CHICAGO ( May 22, 2019 ) —The Chicago Architecture Center ( CAC ) is the city's exciting new cultural attraction which is both a hub and gateway to everything architecture in Chicago. The CAC offers an authentic first stop for discovering the stories behind the city's architectural marvels and breathtaking skyscrapers around the world. The CAC is located just steps from the southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, and above the dock for the world-famous CAFC River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady and the exciting Chicago Riverwalk. CAC's summer and fall 2019 seasons build on momentum from the September 2018 opening and offer inventive new tours, public programs, pop-up exhibits, neighborhood and family festivals, design workshops for kids and teens, city-wide events and symposiums where leaders design the city of the future.
"We're thrilled with the public's embrace of our new exhibits that tell how Chicago became the "city of architecture," how its architects designed and built the first skyscraper and how they are designing today's tallest buildings in the world," said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of the CAC. "The CAC has become the first stop for visitors looking for an authentic Chicago architecture experience. This summer they'll be amazed by the variety of architecture experiences they can choose from at the CAC."
The CAC received glowing reviews from architecture and design critics. Blair Kamin of theChicago Tribune called the CAC "the latest jewel in Chicago's architectural crown."Architectural Digest said the CAC "anchor[s] the Chicago Riverwalk as an international architectural destination." Civic and political leaders followed suit. In January, the City of Chicago asked the CAC to host a month-long pop-up exhibit of architectural models by five finalist teams in the running for the $2.2 billion O'Hare Global Terminal to open in 2028. Curious Chicagoans visited to make their choice and place an online vote.
Architecture-proud Chicagoans and design-minded visitors from around the world explored CAC's new exhibits: The Chicago Model, expanded to 4,250 buildings, is the centerpiece of the Chicago Gallery, an intimate, black box theater setting, perfect for the dramatic film and interactive light projections that illuminate the model to show Chicago's early growth, rebirth after the Great Chicago Fire, first-ever skyscrapers, and today's modern masterpieces of steel and glass. Discover more about the Chicago Model here. Building Tall is filled with supersized scale models of famous skyscrapers from Chicago and around the world. There is a spectacular 36-foot tall model of Jeddah Tower, designed by Chicago architects, that when completed will be the world's tallest building and rise nearly a kilometer into the sky. More on Building Tall found here.
Two new guided interactions have been designed specifically for CAC exhibits and delivered by CAC Exhibit Hosts and Education Guides.
Insider Guide To The Galleries Tour led by CAC-trained Exhibit Hosts are offered Tuesday through Saturday, 11:15am to noon ( free with CAC admission ).
Mobile Architecture Lab led by CAC-trained Education Guides offers hands-on activities in the exhibit galleries that unlock secrets behind design innovations Friday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm ( free with CAC admission ).
Summer and Fall 2019 at the CAC: Staff and docents have created two packed seasons. Summer offers new tours that share more stories about Chicago's rich architectural legacy. Fall offers large-scale city-wide events that celebrate art and architecture and tackle the biggest challenges to creating livable cities.
Summer
River Cruise Season is in full swing on the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady—"the architects' choice" on the Chicago River. Expert docents give the backstory on six stunning buildings rising on the Chicago River, redevelopment of the Old Post Office and the glittering Chicago Riverwalk ( start 3/30 ).
New "L" Tours featuring CTA's public art collection: Elevated Architecture: North Side Art ( start 4/27 ), Elevated Architecture: South Side Art ( start early fall ).
Revival Of Theatre District Walking Tour, Razzle Dazzle, celebrates 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre ( start 6/9 ).
Mag Mile Walking Tour, Magnificent Architecture of the Magnificent Mile, heads north from the CAC and shows how a dirt road called Pine Street transformed into the Mag Mile, or "Paris on the Prairie" ( start 5/22 ).
Fall
CAC Hosts Art And Architecture Fans attending EXPO Chicago and the Chicago Architecture Biennial. Chicago Architecture Center and EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art have joined forces to offer two new joint passes that unlock Chicago's modern architecture and contemporary art offerings this September with a package of discounted admissions to CAC's architecture experiences. Three ticket packages: Art & Architecture Pass $32; Art & Architecture Plus $45; EXPO ART WEEK Benefactor Experience $700 ( all on sale 6/1 ).
9th Annual Open House Chicago ( OHC ) +100,000 Chicagoans explore +250 buildings normally closed to the public. On 9/28 new neighborhoods and special events ( including some built around 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre ) will be announced. OHC is the second largest architecture festival in the world after Open House London. ( 10/19-20 )
CAC Hosts CTBUH 50th Anniversary The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ( CTBUH ) is a key CAC content partner for CAC's Skyscraper Gallery helping identify and acquire architecture models on loan from leading architects around the world. A special CTBUH symposium will debate which building qualifies as the world's first skyscraper.
Business and design leaders create cities of the future by identifying solutions to the challenges facing an urban planet. November's "What's Next" gathering will focus on transportation. The first "What's Next" event was led by former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson. The series is fueled by the exhibit From Me to We: Imagining the City of 2050.
Visitors to the CAC discover an authentic Chicago experience where everyone has something to share and learn: young parents with pre-school kids from across the city gather at family festivals, pre-teen girls take a STEM course built just for them, Teen Fellows gather for weekly design studios and prepare for college design courses, young design professionals and leading architects gather to debate the design of future cities.
—From a press release
ABOUT CAC
The Chicago Architecture Center ( CAC ), formerly the Chicago Architecture Foundation ( CAF ), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people to discover why design matters. As an education leader in architecture and design, the CAC is a hub for everything architecture in Chicago offering tours, programs, exhibitions, field trips, curricula and online tools that are part of a dynamic learning journey for all ages. Proceeds from CAC's tours, exhibits, programs and store, as well as grants, sponsorships and donations, support this educational mission. For more information, visit Article Link Here .
