Every October, the Chicago Architecture Center hosts Open House Chicago, a free city-wide tour of over 200 sites of architectural, cultural and historic importance. Locations include the likes of schools, museums and mansions, many of which are rarely open to the public.
This year, on Oct. 18 and 19, Open House Chicago participants have 30 new locations to see, including the Aspire Center in Austin, Chicago Sukkah Design Festival at James Stone Freedom Square in North Lawndale and Starling by Duo in North Lawndale.
For Open House Chicago’s fiftieth year, CAC is launching a pilot program for neighborhood headquarters. This year, participants can go to Starling by Duo, Koval Distillery in Ravenswood and Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport to ask CAC officials questions, pick up materials and access restrooms and free Wi-Fi.
“Whether you’re learning more about your own neighborhood or discovering a part of Chicago you’ve never visited before, Open House is the ultimate way to get to know Chicago,” Eleanor Gorski, CEO and president of the Chicago Architecture Center, said in a news release. “It’s a natural fit for Chicago, the city of architecture,”
The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation in Austin opened in June and has resources for trade training, banking and financial planning. The Aspire Center is located where Emmet Elementary School, built in 1893, once was. It includes many elements from the school, like ornamental trims and wide hallways lined with wooden seats from the auditorium.
The Chicago Sukkah Design Festival is an organization that convenes North Lawndale residents, organizations, artists, young people and faith leaders inspired by the Jewish tradition. The festival celebrates the neighborhood’s Black and Jewish history by building third spaces for communities to gather.
The Starling by Duo in North Lawndale is a community hub a few blocks west of Douglass Park that opened last year.
Other Open House Chicago houses in Austin include the Austin Community Family Center, Austin Harvest by By the Hand Club For Kids, Build headquarters, Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School, Fraternite Nortre Dame, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, and the Third Unitarian Church.
Other sites in Garfield Park and North Lawndale include Revolution Workshop, 345 Art Gallery, Central Park Theater, Herban Produce, Legacy Charter School, Stove Temple Baptist Church, Farm on Ogden, Nicholas Tower at Homan Square, and Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica and National Shrine.
To see all of this year’s Open House Chicago sites, visit openhousechicago.org.