The Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB) officially launched its 2025 edition today, featuring the theme "Shift: Architecture in Times of Radical Change." Curated by Florencia Rodriguez, Director of the UIC School of Architecture, the program explores significant transformations within the architectural field and broader societal issues. A diverse schedule of activities, including exhibitions, tours, and discussions, will take place across Chicago until February 28, 2026, engaging over 100 architects and designers.
This sixth edition of the Biennial aims to create a comprehensive archive of contemporary architectural thought. It seeks to inform future decision-making, educational practices, and collective discussions about the designed world. The opening day activated several key locations throughout the city, drawing attention to various aspects of the Biennial's central theme.
Key Takeaways
- The Chicago Architecture Biennial 2025 is now open.
- Its theme is "Shift: Architecture in Times of Radical Change."
- Florencia Rodriguez, UIC School of Architecture director, curated the program.
- Over 100 participants are featured, including architects and designers.
- Exhibitions and events run until February 28, 2026.
- Key venues include the Chicago Cultural Center and Graham Foundation.
Understanding the "Shift" Theme
Florencia Rodriguez has emphasized that the Biennial serves as a platform. It gathers global experiences, innovative ideas, and diverse projects. This collection forms an important archive for contemporary architecture. It helps in making informed decisions, shaping education, fostering debate, and encouraging collective thought about how we design our world.
The theme "Shift" addresses the dynamic nature of architecture. It acknowledges how external forces, such as political, technological, and cultural changes, constantly reshape the built environment. This focus encourages a re-evaluation of traditional architectural practices and concepts.
Biennial at a Glance
- Theme: Shift: Architecture in Times of Radical Change
- Curator: Florencia Rodriguez
- Duration: Today until February 28, 2026
- Participants: Over 100 architects, designers, and creative practitioners
- Locations: Multiple sites across Chicago
Opening Day Highlights
Several significant sites were activated on the opening day. These included the Chicago Cultural Center, the Graham Foundation, and the Stony Island Arts Bank. A notable site-specific installation was unveiled on the grounds of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Additionally, special performances were scheduled throughout the day, marking a vibrant start to the Biennial.
The involvement of over 100 architects, designers, and creative practitioners underscores the broad scope of this year's program. Their contributions are central to exploring the theme of radical change within architecture.
Key Exhibition Locations and Features
The Chicago Architecture Biennial spans multiple venues, each offering a unique perspective on the central theme. These locations house distinct exhibitions and programs, referred to as "capsules," that delve into specific ideas and practices.
Chicago Cultural Center Exhibition
The Chicago Cultural Center, located at 78 East Washington St, serves as a primary hub for the Biennial. Visitors can find a general introduction to the "SHIFT" theme here. The exhibition at this venue also features two of the Biennial's core capsules: Inhabit, Outhabit and The Ordinary-EXTRA. These capsules explore fundamental questions about living spaces and the perception of the everyday in architecture.
The exhibition is structured around these thematic capsules. Each capsule is designed to explore a particular concept, question, or method of architectural practice. This approach allows for a focused investigation into diverse aspects of contemporary architecture.
Graham Foundation Exhibition: Fragmented Manifestos
At the Graham Foundation, located at 4 W Burton Pl, the exhibition titled Fragmented Manifestos is on display until February 28, 2026. This exhibition gathers significant moments from recent architectural history. These moments emerged as responses to periods of major political, technological, and cultural shifts.
Participants in Fragmented Manifestos include renowned figures such as Stan Allen, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, MOS and Tony Cokes, and Amancio Williams. Their works collectively illustrate architecture's role in addressing and reflecting radical transformations. The exhibition aims to highlight how architectural discourse has evolved through critical junctures.
"The Biennial is an opportunity to gather global experiences, ideas, and projects that create an archive of contemporary architecture to inform decision making, education, debate, and collective thinking about the world we design."
