By Ellen Shubart, Class of 2006
It was a year of challenge and discovery, and now there is no going back to so-called normal.
That was the message from Lynn Osmond, CAC’s CEO. When CAC was planning for, and then moving to, the new location, “We didn’t know what we didn’t know,” she explained. “Now we know what we don’t know,” and it means doing more things in new and different ways.
Osmond addressed the 48th annual All Docent Day audience, held this year at Loyola University. More than 150 docents attended the day-long event. Osmond rolled through what happened in the first full year at 111 E. Wacker Drive, from the display of the O’Hare Airport Competition models at CAC to the hosting of famous architect Robert A.M. Stern, who averred that “there is nothing like CAC in New York City” and on to expanding the numbers of lectures, panels and industry-wide discussion programs.
What’s New
New CAC initiatives include “What’s Next?” a by-invitation-only colloquium for industry leaders that focuses not on the past, but the future. Recent topics included the Smart City movement and Artificial Intelligence in the architectural field. Billie Tsin and Tod Williams discussed their work on the Obama Center.
The newly formed Industry Council provides members the opportunity to discuss important topics in architecture, design and urbanism with other leaders in these fields. Recently, they Skyped with officials in London to discuss city uses of Big Data.
CAC was the location for a welcoming reception to Maurice Cox. Now the head of the city’s Department of Planning, he has been a friend for more 20-years, Osmond said. She is certain he will “do great things,” and it was noted later that he will be in charge of initiatives in the neighborhoods while his assistant deputy will handle the Loop area, indicating Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s priorities. The mayor, too, dropped in at a meeting of Women in Construction just last month.
Education programs continued to grow throughout the 2019 year, with a series of new family activities. “Our big days are (school) holidays,” Osmond noted. She recalled how on Martin Luther King Day weekend, docent Kevin Griebenow created a huge Ferris Wheel model to demonstrate the building activity. The participating children wanted to make their Ferris Wheel models as large as his. The Ed Department ran out of supplies on Saturday and had to storm the area stores for straws and glue before opening again on Sunday.
By the Numbers
In 2019, 129,000 guests visited the center, mostly after completing walking or bus tours. Overall, the tour numbers are good. Compared to last year, the River Cruise served 6,600 more guests, bus tours (excluding Big Bus) increased by 400, and Big Bus/Discover Chicago’s Historic Neighborhoods was up 300. The one exception was walking tours, which fell by 1,000 guests. As a result, a task force team has been formed and is looking at the issues affecting these tours. A report will be issued by December, together with recommendations to turn the numbers around.
Volunteers have given a total of 15,221 hours to CAC. This comes from the efforts of 400 docents, 202 Exhibit Hosts, 91 Guest Services volunteers and 48 Education Guides. Six hundred nineteen volunteers now serve CAC, 122 of them in more than one role.
Looking ahead to 2020, Osmond noted that updates will be made to the Chicago model and the gallery exhibits. She also pointed out the River Cruise season begins Sunday, March 15, earlier than usual, with a 7-day-a-week 7:30 p.m. tour, and 300+ cruises. A new 250-capacity boat, Emerald Lady, will be in the water. In anticipation, River Cruise training will be held again in the spring.
The future looks strong for CAC as we begin our second year in the center, Osmond concluded. She thanked docents for their dedication and commitment to the organization.