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| Bertrand Goldberg: Reflections at the Arts Club of Chicago, through February 8, 2012 |
Struggling Cities: From Japanese Urban Projects in the 1960s at Crown Hall, IIT, January 9 through 31st, 2012 |
Global Cities, Model Worlds at Gallery 400 January 20 through March 3rd, 2012 |
The World Finder: Pocket Guide to Hell at Gallery 400, January 20 through March 3rd, 2012 |
Architectural Drawing: From Europe to America at ArchiTech Gallery, through April 28, 2012 |
Chicago Then and Now, a Story by Lee Bey, at the City Gallery at the Water Tower, Chicago, through January 9, 2012 | Design on the Edge: Chicago Architects Reimagine Neighborhoods at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. |
Neighborhoods Go Green! at the Chicago Architecture Foundation |
Send listings, corrections, comments, complaints and limericks to: webmaster
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| January 5 , Thursday |
The Chicago "L" -- Chicago's Biggest "Mover & Shaker"
12:15 - Millennium Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington
Sponsor: Friends of Downtown
Free event
Presenter: Greg Borzo
B\Discover the world-famous Chicago “L” in all its grit and glory with Greg Borzo, author of The Chicago "L". The "L" has been running 24/7 for 118 years. See how it came to be and why it needs to be preserved. The rich historical presentation will be lavishly illustrated with 100 images. Borzo is now working on a new book about the history of Chicago's cable cars. Join Friends of Downtown and Borzo for a lively tour of the "L" through time.
Information: on-line.
Commission on Chicago
Landmarks
12:45 p.m., City Hall, 121 North LaSalle, Room 201-A.
Monthly meeting, open to the public. Immediately following the meeting, the Permit Review Committee will hold is regular meeting in Room 1600, 33 North LaSalle.
Information and agenda on-line
Winning Clients with Effective Presentations for Design Professionals
5:30 - 8:00 p.m., - HON Showroom, 222 Merchandise Mart, Suite 1130
Sponsor: International Interior Design Association Illinois Chapter
$25.00 members, $50.00 non-members
CEU - 0.2 hours
This is a 2-hour condensation of The HON Company’s highly successful Presentation Skills course, which is regarded by many as the single best course in its category. This short-form version combines lecturing and engaging group exercises. Emphasis is placed on understanding the psychographics of clients and adapting to their differing personalities without sacrificing personal integrity.
Information and registration online.
6:00 - 9:00 p.m., - EPIC, 112 Est Hubbard
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Young Architects Forum
Free event - after 9:00 p.m. the bar requires bottle service for tables.
Come and celebrate Young Architects Forum and tell us how you spent your New Year’s Eve. If yours wasn’t all that you hoped for, "enhance” your story and borrow from your friends, books, movies, whatever. We don’t mind as long as it is entertaining. If you tell the best story, your drink is on us. We will be meeting at EPIC, an early 20th century mill building that was repurposed and transformed into a 21st century destination extraordinaire. Let us know you'll be there at the YAF page at Meetup.com.
Information online.
| January 9, Monday |
Advanced THERM-WUFI Workshop
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker
Sponsor: Passive House Institute US Chicago Chapter
$375.00 members; $395.00 non-members
Opening day of two-day advanced workshop, which assumes substantial prior experience and knowledge of WUFI and THERM software. Instructors: Prudence Ferreira and Ryan Abendroth. Prudence and Ryan are both experienced Certified Passive House Consultants and PHIUS CPHC instructors.
WUFI Segment Overview - This portion of the workshop will focus on hygrothermal results analysis and Passive House assemblies. We will begin with a very brief review of the physics behind WUFI as pertinent to understanding its outputs. Hands-on Passive House assembly construction and in-depth results analysis will follow. Assembly construction and results interpretation will focus on using WUFI as a problem-solving tool and comparative analysis tool.
THERM Segment Overview -
•The THERM portion of the workshop will teach a methodology of calculating thermal bridges (using THERM and Excel) for use in the PHPP. Topics include:
•Use of a theoretical approach to thermal bridging in regards to Passive Houses and the PHPP
•Use of a thermal bridge protocol and calculator
•Overview of THERM software - inputs and outputs
•Example exercises of various building envelope connections
•Optimization exercises of various details
•Unique cases: windows and doors, point thermal bridges, varying ground plane conditions
Trainees must supply their own laptops, and must install two pieces of free software before class. These programs are compatible with the Windows only. Mac users need to purchase and install VMWare Fusion, Bootcamp or Parallels, along with a Windows operating system. VMWare Fusion is recommended.
Information on-line.
| January 10, Tuesday |
Chicago Community Development Commission
1:00 P.M., City Council Chambers, 121 North LaSalle
Open to the public
Monthly meeting.
