Model skyscrapers, funky churches, and more architecture abound at the second edition of this sprawling event At the press conference to kick off the second edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, held underneath the massive Tiffany glass dome of the Chicago Cultural Center, the running joke was that the event was finally ?official?? it?s not a biennial until it happens twice. But taking in the massive collection of displays, shows, and satellite events running from September 16 through January 7, it?s clear organizers and participants are keen to avoid a sophomore slump.
Artistic directors, architects, and educators Sharon Johnston and Mark Lee, of L.A.?s Johnston Marklee, invited more than 140 participants from around the world to interpret the exhibit?s theme, ?Make New History.? Based on the myriad of architectural history, design, and urban planning displays, it appeared to be a wide-ranging prompt. Here are some of the exhibitions and events that stood out during a tour of the main display and many of the off-site exhibitions opening weekend. 1. New takes on a classic skyscraper

Tom Harris

?Vertical City,? an exhibit at one of the main Cultural Center galleries, revisits the famed 1922 competition to design a tower for the Chicago Tribune and does more than just fill the expected quota for skyscrapers in a Chicago architecture exhibition. It highlights design?s evolution over time, showing how three eras approached the same commission....