known for its iconic bridges. Join us for a reading of “Twenty-One Elephants” by April Jones Prince, build a bridge from a variety of wacky supplies, and then test how much weight it can hold!

The newly expanded Chicago City Model Experience features more than 4,000 buildings and interactive elements that help visitors interpret and understand the city. Come learn how the model was made and hear stories about the work behind the upgrades.

This members-only tour will take you behind-the-scenes of Willis Tower’s ongoing restorative transformation project. See plans for new tenant amenity spaces and hear from key players involved in the project.

Applications for the docent class of 2019 will open Dec. 4, 2018. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend an information session to learn more about the requirements of becoming a docent. No RSVP is required.

Chicago is the birthplace of skyscrapers, but it's also known for its innovative bridges. We'll learn about three types of bridges and how engineers built them. We'll also build our own bridges and test their strength.

During this special guest lecture organized by quarterly urbanism journal MAS Context, architect Jonathan Solomon will explore the roles that underground pedestrian networks play in two very different cities: Hong Kong and Chicago.

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!

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend.

Explore the intersection of art and architecture with world-renowned architect Deborah Berke and artist Samara Golden, in conversation at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA).

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend.

Enjoy small plates from James Beard award winning Chef Debbie Gold in the new Tied House. Hear from the Gensler team responsible for the reimagining of the space connected to Schubas – one of Chicago’s most historic and beloved music venues.

Join us in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio on Thursdays from 5—7pm during the school year to get feedback and guidance on independent or competition projects. CPS students are eligible for a stipend.

In honor of the 125th anniversary of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, CAC docent Kathleen Carpenter will share the stories of several women who played significant roles in making the Fair a spectacularly grand affair.

How do skyscrapers stand so tall? We'll explore tall buildings by taking a walk through the Drake Skyscraper Gallery at the CAC, listening to a reading of “Iggy Peck, Architect” by Andrea Beaty and building a mini skyscraper to take home.

Many of Chicago's most luxurious residential buildings are located along the lakefront. Historian Julia Bachrach will illuminate the fascinating story of Chicago's residential lakefront architecture from the 1870s through the 1970s in four two-hour classes…