Meeting schedules and agenda's on-line
5:15 p.m., cash bar, 6:00 p.m., dinner, 7:00 p.m.,program, Parthenon Restaurant,
314 S. Halsted
Sponsor:Structural Engineers Association of Illinois
$35.00 members, $50.00 non-member
Presenters: Brett Gitskin and Bob Lukas
This dinner meeting will feature Brett Gitskin and Bob Lukas who will discuss various aspects of geotechnical engineering. Mr. Lukas’ presentation, on geotechnical lessons learned, will feature a major project on the west side of Chicago’s Loop where a deep basement excavation caused an internal slope failure. This resulted in displacement of previously driven bearing piles plus movements in the bracing system that was installed at the property lines adjacent to the streets. The reasons for the failure and the corrective action will be discussed along with the lessons learned.
Mr. Gitskin’s presentation will acquaint engineers with aspects of in-situ testing including both pressuremeter testing and shear wave velocity testing for seismic design considerations from a geotechnical standpoint. There will be a discussion about how this in-situ data can be used on both new construction and renovations/additions to existing structures to allow for an increase in loads on existing foundations, with little to no risk regarding the foundation performance. The presentation will also discuss why seismic forces impact structural design in the Chicago area to a much greater extent than they did in the past, especially how it relates to the new IBC seismic design code. Engineers will learn about a structure’s Seismic Design Category and how it is determined. There will also be an overview of shear wave velocity testing, an innovative way to test soils that can help improve the seismic design category for a structure which could result in substantial savings in the framing costs. Case histories will be presented showing substantial cost savings to real life projects. This program is well-suited to provide useful information to structural engineers at a wide variety of professional experience levels and can help show ways to incorporate in-situ testing into the design of future projects.
Information and registration on-line.
Happy Healthcare New Year Party
5:30 - 8:00 p.m., - AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker, #250
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Healthcare KC, Lerch Bates, Terrazzo and Marble Supply Company
Free event
Join the Healthcare KC and our sponsors for socializing, networking, and idea-sharing with others in our industry. Make new connections for the new year and greet old friends. Invite a colleague to join you at this event.
Information online.
| January 11, Wednesday |
Building Systems Gone Bad
12:00 - 1:00 p.m., Daltile, 316 West Hubbard
Sponsor: Construction Specifications Institute Chicago
Free for members; non-members will be added to a waiting list until members are accommodated
1.0 AIA LU/HSW
Please join Laura Ludwig, PE, of SSRCx for our next Technical roundtable. She will discuss common issues and lessons learned arising from the commissioning process of building systems. This will include the potential consequences and financial impact of these issues, which ones are most prevalent and how they can be avoided. We’ll also take a look at with what engineers, architects, contractors, manufacturers, and owner’s can do to improve the design, construction and operations of our buildings. You’re encouraged to bring your own lessons learned and solutions too.
Information on-line.
Low-Key Genius: The Life and Work of Landscape-Gardener O.C. Simonds
12:15 - 1:00 p.m. - Lecture Hall Gallery, Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan
Sponsor: Chicago Architecture Foundation
Free event - arrive early, seating is limited. Guests are welcome to bring a bag lunch.
AIA/CES: 1
Lecture by Barbara Geiger, Author, Low-Key Genius: The Life and Work of Landscape-Gardener O.C. Simonds
As the Victorian age gave way to the Progressive Era, Chicago designer O.C. Simonds (1855-1931) was a seminal figure in the naturalistic landscape movement and the first to popularize the use of native plants. The original partner of William Holabird, he was instrumental in shaping Graceland Cemetery’s landscape for over 50 years, consulted at Lincoln Park, created the University of Chicago campus in 1902, collaborated with Pond and Pond on Frank Orren and Florence Pullman’s Sinnissippi Farm, and designed hundreds of other projects.
A book signing will follow the lecture.
Information: 312/922.3432 or on-line.
Chicago Preservation Holiday Party 2012
5:00 - 9:00 p.m., - Emerald Loop, 216 North Wabash Avenue and 35 East Wacker
Sponsors: Historic Resources KC; Association for Preservation Technology, Western Great Lakes Chapter; Construction History Society of America, DoCoMoMo Chicago Midwest Chapter
Free event
Socialize with fellow old-building friends and acquaintances in the new year. Members of all local preservation organizations are invited to attend - bring a colleague. Emerald Loop is providing complementary appetizers; you buy your own drink(s). Details are on the APT WGL Web site. RSVP via email so we know how many people to expect.
Information online.
| January 12 , Thursday |
Southlake: Megalopolis including Chicago at the South End of Lake Michigan
12:00- 1:00 p.m., - AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker Drive, #250
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Regional & Urban Design KC
Free for members, $15.00 non-members
Learning units: 1 LU/HSW
Join Douglas Schroeder, FAIA, as he discusses the challenges and opportunities that have shaped the Chicago/Midwest Region, and presents continued opportunities for shaping the form of this region. This presentation 1) describes the changes that have occurred from 1960-2011 in the four-state/thirty-county urban area; 2) where the region presently stands; and 3) introduces potential opportunities and regional needs envisioned through 2060. Bring your lunch; beverages provided.
