City Reveals New Details About The 2nd Chicago Architecture Biennial

By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 21, 2016 9:23PM

by Jessica Mlinaric/Chicagoist

We learned back in January that the wildly successful Chicago Architecture Biennial would be returning for a second edition sometime next year. At a kickoff press conference on Wednesday, organizers cracked the lid on a few more key details, as well.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined CAB officials at the Chicago Cultural Center today to announce that the theme for 2017 will be Make New History. It will explore “the axis between history and modernity and the axis between architecture and art,” according to a statement. Sounds cool.

We also have date confirmation: the second edition will run from Sept. 16 through Dec. 31. As TimeOut noted, the opening will run concurrently with EXPO Chicago (Sept. 13 to 17 2017), Chicago’s big annual contemporary art exposition. (The 2016 edition of EXPO kicks off tomorrow; stay tuned for a preview.)

And perhaps most excitingly for architecture buffs, it was revealed that Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee, of L.A.-based Johnston Marklee, will serve as new artistic directors. The firm’s residential designs—particularly Vault House, View House, and Hill House—have garnered much acclaim. The pair will also head up a retooling of the Museum of Contemporary Art, TimeOut noted.

"The Chicago Architecture Biennial’s return in 2017 confirms Chicago as an architectural hub," Emanuel said in a statement. "Last year’s edition was a resounding success, and I’m pleased to see the great planning and support for the second Biennial, which will be even better. Not only is the Biennial’s return a testament to our city’s architectural significance, but it speaks to Chicago’s place as one of the world’s cultural destinations and our place in the world of architecture and design."

The inaugural CAB drew over 500,000 visitors. The Cultural Center housed the main exhibit, and special events included tours of the Stone Island Arts Bank in Greater Grand Crossing and trips to Frank Lloyd Wright's SC Johnson campus in Racine, WI. We'll offer more details on Round Two as soon as they are made available.