Chicago is the birthplace of the modern city. We are a global symbol for architecture. While this rise to fame is indebted to a host of visionary architects whose buildings dot the southwestern rim of Lake Michigan, the real story runs much deeper.

Alongside Van der Rohe, Sullivan, and Wright, a groundswell of grassroots activists, preservationists, architecture enthusiasts, and forward-thinking institutions have led a long-term collaboration to call attention to Chicago’s historic and contemporary legacy. At the heart of this movement is the Chicago Architecture Center.

Currents: 60 Years of the Chicago Architecture Center, follows the path of Chicago’s architectural roots and the evolution of an institution whose mission has put Chicago on map as a premium destination for architectural tourism.

Our design aims to capture the tempo and energy of CAC’s origin in 1966 to today, coalescing a stream of influences into a navigable visual narrative. The design references the bold and utopic designs of the era, most notably Massimo Vignelli’s iconic New York City subway map from 1972. Encountered as a whole, the compact exhibition leaves an indelible impression, reinforcing the web of collaborative efforts that make Chicago a world class city for modern architecture.