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.
New Exhibit Information!
As the Chicago Architecture Center enters the post-Open House Chicago season, you will begin seeing some activity in the CAC’s exhibit spaces. You may have already encountered some of these changes, such as a new slate of Current Projects in the Chicago Gallery and an architect-in-residence (ChartierDalix) set up in the Design Studio. Other updates are scheduled to roll out in the coming weeks, including a Chicago Architecture Biennial exhibit created by ChartierDalix in the Usher Lambe gallery and ARCHETYPES: a Designed Object Pop-up Shop in the orientation space.
Read more about upcoming exhibits by clicking here.
New Fall/Winter/Holiday Hours
Effective Wednesday, November 1 through Saturday, December 30, 2023 we will end extended hours on Wednesday and Thursday. The center and box office will be open 10am-5pm Sunday-Thursday, and open until 7pm on Friday and Saturday.
The following closures have been scheduled.
- Wednesday, November 22nd the Center, Retail Store, and Call Center will close at 3pm (CAC WILL BE CLOSED AT 3PM THEREFORE ALL STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE AT 3PM )
- Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23rd the Center, Retail Store, and Call Center will be closed
- Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24th the Center, Retail Store, and Call Center will close at 3pm
- Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th the Center, Retail Store, and Call Center will be closed
- New Years Eve, Sunday, December 31st the Center, Retail Store, and Call Center will close at 3pm
- New Years Day, Monday, January 1st, 2024 the Center, Retail Store, and Call Center will be closed
Starting Tuesday, January 2nd through Thursday March 28th will reduce to 10 – 4, and the center will be open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
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.
UPDATED Neighborhood Tours Policy: Starting on June 1st, tickets for off-site tours will remain on sale until the tour begins. The Will Call lists will be posted on The Bridge at 5am on the day of the tour, but this list is advisory only. Tickets will remain on sale. 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 but you still must show up for the tour.
Guests must sign up for neighborhood tours on line. We will now begin allowing walk-up purchases for neighborhood tours. This is now clearly stated on the CAC website. Notes under all neighborhood tours include this language:
- 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.
More Information on Mobile Ticket Sales can be found here: http://cacthebridge1966.com/?wpfb_dl=898
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.