Chicago Architecture Center

We hope you'll join us for the first Architect Talk of the New Year. On Thursday, January 23, AIA Gold Medalist Carol Ross Barney FAIA will be in conversation with Reed Kroloff, Dean and Rowe Family College of Architecture Endowed Chair, IIT College of Architecture. The talk will revolve around Carol's peerless career designing for people and her steadfast commitment to a vibrant public realm. Gain special insights into her firm's projects and principles that have yielded stronger places and cities, as detailed in her new book, "The People's Architect." The book is available for purchase at the CAC Design Store or online at https://lnkd.in/gc_rgQgD. Get your copy personally inscribed by Carol at the conclusion of the program! Guests are also invited to enjoy a reception with light bites and refreshments at 5:00 p.m. outside the lecture hall. The program starts at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are going fast! Get yours today: https://lnkd.in/ePxEyCH8 📸: Kate Joyce Studios Ross Barney Architects #ArchitectTalks #CarolRossBarney #PublicRealm #architecture #design

CAC hosted another exceptional Girls Build! showcase on Sunday. The girls unveiled their posters of trailblazing women in architecture and design, inspired in part by our exhibit, "Disrupters: 50 Years of Chicago Women in Architecture." They presented with a ton of confidence and enthusiasm. It was also the culmination of a successful fall session—a proud moment for all. Donate to support the program: https://lnkd.in/gnJgarXn #GirlsBuild! #Disrupters #ChicagoWomenInArchitecture #CWA

Congratulations, Deborah! Great to see such recognition for a career spent championing sustainable design, adaptive reuse, and inclusive architectural education.

New Hospital Announced For Upcoming Quantum Park On The South Side https://lnkd.in/eJdF2ZDa

Congratulations to CAC's Teen Fellows for a successful Fall Crit at City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College! Family members, alums, staff, and leadership were in attendance to learn about and provide feedback on the Fellows' work to date designing a proposed migrant community and resource center for a lot in Brighton Park. Teen Fellows offers a crucial gateway to STEM careers for Chicago area high schoolers. Students do a deep dive into the architecture and design fields over the free 15-month course, picking up college credits and firsthand exposure to professional work settings. The course also nurtures a lifelong interest and investment in how design impacts our city, our neighborhoods, and our daily lives. Applications are open for the 2025-26 cohort: https://lnkd.in/gZsaWkS8 Donate today to support Teen Fellows and CAC's larger educational mission: https://lnkd.in/gnJgarXn #TeenFellows #STEM #STEAM #architecture #design

Engineering Fest is just around the corner! On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the Chicago Architecture Center's free annual festival for families returns to Willis Tower. This year, we'll be exploring how architecture and engineering can help lead us to a more sustainable future in Chicago and beyond. E-Fest is the CAC's premier family event, chock full of hands-on educational activities. Last year, a record 1,000+ people were in attendance. Interested in partnering? Represent your organization at a table, engaging youth with drop-in activities related to the sustainability theme. 10+ partner tables will be situated in the Catalog at Willis Tower area, alongside CAC-led activities and walking tour offerings. Apply today! https://lnkd.in/gY4gn_Bu #EFest #EFest2025 #architecture #engineering #sustainability

It's been a busy couple of days for South Side mega-projects. On Wednesday, City Council voted to rezone the old U.S. Steel site for a new quantum computing park and to rezone dozens of parcels to facilitate the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line extension to 130th Street. And today, it was announced that IBM will launch a quantum research project in the city, initially at Hyde Park Labs and later at the quantum park alongside PsiQuantum's planned facility. Both the Red Line and quantum projects have complex funding formulas and development needs to maneuver, but these are huge advancements. We're eager to track the progress and learn more about implications for the local economy, environment, and neighboring communities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gXnyJCa3 Related Midwest Lamar Johnson Collaborative Clayco #QuantumComputing #SouthWorks #MegaDevelopment #RedLine #transit

What a great conversation at the CAC last night with photographer Sandra Steinbrecher and friends/collaborators on her new book "The Salt Shed: The Transformation of a Chicago Landmark." The book is a portrait of the intensive work to reposition Morton's iconic salt warehouse as a cutting-edge entertainment complex. Joining Sandra were Daniel John Majerowicz, the plumbing foreman for the project, historian Paul Durica of the Chicago History Museum, and writer, speaker, and syndicated columnist Heidi Stevens. They covered a lot of territory--especially local history, cultural significance, and the intersection of art and labor--colored by stories from the field. If you haven't picked up a copy yet, the book makes an amazing gift! Visit the CAC Design Store or buy online at https://lnkd.in/gvVhjGxw #SaltShed #Preservation #AdaptiveReuse #Photography

Congratulations to Gia Biagi on her recent appointment as the Secretary of Transportation for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Gia is a valued member of the CAC’s Board of Trustees, and we are excited to see the work she’ll do to advance our state’s transportation infrastructure. https://lnkd.in/gFEhcX9Y

History is what we honor. Communities are what we grow. Impactful developments are what we lead. Home to the University of Chicago and the Obama Presidential Center, the Woodlawn neighborhood will soon have another transformative site in its community-- the redevelopment of the longtime vacant Washington Park National Bank. The revitalized 70,000-square-foot first-class office building will integrate the historic façade into its modern design, preserving the character and legacy of the original structure built in 1924.  The $40+ million investment will bring much-needed quality office and entrepreneurial space to the community, a state-of-the-art Chicago Public Library, and ground-floor retail space. Once completed, the LEED Silver Certified building will be 6-stories. The next community meeting for this project will be held at Chicago Public Library- Coleman Branch on Tuesday, December 10 at 5:30 p.m. We welcome all to join us as we gain feedback on what you want to see at Revive 63! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ea2ySEnN #DL3Realty #WashingtonParkBank #Revive63 #ReinvestinginCommunities