Learn about 'Women Who Built Illinois' project Aug. 13

On Thursday, Aug. 13, the American Institute of Architects Chicago, AIA Illinois, and Landmarks Illinois are hosting "Women Who Built Illinois," a statewide town hall focused on the women who built and continue to build our state. It is part of the centennial celebration of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Aug. 18, 1920: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." The town hall will be 3 to 4:15 p.m.

Lisa DiChiera, director of advocacy for Landmarks Illinois, and Erica Ruggiero, an architect with McGuire Igleski Architects and Landmarks Illinois Skyline Council volunteer, will present the organization's "Women Who Built Illinois" project, a database of places designed, engineered, and built by women between 1879 and 1979.

In 2017, after including the Rotunda building at O'Hare Airport, designed by Gertrude Kerbis on the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list, Landmarks Illinois launched the project to address the fact Chicago has yet to designate and protect a woman-designed building as a Chicago Landmark.

The focus of the research has expanded statewide and will enable Landmarks Illinois to work with the public toward recognizing and protecting women-designed and built places throughout Illinois.

The town hall also will feature women who are building Illinois today including: Janeen Harrell, GREC Architects and AIA Illinois president; April Hughes, HPZS and president of AIA Chicago; Laura Fisher, IPM Consulting, past president of AIA Chicago, and co-founder of Chicago Women in Architecture; and Ingedia Sanchez, SOM and president of Arquitectos Chicago.

To register for this free Zoom town hall, visit www.aiachicago.org.