CAC COVID Update
Out of precaution, our offices will be remote until the new year. We are asking all docents and volunteers to wear a mask when in the center out of safety for our docent/volunteer community, staff, and guests.
What’s Happening at the CAC:
The CAC is thrilled to host the Architecture & Design Film Festival in February 2023, taking place on site February 1st-5th. We will not be holding any public departures from the CAC the festival weekend. Tickets go on sale for this special event Monday, December 12. Save the date to make sure you get a seat for your favorite films! CAC members will have early access to tickets; watch your inbox for a special invitation.
Exhibit/Tours/Programs- November Recap
Volunteers
Docents and volunteers have donated just under 800 hours of service to the CAC during the month of November. The river cruise season ended and fewer departures account for this decrease. Tour directors will now shift their focus to training the new class in 2023.
Interviews for the 2023 Docent Class are completed. Staff and docents reviewed over 150 applications and conducted a record-breaking 112 interviews. Final class selections have been completed. Volunteer staff are beginning to plan 2023 trainings dates for Education Guides, Exhibit Hosts and Guest Services.
Walking Tours
There were 218 walking tour departures in November. Average tour capacity utilization was 47.8% for the month with an average of 6.5 guests per departure. 39% of guests were members.
River Cruise
River Cruise had its final departure of the season on November 20. In November, there were 110 departures and 10,160 tickets sold. 5 cruises went out at over 90% capacity and the average capacity utilization for the month was 37%. River Cruise came in at 37% over the budget for the 2022 Season, with utilization at 51%.
Exhibits
November total exhibit attendance was 2,135 guests. This included 805 adult tickets, 280 student tickets, 464 ARC upsell purchasers, 165 walking attendees, 180 OTA (online travel agency) purchasers, 56 comps, and 185 members.
EDUCATION
Girls Build! Fall Showcase
On November 6, the CAC celebrated the accomplishments of the fall 2022 Girls Build! Cohort. Families joined the participants for a display of their work highlighting working-class women and the built environment, through both historical and modern examples, as girls shared their designs for buildings to support working women and families as well as textile banners to honor and commemorate working-class women’s contributions.
Teen Fellows 2022 Cohort
The current cohort of Teen Fellows continue to work on their capstone projects – designing a sustainability focused, multi-family courtyard building. Fellows participate over the course of 15 months, with the current cohort beginning in July of 2022.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
EVENTS AND PROGRAMS RECAP
Chicago on the Silver Screen: North by Northwest (In-Person and Offsite) – November 6
159 Registrants/131 Attendees
Note: The theater was sold out at 700 seats. We sold 159 tickets to the event.
Book Talk: The Architecture of Suspense (Hybrid) – November 7
16 In-Persons Registrants/35 Virtual Registrants
11 In-Person Attendees/25 Virtual Attendees
Book Launch: Who is the City For? (Hybrid) – November 10
101 In-Persons Registrants/55 Virtual Registrants
71 In-Person Attendees/27 Virtual Attendees
Film Screening: Nakagin Capsule Tower (In-Person Only) – November 16
98 Registrants/48 Attendees
EXHIBITIONS
City in a Snow Globe opened to the public on November 17 with over 25 snow globes made by local architects and designers. People will be able to visit this exhibit through February 17.
In conjunction with AIA Chicago, a wall-mounted exhibit featuring this year’s Peoples’ Choice Awards (selected in partnership with CAC’s docents) will be activated in the Chicago Gallery. The small exhibit will also have an area dedicated to the partner organizations AIA Chicago, Arquitinas, Architectos and i-NOMA who joined us for our Building Together Holiday Party on December 8.
The Mass Timber exhibit will open in the Skyscraper Gallery on April 6, 2023, and will include a 13’ tall scale model of the world’s tallest all-timber building, located in Norway. There will be a sister exhibit at the entry to the Skyscraper Gallery celebrating the benefits of the Urban Tree Canopy. This exhibit is being developed in partnership with Ross Barney Architects. Both exhibitions will be a celebration of trees in urban contexts, examining the many ways in which we can bring the forest to the city.