Learning Objectives: (1) Comprehend the idea of a contiguous, multi-state economic region by example of Southlake. (2) Understand the historic impact of transportation and planning improvements on regional economy in the thirty-county region centered on Chicago during two periods, from 1769-1950 and 1960-present. (3) Learn how future transportation investments can impact the future of the region though 2060. (4) Show where the needs of growth and development will occur. (5) Point out potential opportunities for architects and planners to influence and profit from growth and development.
Information online.
Meeting schedules and agenda's on-line
Exhibit Lecture for Struggling Cities: From Japanese Urban Projects in the 1960s
6:00 p.m. - Illinois Institute of Technology, S.R. Crown Hall, Upper Core, 3360 South State
Sponsor: College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology
Free event
Lecture by Kenneth Frampton, Ware Professor of Architecture, Columbia University
Information: 312/922.3432 or on-line.
| January 13, Friday |
Architecture for Humanity, Chicago Chapter -Third Annual Holiday Hangover at Black Cloud Gallery
6:00 - 10:00 p.m., Black Cloud Gallery, 1909 S,. Halsted
Sponsor: Architecture for Humanity Chicago Chapter
How can ping pong balls, retro view finders and found objects promote placemaking and creative development in Chicago? Find out on Friday January 13th, 2012 when you join us as we celebrate our third year as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing pro bono predevelopment architecture and design services to communities in Chicago. View our projects with new perspective and start 2012 off with a resolution to support community based participatory design in Chicago.
Can't make the opening? The exhibit will continue through the month of January. Black Cloud Gallery will be donating a portion of art sale proceeds to Architecture for Humanity Chicago.
Information on-line.
| January 14, Saturday |
Landscape Design Series: Part I
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Chicago Cultural Center, 78 West Washington
Sponsor: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Free event, registration required.
AIA/CES: 2 LU
Presentation by Lurie Garden Staff and Roy Diblik
Plan your outdoor space during the winter months. Lurie Garden staff and renowned perennial plantsman Roy Diblik will speak about planning tools for creating a successful garden. During this two-part workshop, students will explore the basic principles of landscape design and plant selection while applying them to their personal residence.
Pre-registration through Lurie Garden is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497)
| January 17, Tuesday |
Tour: ACE Technical Charter High School
4:00 - 5:30 p.m., - 5410 South State Street
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Education KC
Free for members, $15.00 non-members
Learning units: 1 LU/HSW
ACE Technical Charter High School serves students have a declared interest in architecture, construction, and engineering. Geri Harston, executive director, and principal Eduardo Guerra will lead a tour of the school, describe its curriculum, and their vision of the future of education. Participants will be able to interact with the speakers to explore ways in which the our KC maybe able to collaborate with the school to create a laboratory for research into environments supportive of this curriculum and students with multiple learning styles in an urban context.
Learning Objectives: (1) At the conclusion of this program participants will understand the Mission of ACE Tech Charter High School and be able to articulate it as an advocate for the school. (2) At the conclusion of this program participants will understand the curriculum strands and delivery models at the school and be able to articulate them as an advocate for the school. (3) At the conclusion of this program participants will have gained an ability to contribute to the school’s mission by understanding the skill levels of students at the school and the opportunities that they can provide for students and graduates of the school as well as their ability to contribute in a role as a mentor/teacher at the school. (4) At the conclusion of this program participants will have gained insight into the direction of the future of education for the school and how the Education KC can utilize the school as a laboratory for modeling that future with improved educational environments in an inner city school.
Information online.
Hedrich Blessing's Modern Legacy and Tour of Their Headquarters
6:00 p.m., reception- 400 North Peoria
Sponsor: Society of Architectural Historians Chicago Chapter
$10.00 members, $15.00 non-members - admission collected at door, by reservations (no later than January 13) required.
Hedrich Blessing enjoys a legacy as the oldest-surviving and perhaps the most prominent architectural photography firm in the world. They are creators of classic images of architecture, furniture, products and environments. Jon Miller, the studio's President, will conduct a tour and will show examples of the firm’s contemporary portfolio which includes major structures from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and more. Prints of vintage images are on view in the firm’s gallery.
RSVP to Judy Freeman at 773.929.0329 or via email no later than January 13.
Spray Foam Insulation and Roofing for the Homeowner
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento
Sponsor: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Free event, registration required.
Presentation by Nick Frey, Biofoam, Inc
This seminar presents basic information about spray foam insulation: what it is; how it works; and where to apply it in your home. Attendees will learn the difference between manufacturer and installer, the importance of the building envelope (shell), what questions to ask a service provider, and how to wade through marketing claims to get the most for your money.
Register on-line. Information on-line.
| January 18, Wednesday |
Residential Forecast
7:30 - 9:45 a.m. - Mid-America Club, 200 East Randolph, 80th Floor
Sponsor: Chicago Real Estate Daily
$55.00
Top executives will offer their insights on major trends in 2012 that will shape the housing industry at Crain's first Residential Forecast breakfast. Our guests are leading experts in for-sale and apartment sectors, with expertise in both the downtown and suburban markets. They will share their experiences gained from navigating a market that has sent home prices plunging and apartment rents soaring.
