Back to museums

Chicago Architecture Center

ArchitectureDesignHistoryClosed · Opens 10amFrom $15State/Lake (CTA Loop 'L')

The Chicago Architecture Center is the city's museum of the built environment, occupying two glass-walled floors of Mies van der Rohe's One Illinois Center at the corner of Michigan and Wacker. Its centrepiece is the Chicago City Model Experience, a scale model of more than 4,000 downtown buildings animated by film, light and touchscreens, set against floor-to-ceiling windows onto the real skyline. Upstairs, the Skyscraper Gallery and rotating exhibitions trace how tall buildings, ecology and design shape cities here and worldwide. Founded in 1966 as the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation, the organisation also runs the city's celebrated river and walking tours and moved into this building in 2018.

What's On

Now
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

111 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Nearest station: State/Lake (CTA Loop 'L'), Lake (CTA Red Line), Millennium Station (Metra Electric)

Show on map

Hours

Mon10:00–17:00
Tue10:00–17:00
WedToday10:00–17:00
Thu10:00–17:00
Fri10:00–19:00
Sat10:00–19:00
Sun10:00–17:00

Admission

From $15

Students with ID $10; children 5 and under and CAC members free

Nearby

Richard H. Driehaus Museum

Architecture9 min walk

Art Institute of Chicago

Architecture11 min walk

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Architecture13 min walk

Museum of Contemporary Photography

ArtFree25 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Chicago Architecture Center cost?
Standard adult admission to Chicago Architecture Center is $15. Students with ID $10; children 5 and under and CAC members free. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Chicago Architecture Center?
Chicago Architecture Center is open Sunday-Thursday 10:00-17:00, Friday-Saturday 10:00-19:00; last entry one hour before closing. Closes early at 15:00 on Thanksgiving Eve (25 Nov 2026), Christmas Eve (24 Dec 2026) and New Year's Eve (31 Dec 2026), and closed on Thanksgiving (26 Nov 2026), Christmas Day (25 Dec 2026) and New Year's Day (1 Jan 2027).. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Chicago Architecture Center?
Chicago Architecture Center is located at 111 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601, United States, in the The Loop area of Chicago. The nearest stations are State/Lake (CTA Loop 'L'), Lake (CTA Red Line), Millennium Station (Metra Electric).
What can I see at Chicago Architecture Center?
Riverside museum of Chicago architecture, home to a 4,000-building city model beneath a wall of Loop skyscraper views. Current highlights include Flyway City: Architecture for a Flourishing Ecosystem, Chicago City Model Experience, Chicago's Living Habitat.
Do I need to book Chicago Architecture Center in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Chicago Architecture Center?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)

DirectionsVisit Website