MARKETING
Marketing shifted to end-of-year promotional efforts and prep for 2023 exhibits. The new fiscal will also launch key projects for our digital platforms.
Holiday Efforts
- Holiday messaging is focused on City in a Snow Glove traffic, visiting the Design Store for gifting and EOY donations and memberships.
- Media mix is representative of ads across WBEZ, Sun Times, Chicago Mag, Chicago Reader, Chicago Parent, Chicago Loop Alliance shopping guide, Mag Mile shopping guide and multiple bus shelters along Michigan Avenue.
- New this season we have partnered with three local experience-driven content creators to promote the exhibit and create gift guides. @thechicagogoodlife 57.5K, @secondcitymom 14.7K, @kellyinthecity 113K
- Testing a family-centric activity in the CAC with CAC/holiday branded sticker sheets and a kids scavenger hunt.
Come Home
- Marketing efforts to launch week of December 5 with the RFQ starting December 6. Visit architecture.org/comehome for more information.
Social
- New content calendar and renewed original content focus launched in November. Shift has resulted in the following top performing posts:
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- Article: Architecture drone photography – 56,157 impressions
- Architecture photo: C.D. Peacock Jewelry Store – 33,091 impressions
- Architecture photo: Old Post Office – 32,213 impressions
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- Article: Architecture drone photography – 45,545 impressions
- Architecture photo: Chicago skyline – 36,672 impressions
- Architecture photo: Chicago skyline – 16,470
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- Chicago Women of Architecture Forum – 2,217 impressions
- Article: Brad Lynch legacy – 1,421 impressions
- Architecture photo: Central Park Theater – 1,337 impressions
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- Article: Architecture drone photography – 5,634 impressions
- Photo: Thanksgiving post – 1,629 impressions
- Photo: Fall day + voting – 1,215 impressions
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Media:
- City In a Snow Globe
- CBS Chicago Morning News: Chicago Architecture Center hosting “City in a Snow Globe” holiday exhibit
- Chicago Sun-Times: Things to Do in Chicago Nov. 24-30: The Mix
- Forbes: What’s next for the arts and culture scene in Chicago
- Newcity: Chicago Architecture Center Constructs City In A Snow Globe
- Lawndale News: Chicago Architecture Center to Host City in a Snow Globe
- Come Home Initiative
January and February Hours:
Starting in 2023, the CAC will be open Friday through Mondays from 10am-4pm. These shortened hours will reflect in the new schedule for 2023. We will reopen to 7 days a week sometime in March/April, which is still to be determined.
Wifi Information
Guest Wireless
SSID: Chicago Architecture Guest
Key: welcometocac
Comp Ticket Request Form
We have updated the link on The Bridge for Comp Request Form. If you have bookmarked this page, please delete and use the new one located underneath Quick Links.
Neighborhood Tours: The Will Call lists will be posted on The Bridge after 5 pm the day before your tour. Look for Will Call List under Quick Links. If the Will Call list is not posted, you can email ti*****@ar**********.org and staff will get an updated version up as soon as possible. If your tour is not listed on the current will call list, this means there are no sales and you do not need to come in for your tour. This applies to Neighborhood tours ONLY.
Guests must sign up for neighborhood tours on line. We do not allowing walk-up purchases for neighborhood tours. This is now clearly stated on the CAC website. Notes under all neighborhood tours include this language:
- Advance reservations are required for this tour.
- Access to building interiors featured on this tour may be subject to change, due to weekend and holiday schedules or unforeseen closures.
- Ticket price includes entrance to the Chicago Architecture Center within 7 days of your tour.
- View the CAC’s hours.
Please also be sure to fill out the Neighborhood Tour Report Form after your tour. If your tour has zero tickets, you do not need to fill out the report. If your tour is not listed, choose OTHER and fill in the tour name in the comments.
PARKING
We are no longer issuing the parking vouchers for members. The discounted parking is still available at 111 East Wacker Drive. CAC guests and members receive but YOU MUST GET YOUR PARKING TICKET STAMPED at the CAC Box Office or the dockside CFL River Cruise box office. 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.
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.