Participants will include Stephen Baird, president and chief executive officer, Baird & Warner Inc.;
Steven Fifield, founder and chairman, Fifield Cos.; Andy Konovodoff, president of K. Hovnanian Homes, and David "Buzz" Ruttenberg, founder, Belgravia Group, Ltd.; president, Lakewest Inc. Alby Gallun, senior reporter, Crain's Chicago Business, will moderate.
Information and registration on-line.
12:15 - 1:00 p.m. - Lecture Hall Gallery, Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan
Sponsor: Chicago Architecture Foundation
Free event - arrive early, seating is limited. Guests are welcome to bring a bag lunch.
AIA/CES: 1
Lecture by Ben Helphand, Executive Director of NeighborSpace and Beth White, Chicago Region Director of the Trust for Public Land
A discussion of the planned Bloomingdale Trail, the nearly three-mile-long elevated park running through and over the City's near northwest side. Hear about the embankment's history as a railroad, the development of the idea to turn it into a linear park, and the current status of the Trail's design and development.
Information: 312/922.3432 or on-line.
| January 19, Thursday |
The Architecture of Brno Functionalism, 1919-1939
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 250
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Historic Resources KC
Free for members, Non-members $15.00
1 LU
Brno, the capital of Moravia and the second largest city in the Czech Republic, was one of the centers of European modern 
architecture during the interwar period. Adolf Loos (1870-1933) was born in Brno, Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) studied at the Higher State Crafts School there, and Villa Tugendhat (1930) was built there by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Apart from these names, however, the phenomenon of Brno Functionalism was created over the years 1919 to 1939 by approximately a dozen local architects with Bohuslav Fuchs (1895-19720) and Ernst Wiesner (1890-1971) at the forefront. In America, the work of Brno Functionalists was introduced by the International Exhibition of Modern Architecture at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1932. Additionally, several Jewish architects from Brno settled in the US after World War II and continued in developing the International Style.
Petr Pelcak is a partner in the Brno firm of Pelcak a Partner Architekti and a professor at Brno University of Technology. He will present the architecture of “Brno White Functionalism” of the 1920s and 1930s, introducing it within the historical context of city planning and architecture in nineteen century Brno. Employing examples of contemporary Brno architecture, he will demonstrate how a powerful modern tradition developed in his city during the interwar period.
Bring your lunch; beverages provided.
Information: 312/670.7770; Information and registration on-line.
12:15 - 1:00 p.m. - Chicago Cultural Center, 77 West Randolph, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 2nd floor
Sponsor: Landmarks Illinois
Free event
Lecture by Edward W. Wolner, author and architectural historian
Henry Ives Cobb (1859–1931) was responsible for an extraordinarily rich chapter in the city’s turn-of-the-century building boom. Author Edward W. Wolner, Henry Ives Cobb’s Chicago, will discuss the architect’s lasting importance as a designer of the private and public institutions that continue to enrich Chicago’s exceptional architectural heritage. The book will be available for purchase and a book signing will follow the lecture.
Information: on-line.
Time and place tentative: 1:00 P.M., City Council Chambers 121 N. LaSalle Street
Open to the public
Commission meeting and schedule and agenda's on-line
Mies Here and There—Restoration of the Villa Tugenhadt, Czech Republic
6:00 p.m. - Lecture Hall Gallery, Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan
Sponsor: Chicago Architecture Foundation
Free for CAF and Mies van der Rohe Society members, $10.00 non-members
AIA/CES: 1
The Tugendhat House, located in Brno, Czech Republic, is the last major home built by Mies van der Rohe in Europe before moving to the United States. Built in 1930 and situated on a sloping grade, the house was designed as a large and luxurious villa for Grete and Fritz Tugendhat. The house has been largely not accessible to the public throughout its history, but in 2005, plans were made by the Czech Republic to restore this structure. This lecture will feature architects Iveta Cerná, Head of Villa Tugendhat, Secretary of THICOM Tugendhat House International Committee, and Ivo Hammer, Conservator/Restorer and Chairman of THICOM Tugendhat House International Committee for an illustrated talk about the restoration project.
Information: 312/922.3432 or on-line.
Connecting with the Past:
The Harold Washington Memorial Library Center
6:00 p.m. - The Richard H. Driehaus Museum, 50 East Erie
Sponsor: Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Chicago-Midwest
Free for members; $25.00 general public. Space limited, registration required.
Thomas Beeby, architect and principal of HBRA in Chicago, will discuss the history of the development of the design of the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago. The talk will include the intellectual and artistic history of the city in relation to architecture from its inception to the time of the library’s completion. The ideas behind the planning, technical systems, and ornamental construction will also be discussed in detail.
Information: and registration on-line.
