For four months, the rooms, galleries, and even hallways of the Cultural center were transformed into spaces where visitors experienced both the Biennial and the historic building in new ways. The public lounges throughout the building took inspiration from the Cultural Center’s long-standing role as an open gathering space in the heart of the city.

 was a contemporary exploration of the 1922 Chicago Tribune Tower competition at a monumental scale in the Cultural Center’s Yates Hall. Select participants were invited to reimagine the landmark structure, which was famously revisited in a group exhibition organized by Stanley Tigerman in 1980, and produced new vertical visions that address the pressing issues of the twenty-first century.

Another primary element of the show was a collection of scale model dioramas which reconsidered the interiors of some of architecture history’s most iconic buildings. The Cultural Center’s GAR Hall was filled with an array of displays where visitors were able to explore these new designs up close.

The 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial showcased the work of over 140 participants, gathered together around the invitation to ‘Make New History’. The Biennial united a main exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center with a selection of off-site projects, a broad range of aligned exhibitions, and an extensive series of programming for the public that served Chicagoans and visitors alike. Artistic Directors Johnston Marklee transformed the Chicago Cultural Center by introducing a series of unique viewing experiences; from arcades and salons to labyrinthine galleries and lounges.

Johnston Marklee

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Chicago Architecture Biennial 2017, Chicago Cultural Center

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Client

Location

Chicago, IL, US

Years

2017

Project Team

Artistic Directors: Sharon Johnston & Mark Lee; Associate Curators: Letizia Garzoli, Sarah Hearne

Courtesy of Chicago Architecture Biennial; Steve Hall, Kendall McCaugherty, Tom Harris