# Chicago Architecture Center > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chicago_Architecture_Center > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Chicago_Architecture_Center.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Architecture_Center > Source revision: 1353186643 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American nonprofit cultural organization}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{coord|41.88792|-87.623668|display=title}} {{Infobox organization | image = Chicago Architecture Center.jpg | caption = Chicago Architecture Center headquarters | name = Chicago Architecture Center | logo = | type = [501(c)(3)](/source/501(c)) charitable organization | founded = {{start date|1966}} | founder = | location = [Chicago](/source/Chicago), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), U.S. | key_people = | region_served = | focus = Education, Architecture, Design | method = | revenue = | expenses = | endowment = | num_volunteers = 1,000 | num_employees = | num_members = 11,000 | owner = | website = {{official url}} | footnotes = }} thumb|280px|''Chicago Model'' in 2014 The '''Chicago Architecture Center''' ('''CAC'''), formerly the Chicago Architecture Foundation, is a nonprofit cultural organization based in [Chicago](/source/Chicago), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), United States, whose mission is to showcase Chicago and ideas from cities worldwide to inspire better living through [design](/source/design). Founded in 1966, its programs include public tours and programs, most notably the docent-led architecture cruise on the Chicago River, and other tours in the Chicago area. The river cruise is ranked in the top ten tours in the U.S. by TripAdvisor users.{{cite web |last1=Lazare |first1=Lewis |title=Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise soars to the top at TripAdvisor.com |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2015/09/17/chicago-architecture-foundation-river-cruise-soars.html |website=Chicago Business Journal}} CAC includes conference and exhibition space, including a scale model of downtown Chicago.{{cite web |url=http://caf.architecture.org/tours |title=CAF Tours |access-date=September 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325144037/http://caf.architecture.org/tours |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=dead}} ==History== The CAC was founded in 1966 as the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation to save [H. H. Richardson's](/source/Henry_Hobson_Richardson) [Glessner House](/source/Glessner_House), one of Chicago's oldest residences.{{cite book |last1=Ochsner |first1=Jeffrey Karl |title=H. H. Richardson: Complete Architectural Works |date=1984 |publisher=MIT Press |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=gBDXfLHsnc4C&q=Chicago+School+of+Architecture+Foundation+glessner&pg=PA385 134] |isbn=9780262650151 |url=https://archive.org/details/hhrichardsoncomp00ochs/page/134 |url-access=registration}} In 1971, it began to offer lectures and volunteer-led tours of Chicago to the public. It was renamed the Chicago Architecture Foundation in 1979, and CAF later moved into the [Railway Exchange Building](/source/Santa_Fe_Building_(Chicago)) on Michigan Avenue in 1992 with an expanded book store and program space. CAC and the ''American Architectural Foundation'' co-founded the ''Association of Architecture Organizations'' in 2005, a now international membership group that develops the programs and work of public architecture education groups.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aaonetwork.org/about-us/history |title=History |website=Association of Architecture Organizations |language=en |access-date=September 13, 2018}} In 2009, the center opened a new exhibition, ''Chicago Model'', which includes a 3D-printed scale model of the central area of the city and is now on permanent display.{{cite news |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2009/06/mark-your-calendars-for-next-thursday-the-chicago-architecture-foundation-will-be-opening-a-new-exhibition-chicago-model-ci.html |author=Blair Kamin |date=June 2, 2009 |title=A new model of Chicago's Loop, emerging next week in the CAF's "Chicago Model City" show |access-date=September 7, 2010 |work=Chicago Tribune}} Changing its name to the Chicago Architecture Center, it moved to a newly expanded space in [Mies van der Rohe's](/source/Ludwig_Mies_van_der_Rohe) One [Illinois Center](/source/Illinois_Center) at 111 E. Wacker Dr. on the Chicago River in August 2018.{{Cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kamin/ct-biz-chicago-architecture-center-kamin-0829-story.html |title=The Chicago Architecture Foundation has a new name and a new home. Skyscraper models are the stars of its engaging riverfront exhibition space. |last=Kamin |first=Blair |work=chicagotribune.com |access-date=September 11, 2018 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.architecture.org/learn/resources/buildings-of-chicago/building/111-east-wacker-one-illinois-center/ |title=111 East Wacker (One Illinois Center) |website=Chicago Architecture Center – CAC |language=en |access-date=September 12, 2018}} ==Tours== {{See also|San Francisco City Guides|Boston By Foot}} The CAC offers approximately 85 different tours of the city.