October 14, 2025

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Chicago Architecture Biennial Expands Footprint Downtown with Announcement of 5th Site Location at 840 N. Michigan Avenue

More Than 30 Installations In Over 65,000 Square Feet of Space On the Iconic Magnificent Mile

CHICAGO – The Chicago Architecture Biennial is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth site at 840 N. Michigan Avenue as part of SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change. Led by Artistic Director Florencia Rodriguez, 840 N. Michigan continues the Biennial’s curatorial vision by transforming more than 65,000 square feet of retail space into a vibrant cultural destination. 

Presented in partnership with Acadia Realty Trust and Parkside Realty, the site will feature more than 30 installations from over 35 participating artists and studios from around the world, spread across four floors of the landmark building at one of the city’s most dynamic intersections. 

In addition to projects that extend the overarching SHIFT capsules, Ecologies, the thematic capsule presented at 840 N. Michigan, explores how architecture exists within the interconnected systems that shape our world—climate, technology, food, and the human body. The exhibition expands the Biennial’s inquiry into how design both depends on and influences the broader ecologies that sustain and challenge us. 

Shift Capsule

• 322A
• Alfredo Thiermann with Pedro Correa, Ella Neumaier, and Xavier Nueno
• alsar-atelier
• Bair Balliet
• Besler & Sons
• Christopher Hawthorne
• gt2P
• Johnston Marklee
• LAMA.SP
• Luftwerk
• Stewart Hicks
• Tonika Johnson / Amanda Williams

Ecologies Capsule

• C+ arquitectas
• CLUAA
• Estudio Flume
• Estudio Planta
• Ibañez Kim
• Ivan Lopez Munuera and TAKK
• Juan Du
• La Cabina de la Curiosidad
• Laboratory of Intersectional Ecologies
• LIGA, Space for Architecture + Blanco, Estudio Jochamowitz Rivera and Ghezzi Novak
• Natura Futura
• Oshinowo Studio
• Parsons & Charlesworth
• Rozana Montiel
• STOSS Landscape Urbanism + MPdL Studio with Mark Lamster
• Studio Urbane Strategien
• Sungjang
• The Bittertang Farm
• UNA/UNLESS
• Worofila

“840 North Michigan Avenue provides a perfect, high-traffic setting for the Chicago Architecture Biennial’s fifth site, as it sits at one of the most iconic intersections in the city: directly across from the world-famous architecture of the John Hancock Building and Fourth Presbyterian Church, and just steps from Chicago’s Water Tower monument,” said Bob Wislow, Founder and CEO of Parkside Realty, Inc. “Bringing the Biennial to this space adds to the energy and excitement of Michigan Avenue, demonstrating creativity and collaboration in our city’s most celebrated destinations.” 

 The exhibitions at 840 N. Michigan will open to the public on Friday, November 7 and will remain on view until January 31, 2026. Public hours are Wednesday–Sunday, 12:00–6:00 p.m., with extended evening hours on Thursdays until 8:00 p.m. Like all Biennial exhibitions, admission is free and open to all.  

“This partnership shows the power of adaptive reuse to reimagine Chicago’s commercial and urban spaces,” said Phil Clement, President & CEO, World Business Chicago. “Transforming a high-profile retail site into a hub for creativity and connection demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can spark new energy, unlock opportunity, and inspire Chicagoans to see what’s possible when we think differently about our city’s future.”

The space will also host Living With, an exhibition presented by Saint-Gobain and Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, that explores architecture’s capacity to respond to conflict, climate disruption, resource scarcity, and other challenges of our time. As part of the Biennial’s SHIFT programming, the site will also host a series of events, performances, and panels, which will be shared in the coming weeks on the Biennial calendar of events. 

 “We’re thrilled to welcome the Chicago Architecture Biennial to the Magnificent Mile,” said Kimberly Bares, CEO of The Magnificent Mile Association. “Bringing this level of creativity and global perspective to one of Chicago’s most recognized destinations highlights the vibrancy and cultural momentum of Michigan Avenue today.”

