Christmas comes early for design and history nerds in Chicago. Every October, we’re treated to behind-the-scenes access to some of the city’s coolest architecture during Open House Chicago (OHC). The Chicago Architecture Center’s tenth annual festival of architecture and design invited people to visit more than 100 sites on October 16 and 17. Attendees came face-to-face with exclusive rooftops, local landmarks, and little-known neighborhood gems.
This year, OHC offered behind-the-scenes access to sites in 30 neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs. OHC took me from the heights of a brand-new Loop skyscraper to a shipping container dance party in Bronzeville. Check out some of my favorite architectural finds from the event.
McCormick Place Rooftop Farm
Who knew that the largest convention center in North America is home to a rooftop garden? The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Windy City Harvest program grows than 8,000 pounds of produce each year on the enormous 20,000-square-foot roof. They even grow hops for a special McCormick Place beer!
Quinn Chapel
Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) is home to Chicago’s oldest African American congregation. Visiting the limestone and brick 1891 building, we walked in the footsteps of famous speakers like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, and W.E.B. Du Bois. The 1904 mural “The Risen Christ is the earliest in Chicago depicting a Black Christ.
Second Presbyterian Church
Stepping inside this National Historic Landmark, it’s no surprise that it served some of Chicago’s prestigious Prairie Avenue families like the Pullmans and Armours. The Arts and Crafts interior by Howard Van Doren Shaw and Frederic Clay Bartlett includes sumptuous stained-glass windows by Tiffany, William Morris, and Louis J. Millet
Bank of America Tower
Bank of America Tower provided the weekend’s most spectacular new views. Attendees enjoyed a tour of the third-floor conference center before shooting up to the 55th floor for a panoramic view of the city. Getting to experience a new perspective of the city is always an OHC highlight!
Catalog at Willis Tower
The iconic Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower, recently got a $500 million facelift. Attendees explored the five-level Catalog complex, named in homage to Sears, featuring a food hall and outdoor terrace.
St. Ignatius College Prep
I may have found the Hogwarts of Chicago. Founded in 1869, St. Ignatius College Prep’s Near West Side building narrowly escaped the Great Chicago Fire. The prestigious school boasts beautiful spaces like Brunswick Room which once served as a natural history museum. Attendees explored the Foglia Library and a gallery of salvaged architectural artifacts from historic buildings. It’s just like your high school, right?
Church of the Holy Family
The same Jesuit priest behind St. Ignatius College Prep, Father Damen (Damen Avenue’s namesake), built the Church of the Holy Family in 1860. The Gothic church boasts the oldest stained glass in Chicago and an illuminated alter. When the Great Fire was raging, Father Damen pledged to keep seven candles burning if the church was spared. You can see those lights today in the east transept.
Monastery of the Holy Cross
The Monastery of the Holy Cross is one of the newest official Chicago Landmarks. Today, the German Gothic church is home to Benedictine monks—and their bed and breakfast! Attendees toured the artistic treasures inside and witnessed the brothers praying in their traditional Latin chants and Gregorian melodies.
The Forum
It was so special to step inside the Forum and speak with the people who are working to restore it. Built in 1897, the complex was a center of the African American community in Bronzeville, hosting concerts, political meetings, and retail. After more than 30 years of vacancy, the building is being restored and reactivated in stages. I can’t wait to hear music ring through the Forum again!
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church
Bronzeville’s Corpus Christi Church got my vote for best tour of the weekend from a knowledgeable parishioner who took us everywhere from the choir loft to the outdoor courtyard. The 1916 Renaissance Revival building by Joseph W. McCarthy features a coffered groin vault ceiling, German stained-glass windows, and a mosaic replica of “The Last Supper” over the alter. The parish transitioned to serving an African American congregation after the Great Migration, and a band of Black liberation colors was added to the interior in the 1970s.
Boxville
Boxville hosted the best party of the weekend. The Bronzeville retail center is located inside shipping containers at the CTA Green Line’s 51st Street stop. It features 17 small businesses including bike repair, a father and daughter hot dog stand, and more. During Open House Chicago, visitor danced along to a live musical performance led by Sam Trumpet.
KAM Isaiah Israel
Founded in 1847, KAM (Kehilath Anshe Maarav) Isaiah Israel is the oldest Jewish congregation in the Midwest. The synagogue’s design was inspired by Byzantine architecture, complete with a minaret. It’s located in Hyde Park across the street from President Obama’s home.
Want to discover other hidden places in Chicago? Check out my book Secret Chicago!
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
