Weekend Reminders:
As we know, River Cruise season is finally here! Our first cruise departures will go out this Sunday, March 17th. This weekend also marks the return of 7-days a week (please see schedule below); we will be open 10am-5pm, starting Friday, March 15th. You may notice new faces in the box office and in the Design Store; we recently hired new staff to accommodate this seasonal transition. Be sure to stop in and say hello!
This weekend is also the annual St. Patrick’s River Dyeing ceremony. Please expect heavier foot traffic than usual downtown on Saturday, March 16th and allow to extra time to commute to the center.
What’s Happening At the CAC:
Exhibits
Between March 15th and April 15th, “Highrises” will be on display in the Skyscraper Gallery. This pop up exhibit will feature a collection of large-scale images by Chris Hytha, which photograph various Art Deco skyscrapers both in Chicago and other major cities throughout the US. You can learn more about his Art Deco Series here. You can purchase Chris Hytha’s coffee table book in the Design Studio.
Following this exhibit, we will be installing “Loop As Lab: Reshaping Downtowns” where we are showing CHicago projects that address a range of issues cities face today and discuss how community action can help to shape the cities we want for the future. This exhibit is expected to run in the Skyscraper Gallery from the end of April 2024 through January 2025. More details to come soon.
Pritzker Announcement
As you may have heard, Japanese architect and social advocate Riken Yamamoto has been selected as the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate and will receive the Pritzker Prize during the 46th Pritzker Prize ceremony in Chicago this spring. The Pritzker Prize is often referred to as “architecture’s Nobel,” and it stands as the highest honor in the field. The ceremony and lecture rotates among architecturally significant cities each year.
The Chicago Architecture Center is honored to partner with the Illinois Institute of Technology to host the 2024 Laureate Lecture at S.R. Crown Hall on May 16. Our participation in the Laureate Lecture is a reflection of CAC’s commitment to fostering an appreciation for architecture within our community and on a global stage. I encourage you to join us at the 2024 Laureate Lecture; more information about the event will be shared with you in the coming weeks.
CAC Spring Hours:
Starting Friday, March 15th, the CAC will be resuming it’s 7-day a week schedule. The Center and Call Center will be open from 10am-5pm every day. We will resume this schedule until May 24th, when we shift to extended hours (Sunday-Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Friday-Saturday, 9am-7pm).
Here is a snapshot of our 7 day Essential Tour schedule starting March 15th:
- Art Deco Skyscrapers: The Loop – Friday @ 10am and Sunday @ 2pm
- Chicago’s First Skyscrapers – Monday @ 1:30pm and Friday @ 2:30pm
- FLW in OP – Sunday @ 11am and 1pm
- Tiffany in Chicago – Tuesday @ 2pm
Updated Parking Information:
The CAC currently offers a discounted parking rate of $15 for 4 hours at 111 East Wacker Drive. Guests and volunteers must get their parking ticket stamped at the CAC Box Office or the dockside CFL River Cruise box office prior to paying. To receive your discounted rate pay at the LAZ garage office located inside 111 E Wacker opposite Potbellies Sandwiches. The parking garage is open 24/7.
Legacy Parking would also like to offer CAC team and volunteers a $12 rate for up to 12 hours of parking at Michigan Plaza, located at 225 N. Michigan Ave, conveniently connected to the Illinois Center via pedway. Legacy Parking can facilitate these transactions via the ParkChirp phone app.
Here’s how the phone app works:
1. Download the ParkChirp Mobile App. ParkChirp’s new iOS and Android apps provide a simple way to search, select and purchase your parking. Just download the app, input your payment information and park!
Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.parkchirp&hl=en
Apple – https://apps.apple.com/us/app/parkchirp/id1457216510
- Once downloaded, search for The Michigan Plaza Parking Facility.
3. Select your parking parameters
4. Input the Promo Code: CAC
Directions to Michigan Plaza Garage
From the south: Take Columbus Drive north past Randolph and Lake Street to East South Water street and turn left going down the ramp to the stop sign. Turn left (a hairpin 180° turn) and proceed to the next stop sign, which is Lower Columbus Drive. Turn right onto Columbus and at the first street on the right, Lake Street, take another right turn. Go straight ahead to the Michigan Plaza Parking Garage Entrance.
From the north: Take Columbus Drive south to the first light past Wacker Drive, which is East South Water Street. Turn right going down the ramp to the stop sign. Turn left (a hairpin 180° turn) and proceed to the next stop sign, which is Lower Columbus Drive. Turn right onto Columbus and at the first street on the right, Lake Street, take another right turn. Go straight ahead to the Michigan Plaza Parking Garage Entrance.
From Michigan Avenue: Turn west on Lake Street and right at the first street, Garland Court. Turn right on lower South Water Street. Turn right on Lower Columbus Drive and at the first street on the right, Lake Street, take another right turn. Go straight ahead to the Michigan Plaza Parking Garage Entrance
Other Parking Options:
Several other public parking garages are available in the River North and Loop neighborhoods. SpotHero can help you find a good deal. To reserve your parking spot, visit the Chicago Architecture Center SpotHero Parking Page and book with rates up to 50% off drive-up. Please note: if parking is prepurchased, early arrival or departure is subjected to additional charges at the garage’s discretion. New to SpotHero? Click here to download the SpotHero app. Questions? Give SpotHero a call at (312) 566-7768.
Wifi Information
Guest Wireless
SSID: Chicago Architecture Guest
Key: welcometocac
Comp Ticket Request Form
Please utilize the “Comp Ticket Request Form” under quick links. All requests are processed by our Box Office Staff, so please allow at least 72 hours for all ticket requests.