I’ve written before that the annual Open House Chicago is my favorite weekend in the city. Hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, the festival offers free access to over 200 public and private architectural sites around town. It’s a wonderful impetus to explore iconic landmarks and neighborhood gems.
As I mentioned in my preview of Open House Chicago 2016, over 20 neighborhoods are represented among this year’s sites. This is the first year that neighboring Oak Park, a trove of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, and South Side neighborhood Englewood are included in the event.
I was delighted to devote the weekend to exploring Chicago’s architecture and to share my photos with Chicagoist. I hope you enjoy some of the sites below!
Read: Our Massive Gallery Of Stunning Architecture From Open House Chicago
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church
I started the weekend close to home touring the many churches of Ukrainian Village. Built in 1915 by Worthmann & Steinbach, St. Nicholas features a nine-tiered golden chandelier glowing with 480 lights.
The Builder’s Building
Open House Chicago’s launch party was held at the Builder’s Building. Hidden inside the 1927 Graham, Anderson, Probst & White office building design is an elegant atrium lobby.
Marina City
After sneaking into this private residence to snap photos a few months back, it was nice to be invited inside. Bertrand Goldberg famously didn’t believe in straight lines and his 1986 “city-within-a-city” reflects the winding river it sits on.
Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Louis Sullivan designed plenty of structures in Chicago, but this is one of only two churches he designed. Completed in 1903, it’s Chicago’s oldest Orthodox parish and it received financing from Czar Nicholas II of Russia.
MILA Chicago
This new luxury residence by bKL Architecture has many amenities. My favorite is the close-up views of its neighboring buildings in the Loop.
Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist
For the record, the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist is not the same as Scientology. This tranquil space was completed by Harry Weese & Associates in 1968 and features a 3,316-pipe Aeolian-Skinner organ.
Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church
The gold domes of this church by Yaroslav Korsunsky have caught my eye for years. The interior of the 1973 space is equally stunning and features an intricate, hand-carved wooden altar.
LondonHouse Chicago
Built as the London Guarantee Building in 1923, this riverfront high rise was recently renovated and transformed into the LondonHouse hotel. The 452-room hotel boasts some of the city’s most covetable views from its three-story rooftop bar.
St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church
This 1898 space was voted “Most Beautiful Church in America” in 2016. It was based on the architecture of 19th-century Krakow and its altar and statuary can be traced back to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. 
The Yale Building
One of the most visited sites of the weekend was Englewood’s Yale Building. The senior living apartment building, dating from 1892, John T. Long, 1892 features a lush, sun-drenched atrium and balconies. 
St. Benedict the African Roman Catholic Church
This church was designed for its predominantly African American community in 1989. The curved wooden beams, reminiscent of African huts, and 10,000 gallon stone baptismal pool create a peaceful space for worship.
Zap Props
You’ve probably seen the Zap Props inventory on your favorite TV shows and movies. The 36,000-square-foot warehouse holds a curious collection of items from all eras used on production sets and in restaurants. 
The Plant
This former 93,500-square-foot meatpacking facility has developed into an urban farm and food business incubator. Stop by and check out the aquaponics, kombucha brewery, coffee roaster, and craft beer brewery. The Plant aims to create an anaerobic digester to consume 30 tons of food waste per day and generate energy and provide heating and cooling. 
Illinois Institute of Technology, S. R. Crown Hall
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed Crown Hall in 1956 and the design is a prime example of his “less is more” philosophy. The Chicago Architecture Foundation calls it “possibly the most essential example of the International style of Modern architecture.”
Illinois Institute of Technology, Robert F. Carr Memorial Chapel of St. Savior
Another Mies van der Rohe design on the IIT campus is Carr Chapel. The sparse, 1952 non-denominational chapel was his only religious project.
Studio Gang Architects
The former Polish National Alliance, a 1937 Art Deco landmark, is now home to Jeanne Gang’s architecture and design firm. The Wicker Park structure features the design studio as well as a rooftop garden and event space. 
Architectural information sourced from the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
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.
St. Benedict the African Roman Catholic Church was built in 1989 and not 1979. I worked on this project so I know it was not 1979.
Thanks Art! That must have been a typo on my part. I’ve updated the post. What an incredible project. What was it like to work on this church?