From September 24 to 26, 2026, Villa Albertine in Chicago and MAS Context present Shaping Contemporary Realities: Architecture and Beyond, an international symposium that will transform Chicago into a platform for French-US dialogue on the future of architecture, innovation, and the built environment.
It will foster lively transatlantic exchanges through the perspectives of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, curators, artists, scientists, researchers, philosophers, industry partners, and leading experts exploring three key themes: Innovative Adaptation, Civic Changemaking, and Flourishing Environments.
Each day will take place at a different venue and will combine short talks, public Q&A sessions, and expert-led guided visits, offering participants direct access to exemplary architectural sites and current urban transformations.
Day 1 → Thursday, September 24 on the theme of Innovative Adaptation
Location: S.R. Crown Hall, designed by Mies van der Rohe and located on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.
Day 2 → Friday, September 25 on the theme of Civic Changemaking
Location: Experimental Station located on Chicago’s South Side and close to the recently opened Obama Presidential Center.
Day 3 → Saturday, September 26 on the theme of Flourishing Environments
Location: Chicago Architecture Center located on the Chicago River inside a Mies van der Rohe-designed building.
The discussions will explore contemporary architectural achievements and construction projects, pioneering research, technological innovation, experimental pilot initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaborations between architects, scientists, artists, and other leading thinkers shaping tomorrow’s cities. Adding a unique sensory dimension to the event, a participatory sound artwork created by a sound artist, Stefania Becheanu, recipient of the 2026 Villa Albertine Music grant, will invite visitors to contribute their own voices and perceptions, creating a collective acoustic portrait of the symposium and its exploration of contemporary realities.
The program is free and open to professionals, academics, students, and the broader public.
The symposium is organized by Villa Albertine and MAS Context, with leading support by Saint-Gobain. Additional support is provided by Albertine Foundation, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, IIT School of Architecture, Experimental Station, and Chicago Architecture Center. The Driehaus Museum is a collaborating institution. Editorial partners include States - Villa Albertine and Constructing a Sustainable Future.
Figure credit: Courtesy of MAS Context.