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Chicago Architecture Center announces temporary closure and suspension of activities

As the Chicago Architecture Center is deeply committed to providing a safe experience for all of its members, visitors and tour attendees, the Center is temporarily closed with most CAC activities suspended from March 14-31, 2020. Select exceptions include Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruises aboard Chicago's First Lady on Sunday, March 15, departing at 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

With an abundance of caution, seating on those river cruises will be rearranged to allow for safe social distancing. River cruises resume, with those seating adjustments in place, on Saturday, April 4 unless otherwise announced. Those with questions regarding existing river cruise reservations are invited to contact the CAC via email at tickets@architecture.org.

Additional activities canceled, postponed or otherwise affected due to precautions necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) are as follows:

The Chicago Architecture Center, located at 111 East Wacker Drive in Chicago, including all exhibit galleries, the ArcelorMittal Design Studio and the CAC Design Store, is temporarily closed to visitors as of 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2020. The Center will reopen at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 unless otherwise announced.

All previously scheduled walking tours, including building tours, are canceled through Tuesday, March 31. Purchases made online for walking tours affected by this suspension of operations will be refunded automatically. Walking tours will resume beginning Wednesday, April 1 unless otherwise announced.

All previously scheduled bus tours are canceled through Friday, April 17. This includes Architectural Highlights by Bus on April 4 and April 11, and Devil in the White City on April 12. The CAC intends to reschedule Synagogues by Bus: North Shore, scheduled for March 29, for a later date. Purchases made online for bus tours affected by this suspension of operations will be refunded automatically. Bus tours will resume beginning Saturday, April 18 unless otherwise announced.

All public programs at the Chicago Architecture Center scheduled through Tuesday, March 31 are canceled. These include Daytime Talk: Utopia in American History on March 25, and Design Dialogues: Retrofitting the Suburbs on March 31. Purchases made online for programs affected by this suspension of operations will be refunded automatically. Programs at the Chicago Architecture Center scheduled to occur from April 1-12, 2020 will be rescheduled to the extent possible. Updates regarding these programs and any new dates will be announced.

All ticketed, reserved and drop-in CAC programs for children, students and families, both on-site at the Center and at partner locations, are canceled through Thursday, April 9. These include Family Day and Lego® Build events in March; Newhouse Competition Workshop: Fine Arts and Graphic Design on March 21; and Teen Saturday Studio with OKW Architects on March 28. While the CAC intends to reschedule as many of these programs as possible, families will need to re-register for any revised dates.

Girls Build! Affordable Dream Homes camp will not be held April 6-9 and will not be rescheduled. School field trips for students affected will also not be rescheduled. Drop-in family programs at the CAC will resume with Family Day: Marina City on April 11 unless otherwise announced.

There are no adjustments at this time to Gala 2020: Open Doors, Open Minds, which remains scheduled for Thursday, April 23. Those with questions regarding Gala 2020 may contact Brittany Barnes via email at bbarnes@architecture.org.

The above information is subject to change due to the evolving nature of recommended responses to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Updates will be published on an ongoing basis at architecture.org.

About the Chicago Architecture Center

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966, dedicated to inspiring people to discover why design matters. A national leader in architecture and design education, the CAC offers field-leading tours, programs, exhibitions and more that are part of a dynamic journey of lifelong learning. Opened to the public in 2018, its riverfront location is in the heart of the city, where Michigan Avenue meets the Chicago River, featuring nearly 10,000 square feet of exhibition space with views of iconic skyscrapers built over the course of a century. Through partnerships with schools and youth-serving organizations, the CAC reaches approximately 30,000 kindergarten to 12th-grade students annually, while teacher workshops provide educators with tools and resources they need to advance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) curricula in their classrooms. Committed to increasing access for populations historically underrepresented in ACED (architecture, construction, engineering, and design) professions, the CAC offers many of its education programs - and all of its programs for teens - at no cost to participants. CAC programs for adults and members include talks with acclaimed authors and practicing architects, in-depth presentations on issues and trends in urbanism, and classes unlocking a wide range of subjects with connections to the built environment. Proceeds from programs, tours and the CAC Design Store, as well as from grants, sponsorships and donations, support its educational mission. Visit architecture.org to learn more and follow @chiarchitecture and #chiarchitecture on social media.

A Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady passes under the Clark Street Bridge. Courtesy of Barry Butler
A Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago's First Lady passes in front of the Chicago Architecture Center. Photo by Corey McCafferty. Courtesy of Corey McCafferty
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