EVENTS
Advance registration for educational events is strongly recommended. For events with limited capacity, as indicated by an asterisk (*), preference will be given to AIA Chicago members.
Questions: call 312/670-7770.
Note: For those driving to an event at AIA Chicago, a parking garage rebate is available at the InterPark Theater District Self Park on the southeast corner of Dearborn and Lake streets (the address is 181 North Dearborn Street).
Pick up a “chaser” ticket at the AIA Chicago office and use it along with your entry ticket when paying before exiting the garage.
To view a calendar of events click here.
To view an archived list of events click here.
Monday / March 01, 2021 / 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM
During this time, AIA Chicago continues to offer a robust roster of programs virtually. Any program recordings are then housed on AIA Chicago's Vimeo.
Recent programs, include:
Additional program recordings can be found on Vimeo, and AIA Chicago will continue to update this as programs occur.
[Note, watching these program recordings cannot be self-reported for CEU credits, per AIA National.]
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Wednesday / March 10, 2021 / 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
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Ever wonder what goes into the making of a five-story coffee theater? Join us on this virtual tour of Starbucks Reserve Chicago Roastery led by Perkins&Will. This 35,000 square-foot facility has been open to the public for little over a year. You may have experienced a latte here, but do you understand the symbolism behind the story, the evolution of the spiral ceiling, or the innerworkings of the 56-foot tall steel cask? A true sensory experience – this one’s all about the architecture of coffee!
Presenters:
- Kristin Rosebrough, Associate Principal, Senior Project Architect, Perkins&Will
- Rocco Tunzi, Senior Associate, Senior Interior Project Designer, Perkins&Will
Hosted By
Interior Architecture Knowledge Community
Learning Units
1 LU (pending)
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Wednesday / March 10, 2021 / 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

An equitable architecture profession is one where all people—regardless of their gender, race, sexuality, or disability—have the same access to opportunities and growth. How can we build equity into our profession and organizations? What are the challenges we must overcome to create environments where everyone is encouraged to bring their full and authentic selves? We will address these questions in Building Equity, a virtual panel organized by AIA Chicago’s LGBTQI+ Alliance and AIA Austin’s LGBTQIA+ Alliance (aka the Windy Cowboy Collab).
The event will feature a panel of esteemed speakers discussing design equity and the LGBTQIA+ community. We will also celebrate with a happy hour that features an interactive performance by Drag Queen Mini Pearl Necklace.
Panelists
- Breeze Outlaw | Sasaki
- Frankie Reynolds | Howard Brown Health Center
- Austin Davis Ruiz | The Montrose Center
- Samantha Sikanas | Landscape + Urban Designer
AIA members, non-members, students, and allies are all welcome to attend.
Thank you to AIA Chicago LGBTQI+ Alliance program sponsors:

And special thanks to AIA Austin LGBTQIA+ Alliance Sponsors
Hosted By
AIA Chicago’s LGBTQI+ Alliance & Austin’s LGBTQIA+ Alliance
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Thursday / March 18, 2021 / 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Attend the first of SEDAC’s three-part webinar series on designing for efficiency. The first webinar will focus on the building as a system and the envelope’s role in that system. We will discuss schematic and massing studies for thermal envelope efficiency, based on orientation, and explain passive versus active systems. Learn how design details impact heat transfer and practice identifying and fixing problem areas. The Illinois Energy Code requirements for both commercial and residential buildings will be addressed.
- March 18 Thermal Envelope
- April 15 Lighting & Electrical
- May 20 Indoor Air Quality & Comfort
SEDAC, the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center, is an applied research program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, whose mission is to decrease the energy footprint of the State of Illinois. Click here for more information.
Sponsored By
SEDAC and AIA Illinois
Hosted By
AIA Chicago, AIA Eastern Illinois, AIA Northeastern Illinois, AIA Prairie
Learning Units
1.5 LU/HSW
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Thursday / March 18, 2021 / 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

CRAN Chicago is once again hosting our bi-annual Office Visit. As a custom residential group, we all focus on residential architecture. In the spirit of education and sharing, the CRAN Office Visits open the office doors to learn about each firm’s history, process, and philosophy. This year’s visit will be a virtual event to Vladimir Radutny Architects whose multi-disciplinary architecture practice focuses on innovative design solutions that challenge the conventional interpretations of space, function, and material use. Vlad Radutny, AIA, will be our speaker.
Hosted By
Custom Residential Architects Network of AIA Chicago (CRAN)
Learning Units
1 LU
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Monday / March 22, 2021 / 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