— Florencia Rodriguez, UIC School of Architecture Director and Biennial Curator
Stony Island Arts Bank Exhibition: Melting Solids
The Stony Island Arts Bank, situated at 6760 S Stony Island Ave, hosts the Melting Solids exhibition until November 30, 2025. This presentation features works by five architects and artists. They reimagine architecture not as something fixed or monumental, but as impermanent, adaptive, and deeply connected to cultural memory.
The artists involved include Abigail Chang, Dominic Kießling, Laboratorio de Arquitectura and José Cubilla, Studio Jacob, and WAI Architecture Think Tank. Their contributions challenge conventional notions of permanence in architectural design. They explore how structures can reflect fluidity and evolve with time and cultural context.
Historical Context
The Chicago Architecture Biennial is a major international exhibition of contemporary architecture. It is held every two years in Chicago. The event aims to generate new ideas and conversations about the future of architecture and urbanism. Each edition features a unique theme and curator, drawing global attention to architectural innovation.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Exhibition: TRACES
On the historic grounds of Jackson Park, the site of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, visitors will find TRACES. This site-specific installation is located at 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. It consists of 10,000 dry-stacked bricks. These bricks trace the original footprint of the Fair’s temporary Great Buildings.
The installation invites contemplation on the ambition and theatrical design of the 1893 Fair. It creates spaces that lack walls and mass that lacks permanence. After the Biennial concludes on February 28, 2026, the bricks will be reused. This sustainable approach ensures no waste is left behind, only the memory of the experience.
Additional Exhibitions Across Chicago
Beyond the main venues, the Biennial extends its reach to several other unique locations across Chicago, presenting a comprehensive view of its theme.
Sunken Garden
Until September 29, 2025, the Sunken Garden exhibition takes place at 40-50 W Schiller St. This site-specific group exhibition is set within the courtyard of a 1922 Andrew Rebori-designed building. It explores the poetic and political aspects of the "sunken garden" concept.
The sunken garden is presented as both a refuge and a metaphor. In situ works by Chicago-based artists, who focus on architecture, ecology, and material innovation, recontextualize this private courtyard. Their art challenges its traditional boundaries and historical function, offering new interpretations.
Common Chicago at MAS Context
Located at 1564 N Damen Ave #204, Common Chicago will be open until February 28, 2026. This exhibition addresses the evolving relationship between people and the built environment. It considers how environmental challenges, economic inequalities, and political dynamics reshape shared spaces.
The exhibition features projects by various Chicago-based designers. These projects tackle the question of how architects can foster common spaces that build stronger and more equitable communities. The works cover multiple scales and programmatic functions, including civic structures, institutional buildings, housing, and open spaces.
Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust at Elmhurst Art Museum
The Elmhurst Art Museum, at 150 S Cottage Hill Ave, Elmhurst, hosts Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust until January 4, 2026. This marks the first significant museum exhibition for these Chicago-based artists. Their work is displayed both individually and collaboratively.
The exhibition occupies the museum’s main galleries and the historic Mies van der Rohe-designed McCormick House. It includes new site-responsive installations alongside recent pieces. Viewers are invited to explore pattern, place, and cultural memory in a layered experience.
Living in the Shade: Open Space and Public Housing at National Public Housing Museum
Until November 9, 2025, the National Public Housing Museum at 919 S Ada St features Living in the Shade. This exhibit examines the importance of open space in creating healthy and thriving communities. It highlights large lawns, tenant gardens, paved paths, play areas, and public art within public housing developments.
The exhibition emphasizes the critical role open spaces play in the daily lives of millions of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents. It showcases how these areas contribute to a sense of community and well-being. The exhibit provides insight into the design and social impact of these spaces.
The Chicago Architecture Biennial 2025 offers a wide range of opportunities to engage with contemporary architectural ideas. From major exhibitions to intimate installations, the program encourages visitors to consider the future of design in a world undergoing constant change. Follow the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial news tag for updates.