Building Science Lessons from the Honey Bee
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. - AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 250
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Environment KC/COTE
Free for members, Non-members $15.00. Bees admitted free when accompanied by an architect.
1.5 LU/HSW/SD
What lessons might we learn from the 90 million years of evolution and building science embodied in the work and structures of the honey bee? For temperature management, thermal storage, indoor air quality, active and passive ventilation techniques, and energy efficiency, the honey bee has developed a highly efficient construction system to support its biological needs. R. Christopher “Chris” Mathis (MC2 – Mathis Consulting Company) has spent the past 30 years focusing on how buildings and building products perform – from energy efficiency to code compliance to sustainability and long-term performance durability - and keeping bees at his home in North Carolina. Attendees will be challenged to consider how we might employ these time-tested building science lessons into today’s architecture and engineering practice, as well as challenging our current definitions of “sustainability.”
Information: 312/670.7770; Information and registration on-line.
Structural Insulated Panels: Understanding their Use and Application
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento
Sponsor: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Free event, registration required.
Presentation by Alan Feinerman,Thermal Conservation Technologies, and David Thomas, Energy Panel Structures.
Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) are quickly becoming a key component of energy efficient green buildings. Properly using SIPs, however, requires an understanding of how they are designed, the materials used in their construction, and installation/integration into the building envelope. Join our guest experts as they explore different SIP technologies, and how they can make a dramatic difference in heating and cooling bills.
Registration on-line. Information on-line.
| January 20, Friday |
Voices: Ryan Griffis, Lize Mogel, and Sarah Ross
12:00 - 1:30 p.m. - Gallery 400 Lecture Room, 400 South Peoria
Sponsor: Gallery 400
Free event
Ryan Griffis, Lize Mogel, and Sarah Ross created the exhibition Global Cities, Model Worlds which runs at Gallery 400 through March 3, 2012, out of shared interests in urban space and social justice. They will present projects from their individual practices.Ryan Griffis, of The Temporary Travel Office, will present their work as unsolicited consultants to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in North Florida. Lize Mogel will discuss recent counter-cartographic projects—maps and mappings that produce new understandings of social and political issues. Sarah Ross will present work that engages common spaces such as bus benches, landscaping, and sidewalks, and that reveals subtle forms of control in architecture and urban planning.
Information on-line.
Beyond Burnham Event- Re-Envisioning Navy Pier
5:00 p.m., reception, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., program - DePaul University, Dublin Room, 14 East Jackson, Suite 1601
Sponsor: Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, DePaul University
Free event, RSVP
At this lively roundtable discussion, panelists will look at the historic planning efforts behind Navy Pier and the lessons learned as Chicago embarks on a new master plan for this popular urban amenity. We are fortunate to have six individuals who were critical to Navy Pier's transformation during the period between 1989-94 lead our discussion. Panelists will include:
Butler worked on the redesigning of the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, which won an award from the Architectural Society of America. In 1988, he worked as a consultant at Navy Pier. In 1991, he was appointed as the General Manager of Navy Pier, which occured during the major rebuilding of the pier. He stayed with Navy Pier until 1994, which was through its first year of operation.RSVP via . Information: 312/670.7770; Information on-line.
Open Reception, Global Cities, Model Worlds and The World Finder
5:00 to 8:00 p.m. - Gallery 400 Lecture Room, 400 South Peoria
Sponsor: Gallery 400
Free event
Opening reception for two exhibitions.
Global Cities, Model Worlds artists Ryan Griffis, Lize Mogel, and Sarah Ross explore the spatial and social impacts of “mega events,” such as the Olympics and World’s Fairs. The host cities of these international spectacles seek to transform themselves into “global cities” through planning, architecture, and ideology. Locally, these events pave the way for redevelopment projects that can create new public resources such as parks, stadiums, or transportation infrastructure, but often result in significant displacement of residents or industry, reinforcing existing inequalities. More »
The World Finder investigates the 1893 engineer and dramatist Steele MacKaye who set out to build the Spectatorium, the world’s largest theater, for the world’s largest event, the World’s Columbian Exposition. Within this immense space, MacKaye intended to present The World Finder, an epic in four acts that told the story of Columbus’ voyage to America. However, the financial panic of 1893 deprived the project of funds and the Spectatorium was never completed. Pocket Guide to Hell revisits this story of big dreams and bigger failures with a selection of related artifacts and an abridged performance of The World Finder.
Information on-line.
| January 21, Saturday |
Future City 2012 Chicago Regional Finals
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., judging of projects; 3:00 p.m., awards ceremony, University of Illinois at Chicago, Student Center East, 750 South Halsted
Sponsor: Future City Chicago
Free event
In conjunction with National Engineers Week, Chicago engineering societies will be hosting a student design competition in area schools. The contest, known as the "Future City CompetitionTM" (www.futurecitychicago.org), will require middle grade students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades with the assistance of an engineer mentor, to design a future city with SimCity 4 Deluxe software and then build three-dimensional table top model to scale.
