Chicago

The Chicago Summer School examines the city’s meteoric rise from frontier outpost to architectural powerhouse in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Participants trace the evolution of Chicago’s skyline, from pioneering skyscrapers to the Prairie School and beyond, through lectures, walking tours, and private site visits. The program explores the cultural and technological innovations that fueled Chicago’s growth, including the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, groundbreaking advances in engineering, and the influence of visionary architects like Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Alongside architectural study, participants experience the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, museums, and preservation efforts, gaining a deep understanding of Chicago’s enduring legacy.