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-04 |title=If you have a Chicago architecture question, Jennifer McElroy has answers - CBS Chicago |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-architecture-questions-history/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Additional citation needed|date=May 2026}} All tours are led by trained volunteer docents who go through a 14-week training course before being certified to lead CAC tours.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} Many tours in the [Loop](/source/Chicago_Loop) include historic buildings such as the [Chicago Board of Trade](/source/Chicago_Board_of_Trade), the [Marquette Building](/source/Marquette_Building_(Chicago)), the [Monadnock Building](/source/Monadnock_Building), and [Daniel Burnham](/source/Daniel_Burnham) and [John Wellborn Root](/source/John_Wellborn_Root)'s [Rookery](/source/Rookery) among many others.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} Some modern buildings that are explored include the [Sears Tower](/source/Sears_Tower), [John Hancock Center](/source/John_Hancock_Center), [Mies van der Rohe](/source/Mies_van_der_Rohe)'s [Chicago Federal Center](/source/Chicago_Federal_Center) and the [Trump Tower](/source/Trump_International_Hotel_and_Tower_(Chicago)).{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} The CAC also offers tours of parks and public spaces such as [Millennium Park](/source/Millennium_Park), [Maggie Daley Park](/source/Maggie_Daley_Park) and the [Chicago Pedway](/source/Chicago_Pedway).{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} During the summer months, the CAC offers tours of various neighborhoods throughout Chicago in addition to downtown tours.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} The CAC's most popular tour, the CAFC River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady Cruises has departures April–November every year. The CAC offers other tours year-round.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}} ==Open House Chicago== The CAC also hosts the largest annual architecture event in the city, [Open House Chicago](/source/Open_House_Chicago). This free, annual event gives the public access to buildings and spaces around the city that are typically closed to the public. Held over a weekend in October, Open House Chicago attracts tens of thousands of participants from around the world.{{Cite web |date=October 16, 2015 |title=Open House Chicago: Step inside the city's architectural wonders for free |url=https://wgntv.com/news/features/open-house-chicago-step-inside-the-citys-architectural-wonders-for-free/ |access-date=March 17, 2021 |website=WGN-TV |language=en-US}} ==Education== The CAC offers a robust architecture and design education program and has received several awards for their curricula and textbooks including [https://web.archive.org/web/20140420184938/http://www.architecture.org/schoolyards Schoolyards to Skylines], the [http://www.architecture.org/architecturehandbook Architecture Handbook], and [http://www.discoverdesign.org DiscoverDesign.org]. In 2013, the CAC opened the [ArcelorMittal](/source/ArcelorMittal) Design Studio, a studio space dedicated to introducing design concepts to individuals of all ages.{{cite web |title=Inside the New Chicago Architecture Foundation Design Studio |url=http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/25/inside-chicago-architecture-foundations-new-design-studio.php#more |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415191928/http://chicago.curbed.com/2013/11/25/10170478/inside-chicago-architecture-foundations-new-design-studio#more |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |website=Curbed Chicago |date=November 25, 2013}} ==CAC Store== thumb|280px|CAC Shop The CAC Store, which offers Chicago and architecture-themed products, is located on the first floor of the Chicago Architecture Center at 111 E. Wacker Dr. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} {{Museums in Chicago}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chicago Architecture Foundation}} Category:1966 establishments in Illinois Category:Architecture in Chicago Category:Architecture museums in the United States Category:Architecture organizations based in the United States Category:Cultural institutions and organizations in Chicago Category:Foundations based in the United States Category:History museums in Illinois Category:Industry museums in Illinois Category:Museums in Chicago Category:Organizations established in 1966 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chicago Architecture Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Architecture_Center) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Architecture_Center?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.