This program has been developed by engineers to provide much needed technological education to the students. According to Bob Johnson, spokesman for the Chicago program, the competition is in its nineteenth year and is the only one of the 39 regional programs that has competed continuously in all years. "Currently schools are assembling their models. Besides building a model students will be required to write an essay.“ This year’s essay topic is – Fuel Your Future: Imagine new ways to meet our energy needs and maintain a healthy planet. Students will also write a City Narrative outlining the key features of their city.
Information on-line.
Celebration of the Reopening of the Villa Tugendhat: Mies Here and There
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - McCormick Tribune Campus Center, IIT, 3201 S. State
Sponsor: School of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology, Mies van der Rohe Society
Free event, open for the public
9 a.m. -- Opening Remarks:
Dean Donna Robertson
9:15 a.m. -- Mies There: Restoration of the Villa Tugendhat
Iveta Cerna, Architect, Head of the Project Office at the Villa and Secretary of Tugendhat House International Committee and Ivo Hammer, University Professor (retired), restorer and conservator, and Chairman of Tugendhat House International Committee
10 a.m. -- Mies Here: Mies in the US and the Villa Tugendhat
Dirk Lohan, Principal, Lohan Anderson
11 a.m. -- The Role of the Brno School of Architects on and in the Modern Movement in Architecture
Professor Petr Pelcak, School of Architecture, Brno University of Technology
12 p.m. - Panel Discussion
12:30 p.m. - Exhibition of the Villa Tugendhat, Graham Resource Center at the Lower Level, Crown Hall
Information: 312/567.3312; Information on-line.
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento
Sponsor: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Free event, registration required.
Presentation by Anna Huttel, dbHMS
Have you heard of the Living Building Challenge? Find out what the challenge is all about, from inspirations to the nuts and bolts of a restorative design. The challenge takes an entirely new approach to analyzing design and construction compared to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system. Through an overview of each design category, photos and a question and answer session, you’ll gain an understanding of the challenge, how you can get involved, as well as where to go for additional resources.
Register on-line. Information on-line.
| January 24, Tuesday |
How do design and construction firms differ in their use of BIM?
5:00 p.m., registration, 5:30 p.m., dinner, 6:30 p.m., program, the Union League, 65 W. Jackson
Sponsor: Construction Specifications Institute Chicago
Free for members; non-members $45.00
Presentation by : Paul F. Aubin, Paul F. Aubin Consulting Services; and Jim R. Schrader, BIM Manager, Power Construction
Architects and contractors view and utilize BIM in different ways and these knowledgeable presenters will address these issues from their unique perspectives. After the presentations, a series of questions and scenarios will be offered for commentary. Questions will address how design/construction professionals can use BIM to achieve mutual goals, what are the expectations, and how can roadblocks be eliminated in the building process. Attendees are encouraged to submit questions prior to the program to assure the most universal issues are addressed in the time allowed.
Information on-line.
Planning for and with Ecosystem Services
5:30 P.M. - Burnham Conference Center at APA, 205 N. Michigan., Suite 1200,
Sponsor: American Planning Association
Free event
CM 1.0
Because all communities benefit from resources and processes supplied by natural ecosystems, ecology can be an important lens for viewing planning and site design. While many planners support and philosophically align with LEED, SITES, and the growing ecological design culture, they may feel ill-equipped to apply scientific findings to planning projects.
Jacob Blue from Applied Ecological Services will explore how science can inform planning decisions from the planner's and scientist's perspectives and provide planners with basic, practical tools for incorporating ecological decisions into their work.
RSVP on-line. Information: on-line.
7:30 P.M. - Glencoe Public Library, 320 Park Avenue, Glencoe
Sponsor: Glencoe Public Library
Free event
The new home on Washington Street perfectly complements its traditional neighborhood, but inside it’s anything but conventional. A significant lesson in sustainable design, the Slotnick residence is one of the state’s first LEED Platinum homes, possibly making it Glencoe's Greenest Home. Learn all about it from the architect, Nathan Kipnis, who also will provide an overview of green concepts that may be used in both new and renovation projects. Homeowners Natalie and Barry Slotnick will be present to speak about what it’s like to live in their green home. Mr.Kipnis is the principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning, an Evanston firm that specializes in green and sustainable architectural practices.
Information: on-line.
| January 25, Wednesday |
Small Projects, Big Talent
12:15 - 1:00 p.m. - Lecture Hall Gallery, Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan
Sponsor: Chicago Architecture Foundation
Free event - arrive early, seating is limited. Guests are welcome to bring a bag lunch.
