Chicago Architecture Center

Interesting read on the potentially sky-high construction costs of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). When a total rebuild is structurally required to add living space above a garage, costs can climb into the mid-six figures for a 700 sf or smaller unit. That will deter most homeowners from building ADUs in the first place. It's good to hear that lifting unit size caps is being considered in a new citywide ADU ordinance. This would make family-sized units more viable and lower costs on a per square foot basis. And hopefully some car-free households will consider swapping unused garages for new housing. There are wonderful architects ready to meet new demand for ADUs once the program expands. A couple of these firms, active during the ADU pilot phase, are highlighted in the article: Via Chicago Architects + Diseñadores and Civic Projects. #ADU #AffordableHousing #HousingCrisis #Chicago https://bit.ly/3xSnots

If you're heading to BuiltWorlds Construction Tech conference, be sure to catch Chicago Architecture Center CEO, Eleanor Esser Gorski at the Midwest Forum!

More than 2,000 youth from across Chicago turned out for My Block, My Hood, My City's 2nd annual Downtown Day! Dozens of participating businesses and cultural institutions offered free or discounted experiences on Saturday, and we were delighted to join in. Young folks dropped by the Center to learn how and why Chicago became the city of architecture and to take part in a LEGO Inspiration Workshop at the CAC Skyscraper Gallery and explore the Loop as Lab exhibition. This is a hugely impactful event that shrinks the distance between downtown's cultural and recreational treasures and young people with limited opportunities to explore their city. #Chicago #MBMHMC #architecture #LoopAsLab

Our President and CEO Eleanor Gorski was featured in NBC Chicago’s story this week about Gensler’s newly released proposal for revitalizing the Mag Mile area—just around the corner from CAC. Starting next week, we'll display Gensler's stunning renderings for a reimagined Michigan Avenue as part of our "Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns" exhibition. Come by to check out these beautiful images and explore other forward-thinking ideas for adapting the Loop to meet contemporary needs. https://lnkd.in/gBvJ5XhR

The Chicago Architecture Center is excited to participate in My Block, My Hood, My City's Downtown Day! On July 13, youth from across the city will visit CAC to learn how and why Chicago became the city of architecture. Participants will take part in a LEGO Inspiration Workshop at the CAC Skyscraper Gallery and explore the Loop as Lab exhibition. Interested in registering a teen, volunteering, or donating? Head to: https://lnkd.in/gjnZV5r7 #Chicago #MBMHMC #architecture Angela Esposito, MAT

As reported today in Crain's, there's an inspired new vision for revitalizing the Magnificent Mile to accelerate its recovery from pandemic slump and assure long-term resiliency. It comes from Gensler and real estate investors Bob Wislow and Camille Julmy of Parkside Realty. The study proposes a major overhaul to Chicago's iconic shopping district to make it more pedestrian (and shopper) friendly, safer, more dynamic, and better connected to nearby culture and recreation. It accomplishes much of this by re-allocating road space to pedestrians and creating high quality places to linger. It also proposes an Oak Street Beach pedestrian bridge over DuSable Lake Shore Drive, as a striking new amenity connecting the masses to the lakefront. In 2022, the The Magnificent Mile® Association commissioned Lamar Johnson Collaborative to make a similar set of design-based recommendations for the district, with some differences in scope and execution. We're excited to feature both visions in tandem at the Chicago Architecture Center in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more information on the exhibit opening! #MagMile #MichiganAvenue #Retail #OakStreetBeach #LoopAsLab #OurChangingDowntown #Planning #LandscapeDesign Link: https://lnkd.in/gy78caVp

🇺🇸 Happy 4th from the Chicago Architecture Center! 🇺🇸 #4thofJuly #July4th #IndependenceDay

The Chicago Tribune recently published a Letter to the Editor from one of CAC’s Trustees, Graham Grady, highlighting the many contributions of our Chicago’s volunteer docents. In this excellent piece, Graham conveys the value that volunteers bring to cultural institutions across the city. Our docents are indeed one of CAC’s most valuable assets. Their passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm bring our exhibits and tours to life, enriching the experience of every visitor, and fulfilling our mission to inspire people to discover why design matters. Thank you, Graham, for writing this letter, and thank you to our docents for making the CAC what it is. https://lnkd.in/gaagSaXZ

LISC Chicago's 30th annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards at Apollo's 2000 was such an inspiring night! Congrats to the winners for their unwavering dedication to pushing innovative community development across the finish line. It is incredibly hard work of the utmost importance. There were 15 project teams or individuals recognized in all. CAC was honored to be part of this big show of support. CAC President & CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski moderated a fabulous pre-event panel discussion with Kemena Brooks, Cindy Moelis, Leon Walker, and Juliane Wolf. The panelists spoke at length about meaningful co-creation with local stakeholders, catalytic investments in historically disinvested communities, funding streams, opportunities for Black and brown developers and subcontractors, and much more. And what better way to cap off the evening than with great local food from 5 Rabanitos, drinks, and conversation! The Community Builders, Inc. Pritzker Traubert Foundation DL3 Realty Studio Gang #CNDA30 #ChicagoPride #CommunityDevelopment #DevelopmentAwards #Equity

The Chicago Architecture Center is a proud sponsor of today’s 30th Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDAs), which recognize the city's best new neighborhood developments and the dedicated developers who move our communities forward. We're also honored to partner with LISC Chicago and CNDA this year in hosting a panel discussion prior to the reception at Apollo's 2000. Guests will hear from a cross-section of industry leaders looking to create enduring community development that addresses social and environmental challenges. Our distinguished panelists include Kemena Brooks, Director of Development at The Community Builders, Inc.; Cindy Moelis, President of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation; Leon Walker, Managing Partner at DL3 Realty; and Juliane Wolf, Design Principal and Partner at Studio Gang. CAC President & CEO Eleanor Esser Gorski moderates. Hope to see you there! #CNDA30 #ChicagoPride #CommunityDevelopment #DevelopmentAwards https://lisc-cnda.org/