This talk will share the work of “This is Home," which explores the opportunities and challenges for older adults in creating a sense of home in senior living communities. Jane Sloss, of Worn Jerabek Wiltse Architects, conducted interviews with residents of assisted living facilities and created watercolor paintings that portray the stories gathered in those interviews. The project is an exploration of the ethereal idea of home (what feels like home) and how that relates to a physical place. The interviews with residents explore the emotions that are evoked by the places we live, the comfort we derive from home, the special objects we keep in our homes, and the way we talk about our homes. The presentation will be an engaging multi-media experience, featuring visual presentation of the watercolor paintings and audio recordings of portions of the interviews, and commentary about the project. The presentation will incorporate discussion of participatory design and opportunities to engage with residents and gather stories, about the idea of "home.”
Speaker: Jane Sloss, AIA, WELL AP, LEED AP
Sponsored By
Design for Aging KC
Hosted By
Design for Aging KC
Learning Units
1 LU
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Tuesday / March 23, 2021 / 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Heidi Wang, AIA, is a Partner at WJW Architects in Chicago and the recipient of the 2020 Dubin Family Young Architect Award, presented by the AIA Chicago Foundation. The award was established in 1983 to recognize excellence in ability and exceptional contributions by Chicago area architects between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-nine, or one who has been licensed less than 10 years.
Heidi will talk about the meaning and purpose she has found in designing for vulnerable, and often overlooked, populations. This work has served as the basis of her practice for the past decade. During that time, several personal experiences helped to shape her approach to architecture and served to solidify her commitment to designing for this population. She will discuss several key projects that have influenced her career trajectory and will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities faced along the way.

Sponsored By
AIA Chicago Foundation
Hosted By
AIA Chicago Foundation
Learning Units
1 LU
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Thursday / March 25, 2021 / 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
What are the challenges of construction during the pandemic? What do architects need to know in order to plan for construction procurement? A team from Berglund Construction – Tony Baca, Senior Vice President of Safety; Hansel Whitehurst, Vice President; architect Eric Dexter, Senior Project Manager Restoration – will share their suggestions on how to move your projects into the construction phase in this difficult time.
Speakers from Berglund Construction:
- Hansel Whitehurst, Vice President. As Vice President, Hansel works closely with our project team to solicit subcontractor pricing, develop detailed estimates, and prepare a highly competitive Guaranteed Maximum Price. Hansel works directly with owners and architects to identify unique elements of the project and prepare comprehensive cost analysis to ensure the best value for the project.
- Tony Baca, Senior Vice President of Safety. As Vice President of Safety, Tony has created a culture in which every Berglund employee plays an important role making safety the highest priority in the company. He generates and distributes job-specific safety plans for every project. He conducts both scheduled and impromptu inspections of jobsites, enforcing Berglund's high safety standards among our employees and subcontractors.
- Eric Dexter, Senior Project Manager Restoration. Eric is an integral part of the Restoration Division and the leader in quality initiatives. He specializes in a wide range of job scopes, including restoring significant buildings to bring them back to their original glory. Eric is truly a steward of history. He believes that no amount of education or training can ever teach you what you learn from watching the work performed in the field and listening to people with many years of experience.

Hosted By
Technical Issues KC
Learning Units
1 LU/HSW
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free
Friday / March 26, 2021 / 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Join us for this year's Virtual Prairie Grassroots Series!!! Our lunch-hour advocacy series will take place at noon on Fridays this spring to learn about our important bills this session. Our series kicks off with "Historic Tax Credits as a Tool for Post-Pandemic Recovery" with our advocacy partner, Landmarks Illinois. Learn about local to national legislation on historic tax credits with an emphasis on SB0157, River Edge Redevelopment Zone Historic Tax Credit Extension Bill. An hour of advocacy, case studies, and panel discussion with special guests. Prepare for upcoming Calls to Action!
Sponsored By
AIA Illinois and Landmarks Illinois
Member Price
Free
Non Member Price
Free