AIA/CES: 1
Lecture by Zurich Esposito, Julie Liska, Pat Saldana Natke, Rob Natke, Steven Suski, and John DeSalvo
Hear from the award winners of the Small Firm/Small Project Award program who have been recognized for their high-quality work coming out of several small Chicago architectural firms. A brief overview of the competition will be followed by architects presenting on their winning work. This program will be introduced by Zurich Esposito, Executive Vice President AIA Chicago together with award winning architects Julie Liska, AIA, Patricia Saldaña Natke, AIA, Robert Natke, AIA, Steven Suski, AIA, and John DeSalvo, AIA. A short question and answer period to ask the architects will follow. This program is presented by the AIA Chicago Small Practitioners Group. The goal of this award program is to raise public awareness of the value that architects bring to small projects and to promote small practitioners as a resource for design excellence. All firms in the competition have fewer than 10 licensed architects & architectural interns.
Information: 312/922.3432 or on-line.
North Grant Park Renovation Project
4:00 -:600 p.m. - Block 37, 108 North State Street, Pedway at Lower Level
Sponsor: Grant Park Advisory Council
Public event
The Chicago Park District, Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and the Grant Park Conservancy/Advisory Council will present more detailed and refined plans for the North Grant Park/Daley Bicentennial Plaza park project. The new park's boundaries in Daley Bicentennial Plaza, directly east of Millennium Park, are from Columbus Drive to the Cancer Survivors Garden (not including it) and from Monroe Street to Randolph Street.
The renderings will be on display for over a week at Block 37. The pedway has foot traffic of roughly 100,000 people per week.
This is a very exciting plan and we want to hear your input.
Information on-line.
Chicago Building Code Review for Residential Projects
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. - Northworks Architects, 1664 North Ada
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Residential Design KC
Free for members, Non-members $15.00. Limited to 25 participants.
1.25 LU/HSW
AIA members are invited to a Chicago Building Code Review, presented by Marco Gutierrez of MAG Architects and Code Consultants. Marco will address the current code and how it relates to the process of permit approvals and construction inspections of residential building projects in Chicago. Refreshments provided by Northworks. Plenty of free street parking. Limited to 25 participants.
Learning Objectives: (1) Learn about the details of the current Chicago Building Code and how it addresses residential projects. (2) Learn how to best approach the building code analysis during preliminary design of a residential project. (3) Learn the critical design and specification items to include in the Permit Drawings for intake at the Chicago Department of Buildings. (4) Review recommended approach to building permit review, when addressing complex code issues for permit approval.
Information: 312/670.7770; Information and registration on-line.
Book Reception with Margaret McCurry, FAIA, IIDA, ASID
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - Poliform showroom, 445 North Franklin
Sponsor: AIA Chicago
Free event
A book signing reception in celebration of the publication of Distillations: The Architecture of Margaret McCurry (ORO Editions) at the Poliform showroom. The publisher writes: "Margaret McCurry is one the the most published female architects of American residential design. She synthesizes elements of both traditional and modern architecture in this extraordinary series of private residences. Her book presents her work through beautiful photography and drawings with a thematic concept which ties together her projects through the search for a new American architecture. By way of a careful selection of private residences, Margaret McCurry's architecture conveys its warmth and civility through sensitivity to light, landscape and spatial acuity." Book sales will be conducted by the Seminary Co-op, and Margaret will sign copies.
Information: 312/670.7770; Information and registration on-line.
6:00 p.m., The Graham Foundation, 4 West Burton
Sponsor: Graham Foundation
Free event, Registration required.
Lecture by Luis Urculo, the Madrid-based architect whose work is characterized by an unusual portrayal of architecture in the form of illustrations, animations, installations, and interiors. He studied at the ETSAM Madrid, at the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago and at the Institute of Design and has collaborated with Alberto Campo Baeza, Mansilla-Tuñon and Izaskun Chinchilla. In 2006, he opened his own studio developing ephemeral architecture projects, stage designs and video-installations for Conde Nást, Philippe Starck and Sybilla, among others. His work has been exhibited at the XI Bienale di Architettura di Venezia, Montevideo Bienial, COAM Foundation and other locations. He also works as a teacher with Jaime Hayón for Master of European Design Labs at Instituto Europeo di Design, Madrid.
Registration and information on-line.
Preparing the Ground for "A Year to Grow"
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. - AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker, #250
Sponsor: AIA Chicago Community Interface Committee
Free for members, Non-members $15.00.
1 LU/HSW
The Community Interface Committee inaugurates a yearlong exploration of the role architects can play in the development of urban agriculture and community-centered food systems in the Chicago area. The aim is to grow participants’ understanding of the emerging urban agriculture and community-based food movement and its significance for architects, planners, and designers. The CIC is looking to uncover new ways of relating to and operating in the urban landscape, ways that nourish residents, cultivate local networks, and enhance the value of increasingly shared resources.
Speakers: Rodger Cooley (food systems planner, urban agriculture advocate, IIT instructor); Katherine Darnstadt, AIA (director, Chicago Chapter of Architecture for Humanity, principal at Latent Design, SAIC instructor); Kevin Pierce, AIA (sustainability leader and urban agriculture advocate, Resource Center COO); moderator: Monica Chadha, (ImpACT [Detroit] Initiative Director, IIT instructor).
Information: 312/670.7770; Information and registration on-line.
