Chicago Architecture Walking Tour: What's New
Description
Over the course of 90 minutes, explore some of the newest buildings around the Chicago Architecture Center, focusing on construction elements and their impact on the city’s built environment. What's New looks at some of the most recent additions to the built environment surrounding the Chicago Architecture Center. This walking tour focuses on each building's height, structure, materials, ornament and its impact on the environment, the neighborhood and the city's economy. The tour showcases several recently completed buildings, including 462 N. Park and the St. Regis, and compares them to each other in order to observe emerging patterns. These new additions are also contrasted with some of the older buildings downtown as a way to highlight developments. As a certified nonprofit, all CAC ticket purchases directly support our education efforts and community engagement projects.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start at the Chicago Architecture Center. Introductory remarks. Note: stop durations are estimates.
Discuss some buildings surrounding Pioneer Court
Discuss recent renovations and additions to the Historic Tribune Tower.
Discuss trends in recent designs of small urban rental apartments.
Discuss 465 N Park Drive.
View the St. Regis Chicago building.
View the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue.
Closing remarks.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Access to building interiors featured on this tour may be subject to change without notice due to weekend and holiday schedules or unforeseen closures.
- Pets are not allowed.
- The itinerary of this tour is subject to change without notice.
Reviews(88)
I just went on a 90-minute walking tour in the Northalsted neighborhood of Chicago, formerly known as “Boystown”, led by the Chicago Architecture tour guide Rene Cantu. This area of Chicago is one of the biggest and most vibrant LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in the country, and Rene did an excellent job of highlighting the architecture of the 'hood, both new and old, and tying it into the history of the LGBTQ+ community and their contributions to the neighborhood for over 100 years. Highlights include the rainbow pylons that help define the neighborhood and the Legacy Walk plaques installed on them; the Center on Halsted, a state of the art community center focused on the LGBTQ+ population, but offering programs and services for the whole community. The space includes a theatre, multiple gymnasiums, a computer lab, art galleries, meeting spaces, cafes and comfortable common areas; the Howard Brown Medical Center set on Halsted in the heart of gay nightlife; and mostly, the stories of the people who willed this neighborhood in to being, as well as those who still work to make a vibrant, safe and prospering environment for the whole population. Rene led us on about a mile of walking. It was a lovely summer stroll in Chicago, sandwiched between Wrigley Field and Lake Michigan. If you would like to feel some Pride, not just in the month of June, I highly recommend this excellent excursion.
Thank you so much for the great review! We are so happy you enjoyed the Legacy of Northalsted tour and are thrilled to know that Rene gave such a meaningful tour. We hope to see you on another tour soon!
We booked through our membership with the Chicago Architecture Center for the art deco loop tour. The guide was phenomenal. Loved all the intricate details. Can't wait for the next tour!
Thank you so much for the great review and thank you for being a CAC member! We're delighted you enjoyed the What's New tour and look forward to seeing you on more tours.
This is a wonderful tour, a continuation of the past history leading to the current skyscrapers of the city. Paul S. is very knowledgeable, friendly and enthusiastic about Chicago. We enjoyed the tour leaded by him very much.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so happy you enjoyed the What's New tour with Paul and hope to see you again!
We really love the Chicago Architecture Center tours and lately , we’ve been focusing on neighborhood tours. We’ve had tours of Pilsen, Uptown, Hyde Park, Wicker Park, Beverly, Old Town and the Gold Coast. All have been superb. We just went on the Bohemian National Cemetery tour this weekend and it was outstanding. We highly recommend the CAC tours if you are interested in history, architecture and culture.
WOW!! Thank you for continuing to explore with us! The spring and summer is the best time to explore the neighborhoods on CAC tours and you are really going for it! We appreciate your review and your continued support. We look forward to seeing you on the next tour!
We did the Women in Architecture tour and learned so much about their contribution to our city’s architecture. Highly recommend it!
Thank you for the terrific review! We are so happy you enjoyed the Women in Architecture tour and hope to see you on more tours soon. Thank you for the recommendation!
While the tour was interesting, headphones would have been very helpful to hear what the docent was saying. There was a lot of street noise so instead of being able walk around a bit and look at the buildings, we all huddled close to hear what was said.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We are delighted you enjoyed the Lakeshore Living tour and appreciate your feedback about headphones. We will pass along your comments to our tour department for consideration. Thank you again and we hope to see you soon!
John gave a detailed, informative tour with great props demonstrating architectural features. He is genuinely interested in Chicago buildings and construction design. Highly recommend!
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the What's New tour. We have dozens of tours around the city and neighborhood and hope to see you again soon!
Excellent tour - our docent, Tom, was very knowledgeable, accommodating with questions and made the walking tour very enjoyable.
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're delighted you enjoyed the What's New tour with Tom. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again the next time you visit Chicago!
We had an amazing experience on the architecture tour with the Chicago Architecture Center! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and made the entire tour engaging from start to finish. One thing we really appreciated was the use of earbuds—it made it so easy to hear everything clearly, even in the noisier parts of the city. If you’re visiting Chicago and want to truly understand its architecture and history, I’d highly recommend booking a tour with them. Definitely a highlight of our trip!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We are honored to be a highlight of your trip to Chicago. Our docents love showing off the city and we're so happy you found the tour educational and engaging. Thank you again for touring with us. We hope to see you again the next time you visit!
Kenneth was incredibly- so knowledgeable and interesting. Highly recommend!
Thank you for the great review! We're so happy you enjoyed the What's New tour and appreciate the recommendation!
