Chicago Architecture Foundation Events and Tours March, April, May 2009

Start Cruising Like You Did Last Summer -- First cruise of the season is May 2 but tickets go on sale April 1 for the Chicago Architecture River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady.

RD: Documenting the Definitive Modern Airport- open through May 1.

FREE CAFamily Programming- Studio Sundays for the whole family. March 15, April 19, May 17

Boom Towns exhibition open through May 1

Free and located at the Chicago Architecture Foundation unless otherwise noted on the website. For more details on events and public programs visit www.architecture.org

EXHIBITIONS

ALL FREE AND OPEN DAILY TO THE PUBLIC

224 S. Michigan Avenue

312 922 3432

ORD: Documenting the Definitive Modern Airport- In the second half of the 20th century, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport was the biggest and busiest facility of its kind in the world. Exhibition includes photographs that capture the Miesian-influenced modernism of O’Hare. Open Jan. 15-May 1, 2009.

Chicago: You Are Here–An engaging permanent exhibition at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Includes a scale model of downtown Chicago, along with images, artifacts and video presentations, encouraging visitors to explore the architecture, infrastructure and environment of Chicago.

Boom Towns! Chicago Architects Design New Worlds–Exhibition explores similarities and differences of boom conditions in two different centuries and two different geographies: Chicago in the 19^th century and Asia and the Middle East today. February 12-May 1.

TOURS:

CAF offers a variety of 80+ river, walking and bus tours. Full schedule at www.architecture.org

BUS TOURS:

Highlights by Bus
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:30am – March
Weds, Fri, Sat, Sun – April and May
This three and a half hour bus tour highlights Chicago’s wide range of architectural influence and design, and covers 30 miles of the city including: the Loop, Hyde Park, the Gold Coast, several historic districts, university campus’, parks, and residential neighborhoods. Every tour features the Mies van der Rohe’s IIT campus and the Rookery in downtown Chicago. Some tours visit the interior of H.H. Richardson’s Glessner House and some visit Robie House.
Check architecture.org for full schedule,

Devil in the White City Bus Tour
March 12, 22 ; April 5, 7, 9, 16, 26: May 7, 10, 21, 24, 31.
This compelling bus tour and slide presentation is based upon Erik Larson’s bestselling novel that chronicles the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and the emergence of America’s first mass murderer.

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
Start cruising like you did last summer. Tickets go on sale April 1st for CAF’s world-famous Official Architecture River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady.   Cruises depart every day throughout the day starting May 2nd.

DOWNTOWN WALKING TOURS:

Daniel Burnham: Architect, Planner, Leader
March 6, March 22, April 10, April 26, May 8, May 24 at 1:30pm: 
Created for the centennial celebration of the 1909 Plan of Chicago, this walking tour explores Burnham’s career using examples of his work in the Loop. Learn about Burnham’s impact on the architecture and planning professions as well as his unique ability to work with creative talent and community leaders to accomplish great feats.

Palmer House
March 7, April 4, May 2, 10:30am: This 45-minute walking tour goes behind the scenes of this remarkable Chicago landmark. One of the oldest continuously-operated hotels in the world, the restoration of this historic treasure is an inspiring tale of perseverance, talent, and vision.

River North: Transformation of a Neighborhood
May 31, 10:30am. After many years of transformation, River North has regained its neighborhood character and is home to thousands of new residents who have been attracted by its unique mix of old and new. This walking tour surveys an area which retains architectural gems from its residential and industrial golden age, alongside cutting edge designs from the 21st century.  

Green Inside Out
April 25 at 10:30 am. Addresses how architects have taken the environment into consideration throughout history in designing commercial buildings in the loop.

Sculpture of Lincoln Park
May 3 at 10 am.  From the famous statue of Abraham Lincoln by Augustus Saint-Gaudens to the towering Ulysses S. Grant monument that overlooks Lake Shore Drive.

Evanston Downtown
May 6, 9 at 10 am. Evanston has main-street charm but is becoming a skyscraper city, a battleground between developers and preservationists.

Preserving Chicago Landmarks
March 21; April 11, May 9, 30, 12:30 pm. Tour explores why choices to preserve are made and how those decisions shape the future of Chicago.

Historic Downtown (South Loop)
Daily at 10:00 am

Modern Skyscrapers
Daily 1:00 pm

Historic Downtown (North Loop)
March:Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 2:00 pm
April and May:  Daily at 2:00 pm

Downtown Deco
March: Thursday, Saturday at 11:00am
April and May: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 11 am.

Tiffany Treasures in Chicago
Wednesdays 3pm

Great Chicago Places & Spaces:  Saturday, May 16
Great Chicago Places & Spaces is the annual celebration of architecture conducted by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Foundation. visit www.greatchicagoplaces.us.

LECTURES and PROGRAMS