Chicago Architecture Events
Notable one-off architecture events in Chicago, the North Shore, and Oak Park: talks, lectures, panels, open houses, and special tours.
Tuesday, September 29
Tour & Talk: Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park ZooAll dayGuided walking tour of Studio Gang's 14-acre Nature Boardwalk led by Studio Gang and Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute. Learn how the design was influenced by Chicago-region ecology and how wildlife returned to the site. Connected to the CAC's Flyway City exhibition.architecture.org
Wednesday, September 30
Lecture: Balsa Crosetto Piazzi, "WALLS"4:30pmFreeOpening lecture of UIC's Fall 2026 Public Program: Juan Manuel Balsa, Rocio Crosetto Brizzio, and Leandro Piazzi explore the wall as both a material condition and an architectural device, built by hand as a critical tool for spatial, typological, cultural, and environmental change. Followed by a conversation with Associate Professor Thomas Kelley.cada.uic.edu
Monday, October 5
Neighbor NightAll dayCAC's annual Neighbor Night: mini tours, the Chicago Model and transit-oriented development with the civics team, hands-on LEGO building with a live jazz pianist, a DJ in the Skyscraper Gallery, and 25% off for members at the CAC Design Store.architecture.org
Tuesday, October 6
Francesco Marullo: "Making a Little Go a Long Way"4pmAs part of the UIC Institute for the Humanities' Faculty Fellow Lecture Series, Associate Professor Francesco Marullo presents a lecture on estrangement in domestic architecture, from Brecht and Benjamin's 1931 conversation to Chicago's steel frames, glass houses, and residential hotels.cada.uic.edu
Brick of Chicago Walking Tour5pm$35Members-only opening celebration for the Emma Stebbins exhibition with a conversation between Art Institute curator Sarah Kelly Oehler and Heckscher curator Jessica Rosen, moderated by Lisa M. Key.driehausmuseum.org
Wednesday, October 7
Book Launch: Art Deco World5pmArchitectural historian Max Chavez launches Art Deco World: The International Legacy of the Architecture and Design Movement, tracing Art Deco's global reach from India and Japan to New Zealand and Eritrea. 5 p.m. reception before the talk, book signing after.architecture.org
Friday, October 9
Our Changing City: The Obama Presidential Center12:30 to 2pmFreeJournalist Natalie Moore (Medill) and historian Leslie Harris discuss the newly opened Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side and its impact on Chicago's architectural and racial landscape. Preceded by a lunchtime reception at 12pm; followed by a curator's tour of Picturing the Modern Metropolis at 2:15pm.planitpurple.northwestern.edu
Saturday, October 10
Intro to Architectural PhotographyAll dayBeginner-level workshop with a professional photographer on composition, lighting and perspective for capturing architecture. Intro presentation in the Design Studio, then an outdoor photo walk. Bring a smartphone and walking shoes. Scholarships available if the fee is a barrier.architecture.org
Tuesday, October 13
Beauty Standards: A Chicago Fashion Week Salon Discussion6pmFreeFree salon-style panel with SAIC's Fashion Design department as part of Chicago Fashion Week, on the ever-evolving relationship between fashion, the body, and beauty. Free; registration required.driehausmuseum.org
Wednesday, October 14
Revolution in the White City: How the Fourth of July Changed Architecture7pm$16Online presentation by researcher Scott Cummings on Independence Day at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, from patriotic speeches to the Ferris Wheel fireworks. Recorded; link sent to registrants.glessnerhouse.org
Friday, October 16
Architectural Preservation Symposium: Ragdale and LFPF 50th AnniversaryAll day, day 1 of 3, Oct 16 to 18Three-day symposium of heritage, design, and community marking the 50th anniversaries of Ragdale and the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation. Friday at Ragdale: presentation by art historian Giovanni Aloi plus preservation workshops. Saturday at Lake Forest College's Holt Chapel: programs moderated by Geoffrey Baer and Blair Kamin. Sunday: special exhibit hours and guided tours at the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff.ragdale.org
Saturday, October 17
Open House Chicago 2026All day, day 1 of 2, Oct 17 to 18FreeCAC's free annual festival offering rare behind-the-scenes access to sites of architectural, historical and cultural significance across Chicago's neighborhoods, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems. One of the world's largest events of its kind, part of Open House Worldwide.architecture.org
Friday, October 30
Shadows on the Street: Haunted Tours6:30pm, day 1 of 2, Oct 30 to 31$2060-minute after-dark walking tour of the Prairie Avenue Historic District: Marshall Field Jr.'s death, the Philander Hanford house, the ghost of Edson Keith. Multiple time slots; advance tickets required.glessnerhouse.org
Friday, November 6
Landmarks Illinois 2026 Preservation Awards6pm$60Annual awards ceremony honoring exceptional efforts in preserving, restoring, and revitalizing historic places in Illinois, featuring a sit-down awards ceremony and cocktail reception. The public event honors 2026 award winners in rehabilitation, restoration, stewardship, and leadership categories. Tickets: $60 members, $75 non-members, $20 students.landmarks.org
Wednesday, November 11
Vacant Stares: Adrienne Brown on Rethinking Urban Emptiness6 to 7:30pmFreeAdrienne Brown (University of Chicago professor and director of Arts + Public Life) presents current research reimagining urban vacancy, challenging standard representations of urban emptiness and offering new ways of understanding urban space beyond narratives of repair or redevelopment.planitpurple.northwestern.edu
Saturday, December 12
Christmas Candlelight Tours4:15pm, day 1 of 2, Dec 12 to 13$22One-hour docent-led candlelight tours of Christmas customs observed by the Glessner family: 10-foot tree, Steinway piano music, eight-course Christmas feast table, hot cider and cookies after.glessnerhouse.org
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