Beyond 840 N. Michigan, the Biennial’s citywide programming continues across four anchor sites—the Chicago Cultural Center, Graham Foundation, Stony Island Arts Bank, and a site-specific installation at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Each location invites the public to explore how architecture and design engages with today’s cultural, social, and environmental transformations. Together with more than 60 program partners across Chicago and the suburbs, SHIFT creates a citywide platform for dialogue, creativity, and exchange.  A full list of current and upcoming exhibitions can be found here.  A full calendar events and a complete list of partners can be found on the Biennial website: chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org. 

A comprehensive list of SHIFT participants, projects, and sites is available via The Bloomberg Connects digital guide, made possible through the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies,  available as an appendix, and on chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org. 

About the Chicago Architecture Biennial
The Chicago Architecture Biennial convenes the world to explore innovative ideas and collectively imagine the future of design. The Biennial’s large-scale exhibitions, talks, performances, films, and other events, create opportunities to engage timely global issues through the lens of architecture and design, emphasizing creativity and community participation. Free and open to the public, the Chicago Architecture Biennial stands as North America’s largest international survey of contemporary architecture and design.

Founded in the city that gave birth to the skyscraper and continues to shape the global language of architecture, the Chicago Architecture Biennial celebrates Chicago’s unmatched legacy while boldly projecting its future. The Biennial emerged from the City of Chicago’s 2012 Cultural Plan, which envisioned a platform to highlight the city’s cultural leadership. In collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Graham Foundation, the Chicago Architecture Biennial launched its inaugural edition in 2015. 

Since 2015, the Chicago Architecture Biennial has produced five editions that featured more than 400 projects from 40 countries and welcomed over 2.2 million visitors to exhibitions and public programs across Chicago. From Sullivan and Wright to today’s most daring spatial thinkers, the Biennial reaffirms Chicago’s role as a crucible for radical ideas and inclusive design.

Lead support for the Chicago Architecture Biennial is provided by the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Good Chaos, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Amrize, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Chicago Free for All Fund, the Polk Bros. Foundation, and Illinois Arts Council.

 

Principal support for Learning programs is provided by the Zell Family Foundation. Additional support by the Crown Family Philanthropies.

 

Generous support is provided by the MacArthur Foundation, Cari and Michael J. Sacks, Donald R. Wilson Jr. Family Foundation, the Poetry Foundation, Manasi and Dave Cocagne, Anne L. Kaplan, Sandra and Jack Guthman, Donna C. King Estate, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Mansueto Foundation, Pritzker Traubert Foundation, Susan and Bob Wislow, Rooney Family/R4 Services, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Builtworlds, Goldman Sachs, Dedrea and Paul Gray, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Neisser Family Foundation, Related Midwest, Segal Family Foundation, Thornton Tomasetti, Steve and Cindy Cruise, Helyn Goldenberg, Gray Capital Partners, Guggenheim Securities, Scan Design Foundation, Wintrust and the Carpenters Workshop Gallery.

 

SHIFT site partners generously provide their space, including the Acadia Realty Trust, Parkside Realty, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Millennium Park Foundation, and the Rebuild Foundation.

 

The Bloomberg Connects digital experience is made possible through the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies.

 

Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

 

Media Partners include Architectural Record, Dezeen, New York Review of Architecture, STIR, and Untapped.

 

Learn more at chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org. 

About 840 N. MICHIGAN

840 N. Michigan, owned by Acadia Realty Trust, is a purpose built, multi-story, retail building located at the south west corner of the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Chestnut Street in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Surrounded by and walking distance from Chicago’s most important high end hotels, retailers and residential buildings, 840 overlooks the world famous John Hancock Building and is just a half block walk from Chicago’s historic Water Tower monument, the most famous survivor of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. 840’s five floors provide over 87,000 square feet of high end retail space with ceiling heights ranging from 16’ to 22’ with large, open floor plates with over 300 feet of Michigan Avenue and Chestnut Street store front. For further information please visit  https://canvasrealestate.com/properties/840-n-michigan-ave/.

 

About Acadia Realty Trust

Acadia Realty Trust is an equity real estate investment trust focused on delivering long-term, profitable growth. Acadia owns and operates a high-quality core real estate portfolio (“REIT Portfolio”) of street and open-air retail properties in the nation’s most dynamic retail corridors, along with an investment management platform that targets opportunistic and value-add investments through its institutional co-investment vehicles (“Investment Management”). For further information, please visit www.acadiarealty.com.