Program Archive

We are in the process of migrating our full archive of program listings, podcasts and presentations to our new site. The following is a selection of past programs. The full archive dating back to 2008 will be accessible here in Spring 2010. Thank you for your patience!

Missed a program? Live too far away to see it in person? Came to an event and want to hear it again? Select digital podcasts and visual presentations are available for you to experience at your leisure.

Listen to selected past Chicago Architecture Foundation programs by visiting Chicago Amplified, Chicago Public Radio's web-based audio archive of public programs held throughout the Chicago region.

December 9

300 N. LaSalle
Scott Timcoe, Vice President of Construction, Hines Interests

Located on the Chicago River’s north bank, 300 North LaSalle is scheduled for completion in March 2009. LEED Gold pre-certified, it uses river water to cool the building and features a half-acre sunlit waterfront garden with access to the river’s edge.

December 4

Geothermal Systems for the Home
Tony Bozhilov, Geothermal House

Modern geothermal systems use the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool homes, potentially eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels. This program covers the design and installation of the geothermal-HVAC system and homeowner benefits.

December 3

Shanghai: The Architecture of China’s Great Urban Center
Jay Pridmore, Author

From early 20th century Beaux Arts palaces to today’s modern skyscrapers, Pridmore presents an illustrated history of Shanghai architecture. Shanghai’s built environment provides brilliant insight into a country once degraded by the West, which is now poised to overtake America and Europe as the world’s economic superpower.

November 19

Preservation in China: Massive Challenges
Vincent Michael, John H. Bryan Chair in Historic Preservation, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

November 12

Landscape + Patronage: The Role of Great Patrons and Landscape Architecture
Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, FAAR, Founder + President, The Cultural Landscape Foundation

One of the keys to a great project is a great client, and landscape architects are often quick to acknowledge their importance. Patronage is much rarer. Patrons engage a professional/artist to explore their own interests, which often coincide with the interests of the patron.

This presentation explores the difference between clients and patrons and bridges design and historic preservation disciplines—from scholars who do not step out of the building envelope to the landscape architect who views history as restrictive. Examples discussed include Bok Tower Sanctuary, Vizcaya, Biltmore, and Columbus, IN. The built works of Olmsted, Jensen and Kiley are also reviewed. The motivation and inspiration of these built works will also be considered in the context of present-day donor-driven naming opportunities, and how we, upon evaluation of this legacy, assign significance.

November 11

Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature
Doug Farr, President and CEO, Farr Associates

Doug Farr, chair of the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighborhood Development, will discuss his new book, a guide that visualizes the growing sustainable design convergence that integrates walkable and transit-served urbanism with high-performance infrastructure and buildings.

November 6

Reducing Your Home’s Carbon Footprint
Kevin Dick and Javier Ceballos, Department of Environment, City of Chicago

In order to bring a positive impact on climate change back home, City of Chicago Department of Environment staff will provide steps to improve efficiency and save money from the simple to the fantastic. Directions on how to access useful technical and funding resources will also be available.

November 5

21st Century Designs from Black Diaspora Architects
Carolyn Armenta Davis, architectural curator, lecturer, cultural historian, writer-producer

In this lecture, Carolyn Armenta Davis discusses architecture created by Afro-Europeans, Africans and Black American architects. Ms. Davis explores the vast differences in socio-cultural, political and economic climates, as well as the sustainable and aesthetic factors that drive their designs.

October 29

What the Games Leave Behind: Olympic Legacies in North America
John E. Findling, Professor Emeritus of History, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN

This illustrated lecture examines the five summer Olympic Games held in North America and explores what each left to its host city. Dr. Findling, Professor Emeritus and author, investigates a variety of Olympic legacies such as stadiums and massive debt, and speculates on what this might mean for Chicago in 2016.

October 22

Chicago Streetcars and Their Influence on Chicago's Development
David Wilson, Service Planner, Chicago Transit Authority, and transit historian

In this lecture, David Wilson demonstrates how the development of Chicago can be traced to old streetcar lines. David analyzes and explains how the streetcars – which disappeared from Chicago fifty years ago – exerted a significant influence on the form and speed of the city’s commercial, residential and industrial growth.

October 15

New Developments in Shanghai
In partnership with the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University
Iker Gil and visiting delegates, the Real Estate Research Center and the College of Architecture & Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China

October 14

REGREEN–Residential Green Remodeling Guidelines
Corbett Lunsford

The American Society of Interior Designers’ Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council have partnered on the development of REGREEN, best practice guidelines and targeted educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects. Laureen Blissard will explain the benefits for homeowners, residents, design professionals, product suppliers and service providers. Useful for renovation professionals orsavvy do-it-yourselfers.

October 8

Dover Street: The Making of a Chicago Landmark District
John Holden, past president, Dover Street Residents Association, and President, Uptown Historical Society

Discover the architectural beauty of one of Chicago’s least known streets with a presentation on Uptown’s Dover Street. Dover was developed on land that was once a part of Graceland Cemetery and features an eclectic mix of houses and small apartment buildings in styles ranging from Prairie to Tudor. The visual walking tour will also include a talk on how residents of the street fought for and secured City of Chicago Landmark District status during the past year.

October 2

Sustainable Landscapes
Aaron Durnbaugh, City of Chicago, Department of Environment, and Susan Ask, University of Illinois Extension

Aaron Durnbaugh using the Chicago Department of Environment’s new sustainable landscape guide will explore sustainable design, maintenance practices and materials selection.

October 1

Solon S. Beman and Charles D. Faulkner: Founders of Christian Science Church Architecture
Lawrence B. Schlack, Architectural Historian

Chicago is the cradle of Christian Science church architecture, and two Chicago architects—Solon S. Beman and Charles D. Faulkner—are the founders of styles adopted by this world-wide church. Beman championed a monumental Greek classical style and Faulkner championed a Georgian Colonial style. This lecture illustrates their Chicago-area buildings and others throughout the United States.

September 24

Revitalizing China’s Rust Belt: The Regional Plan of Shenyang
Diane Legge Kemp, FAIA, ASLA, APA, Principal, DLK Civic Design

September 17

Sole Practitioner to National Design Giant: The 100 Year Evolution of Harley Ellis Devereaux
Dennis King, FAIA, Corporate Chairman and CEO, Harley Ellis Devereaux

September 10

Modernizing Mies at 860-880: When Less is Not Enough
Rico Cedro, AIA LEED AP, Director of Sustainable Design, Krueck + Sexton; and Gunny Harboe, Principal, Harboe Architects, PC

September 9

Introduction to Green Roof Design
Ryan Schultz, AES Products

Ryan Schultz has studied the environmental and economic benefits that green roofs provide, including stormwater retention and mitigating the urban heat island effect. He will provide terminology and classifications of green roofs, as well as how built-up green roof systems work.

September 4

Guiding Principals for Creating Green Interiors
David Gulyas, Gail Prauss Interior Design

David Gulyas shares new developments in interior design; a fast-growing world of green and sustainable furniture, carpeting, wall coverings, cabinetry and indoor air quality.