Green Roofing for the Homeowner and DIY-er
6::00 - 8:00 p.m. - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive
Sponsor: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Free event, registration required.
Presentation by Molly Meyer, Rooftop Green Works
Green roofing is an excellent way to bring nature into our urban environment. We'll discuss the step-by-step considerations for projects, including structural analysis, leak detection and plant selection. You can also bring your own project ideas for the coming spring, and you will have the opportunity during Q&A to get expert advice on planning, carrying out and maintaining your own projects. Led by Molly Meyer, M.Sc., Green Roof Professional, LEED Green Associate, and owner of Rooftop Green Works.
Register via email or call 773/755.5100, ext. 5028. Information on-line.
| January 26, Thursday |
Fill me in on Urban Infill...A Chicago Retail Property Market Update
7:45 a.m., registration, 8:15 a.m., program, 9:00 - 9:15 a.m., Q&A- the Union League, 65 West Jackson, Main Lounge
Sponsor: Urban Land Institute Chicago Chapter
$50.00 for members; $70,00 members, $15.00 student member, $25.00 student non-member, $30.00 Young Leader members
Information T/B/A
Information and registration on-line.
2030 Commitment Working Group meeting
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker, #250
Sponsor: AIA Chicago 2030 Commitment Working Group
Free event
The 2030 Commitment Working Group moves its usual Tuesday meeting to Thursday for this month. Those who can't attend may use the AIA Chicago conference bridge by calling 312/376-2799 and then entering PIN 4240 followed by #.
Information: 312/670.7770; Information and registration on-line.
Design Considerations for Passive House Projects: Full Revolution Farm
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - Häfele America Chicago Showroom, 154 West Hubbard
Sponsor: Häfele America Chicago Showroom
Free event. Registration required
1.0 LU/HSW, AIA
A presentation by George Sullivan, Sr. Principal, CEO and Founder, Eco Smart Building.
The first presentation in our Continuing Education Series of 2012 will introduce you to the Principles of Passive House design & construction. Full Revolution Farm is a 7,000-square-foot private home on a 7-acre sustainable micro-farm, which offers two rooms for bed and breakfast accommodation. The home is designed to exceed the Energy Star Version 3 and the Proposed Energy
Registration on-line. Information: on-line.
Thomas Heatherwick: Current Work
6:00 p.m. - Illinois Institute of Technology, S.R. Crown Hall, Upper Core, 3360 South State
Sponsor: College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology
Free event
Lecture by Thomas Heatherwick, Heatherwick Studio, London
Information: 312/922.3432 or on-line.
Archeworks Mid-Year Design Review
6:00 - p.m. - Access Living, 115 West Chicago, 4th Floor
Sponsor: Archeworks
Free event. RSVP.
An engaging evening as Archeworks' multidisciplinary design teams share progress on two community-based design projects. This year's initiatives, undertaken in collaboration with our partners at Growing Power Chicago and the City's Department of Cultural 
Affairs and Special Events, propose new paths for healthy and creative urban communities through design.
Sustainable Food Through Design Innovation (Partner: Growing Power Chicago)
We are collaborating with Growing Power, a nationally recognized urban farming pioneer, to develop innovative solutions that help in the creation of neighborhood-based farms, develop youth as change agents, and promote greater community involvement in their food systems initiatives. Working onsite with Growing Power staff and youth at their new Iron Street Urban Farm in Bridgeport, our design team is exploring prefabricated microenterprise structures and related programming to support small farms.
Cermak Creative Industries District (Partner: Chicago Department of
Cultural Affairs and Special Events)
We are helping the City's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events energize Chicago's creative economy by transforming an underutilized historic industrial area into a
citywide hub for commercial, cultural, and community activities. The new Creative Industries District will provide a vibrant collaborative environment for local creative enterprises to grow and thrive, while also accommodating wayfinding and accessibility needs of creative workers and visitors to the new district on the city's near Southwest side. On a broader level, this project is generating new thinking about creative districts as community cultural ecosystems that support entrepreneurial collaborations, create jobs, and generate multiple cultural and economic benefits.
RSVP on-line. Information on-line.
Geothermal Heat Pumps for Heating and Cooling Any Building Energy Bills
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento
Sponsor: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Free event, registration required.
Presentation by Huajun Yuan, University of Illinois at Chicago
Geothermal heating and cooling is a well established technology which, although not widely used, can cut energy costs by 50% or more. There are additional capital costs, they can be recovered in as little as 5-6 years, while the expected life of these systems is at least 35 years. Efficiency, and payback, can be increased even further using waster and phase change materials. This seminar will discuss the application of this technology to both existing and retrofitted buildings.
Register on-line. Information on-line.
| January 27, Friday |
Will Bruder: Current Work
6:00 p.m. - Illinois Institute of Technology, S.R. Crown Hall, Upper Core, 3360 South State
Sponsor: College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology
Free event
Lecture by architect Will Bruder, will bruder+PARTNERS.
Information: 312/922.3432 or on-line.
