Chicago Cultural Center — So Much to Explore!

On a whim, I visited the Chicago Cultural Center today — originally just planning a quick look, but I was completely captivated! This neoclassical building is itself a historic landmark, formerly the Central Library, transformed into an arts and culture hub in 1977. Mosaic floors, stained glass windows, grand staircases, and arched doorways — every corner took my breath away. And it’s free to visit! 💡 Just note: it closes at 5 PM — I definitely didn’t get enough time to soak it all in. 📍 Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St 🏙️ Even better — the Chicago Architecture Biennial is currently on display, with this year’s theme "SHIFT", exploring how architecture responds to social and environmental changes — climate, technology, cities, and communities. The works are thoughtful, imaginative, and deeply engaging. Here are a few standout installations: 💙 Forget Me Not Pavilion – Kwong Von Glinow Commissioned by the Biennial and Harvard Design Magazine, initially conceived for the 2015 “Chicago Horizon Pavilion.” Its CLT wooden roof features nearly 200 floral cutouts, casting beautiful patterned light. A new cork floor and bench create a soft resting space that invites people to pause and linger. 🏠 Variations in Mass Nos. 5, 6, 7 – Jacqueline Kiyomi Gork Three enormous inflatable structures that “breathe” — expanding and contracting with sound rhythms. Stepping inside, you hear the mix of wind and machinery, as if the space itself is breathing. I stayed here for a long time. 📸 Shall We Play a Game – Sean Lally A mix of photography and rendering that captures fragments of cities and landscapes in flux — like “a game yet to be finished.” It reminds us that architecture and the cities we inhabit are always being reshaped. 🪩 Surface in Flux – LOT Office for Architecture A softly suspended oval dome gives a sense of shelter without walls, while undulating inflatable platforms invite you to sit, lie down, and interact. This piece really draws you in and encourages imagining public spaces that foster change, diversity, and connection. #LookUpAtArt #ArtAndArchitecture #ModernMeetsClassical #ArchitectureArt #Biennial