Blog

By Emily Clott, Class of 2012

Docents attending the first in-person All-Docent Day since 2019 demonstrated perhaps the most obvious characteristic of the collective docent personality: flexibility. Education Committee members Lance Friedman, Bobbi Pinkert and Bill Lipsman had arranged an exciting educational program focused on Sustainability in Architecture preceded by a catered breakfast at the landmark Studebaker Theater in the historic Fine Arts Building. But the city decided to throw us a curve ball, hosting the annual Hot Chocolate Race on Saturday this year rather than the usual Sunday run. This year, over 26,000 runners participated, running either 5, 10 or 15 kilometers, snarling traffic and making it tough to get to the theater. When the caterers attempted to deliver breakfast at the CAC rather than at the venue, closed streets and snarled traffic further complicated our morning.

Despite these challenges, about 150 docents were fed, both physically and intellectually at all-Docent Day. Sustainable Architecture was the program’s theme. Leading off was Jen Masengarb, former CAC Director of Education and interpretation, honorary Docent, and current Executive Director of AIA Chicago, who gave a fascinating presentation on sustainable architecture in Denmark, where she lived and worked for four years upon departing CAC. Jen explained that Denmark is 85% of the way to achieving its climate goals by 2025. Sustainable building design is just one element of the country’s integrated infrastructure that supports wind-generated power, public transit and bicycling, recycling and composting among other innovations. She reminded us that Denmark is about the size of Wisconsin, with a fairly homogeneous population, so it’s difficult to compare to a huge, diverse country like the US, but all Danes seem cognizant of the need to focus on the very real impacts of climate change and willing to act accordingly.

Thorsten Johann of Studio Gang then took the mic and discussed the efforts of Jeanne Gang’s team to make sustainability a key element in every building they design. They intentionally design the form, materials and orientation of buildings to capitalize on the position of the sun at various times of day and various seasons to minimize the need to run HVAC systems that guzzle energy. The shape of the St. Regis Chicago, with its “shoulders and waists” and various shades of blue glass exemplify this design focus.

Marzia Sedino and Nicholas Chan of SOM then discussed the sustainability practices incorporated into their projects such as at 800 Fulton Market Place. The building has numerous designations that the team worked toward, including WELL, which focuses on the indoor environment. Wellness was important before the pandemic, but even more so afterward, as people want open air spaces “even in Chicago with its long winters.”  The building has a LEED Platinum and Wired Platinum certification, which applies to the technology of the building. The building’s terraces retain rain water, some of which is used for watering; they also extend the workplace into the outdoors and provide a connection to nature. The use of brick on the building ties it into the community around it – an historic district.

Finally, the Election Committee showed videos created by all the candidates running for Docent Council. All-Docent Day was the voting deadline. After an interesting program and the opportunity to see colleagues and friends in the flesh, docents left the Fine Arts Building nourished in body and spirit and ready to face the challenges of the coming year with a new set of challenges and a new CEO and Executive Director.