Think Tank 2019: Megaregion Chicago Symposium Expands to Second Venue

September 27 Think Tank symposium/design exhibition on Chicago megaregion’s future adds second venue beside the Chicago River

Due to strong demand, Legat Architects’ Think Tank 2019: Megaregion has added a second location: in addition to DIRTT’s Green Learning Center atop 325 North Wells Street, the event will take place at the Kimball Showroom on the ground floor of that same building. 325 North Wells, the former Helene Curtis headquarters, is located on the Chicago River and next to the Merchandise Mart. Its green-tinted glass (from a 1985 renovation) echoes the river and adds a contemporary splash to the original 1912 red brick walls.

Event coordinator Justin Banda said, “Now, not only will participants have prime views of the river and downtown from DIRTT’s tenth-story penthouse and balcony, but they’ll also be able to enjoy the river from Kimball’s first- and second-floor space.”

DIRTT’s Green Learning Center (Think Tank Track A, keynote) features a light-filled, two-story lecture space, a virtual reality area, offices, and a bistro. Its large balcony offers sweeping views of the Chicago River and skyline. The firm’s sustainable custom modular interiors save energy, resources, and time.

It’s hard to decide where to look while traversing Kimball Showroom’s (Think Tank Track B) spiraling staircase: on one side, there’s the ultramodern space with its many unique nooks and on the other side, there’s the Chicago River. Throughout the space are furnishings in relaxed tones and rich textures that invite people to gather comfortably.

Think Tank attendees will be assigned to one of the venues based on which of the two tracks they choose to attend. All participants will assemble at DIRTT for the lunchtime and final keynotes.

About Think Tank 2019: Megaregion

The Chicagoland megaregion consists of interconnected cities, highways, and municipalities, all of which grapple with challenges related to housing, water quality, transportation, sustainability, and more.

On September 27, Legat Architects’ Think Tank 2019: Megaregion symposium and design exhibition will explore how these issues will impact Chicagoland’s future. The speaker and panel lineup unites leading voices from across the country.

Those invited to the event include building owners, AEC professionals, teachers, students, and anyone with an interest in what day-to-day life in the Chicago region will look like in the next 30 years.

Think Tank 2019: Megaregion is a partner program with the Chicago Architecture Biennial, the largest architecture and design exhibition in North America.

Register for Think Tank 2019: Megaregion, contribute to the design exhibition, learn more about the event, contact us, or comment below to share your thoughts on this post.