Oct. 19 – 20, 2019
350+ cool places. 38 neighborhoods. 48 hours.
Open the door to hidden architectural gems all over Chicago. For one weekend only each year, the Chicago Architecture Center hosts one of the largest architecture events in the world — Open House Chicago. Now in its ninth year, this free public event gives you behind-the-scenes access to the greatest spaces and places in Chicago, including members-only clubs, private residences, and other areas not normally open to the public.
About Open House Chicago
Explore iconic and under-the-radar architectural gems all over Chicago. Just drop in during event hours, which are typically 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday (check individual site listings for exact times).
This year, over 350 Open House Chicago sites in 38 different neighborhoods opened their doors for the weekend, including:
- Sky Chapel: The tallest church building in the world
- Unity Temple: A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed UNESCO Heritage Site
- ZAP Props: A sprawling warehouse with thousands of TV and movie props
- Soho House: A private members-only club in the city’s trendiest neighborhood
- American Toby Jug Museum: A museum of jugs from pubs and taverns across Europe and America
- Freedom Center: The massive plant where the city’s newspapers are printed
- The Plant: a collaborative community of sustainable food start-ups, breweries, kombucha brewers, and more
Sites will accept visitors on a first-come, first-served basis — for the most part, tickets or reservations aren’t needed. Note that there are a select number of sites limited to Chicago Architecture Center members only or that require an RSVP in advance.
Tips for visitors
- Build your itinerary in advance by picking up the printed event guide or the interactive site list and map.
- Narrow down your itinerary based on neighborhood or category.
- Use public transportation to get to, from and between sites: Divvy, Chicago’s bike-sharing system, and CTA buses and trains are cheap, reliable and convenient ways to get around.
- Consider becoming a CAC member or volunteer to receive a Priority Access Pass and skip the general public lines.
Visit openhousechicago.org for details and updates. And follow the Chicago Architecture Center on Facebook at facebook.com/chiarchitecture, on Twitter at @chiarchitecture, and on Instagram at instagram.com/chiarchitecture.
