CAF prepares to unveil new architecture center

By Jesse Wright | Staff Writer

The Chicago Architectural Foundation (CAF), headquartered in New Eastside, will open the doors to the new Chicago Architectural Center (CAC), 111 E. Wacker Drive, on Aug. 31.

The building—opened in 1970 and also known as One Illinois Center—was one of the final projects designed by architect Mies van der Rohe (1889–1969). The CAF is over 50 years old and the launch of the center represents a new effort to educate visitors on the importance of Chicago design.

The 20,000 square foot center will offer visitors interactive exhibits and the histories of the city’s most significant buildings.

“We can’t wait for people to visit the CAC and experience how Chicago architects have influenced the world through their innovation and vision,” said Lynn Osmond, CAF’s president and CEO in a press release. “We’ve engineered a stimulating and immersive space where visitors can have fun discovering Chicago’s groundbreaking architecture—and appreciate its profound impact on the world.”

The firm Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture (AS + GG) designed the Chicago Architectural Center and besides exhibits, they designed the space to accommodate public presentations and a store for visitors.

The first floor will educate visitors about how Chicago came to be the center of modern architectural design while the second floor will house the Skyscraper Gallery, which houses 40-foot windows overlooking the Chicago River and the Madison Avenue Bridge.Visitors to the Skyscraper Gallery will also get to see scale models of skyscrapers in Chicago and around the world

“It’s visually beautiful from the inside looking out, but also from the outside looking in,” said Gordon Gill, co-founder of AS + GG Architecture, in a press release. “You look out and see the heart and history of Chicago. The layout is so unique. It will offer a whole variety of experiences.”

Published July 31, 2018