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The Chicago Architecture Biennial is an invitational, international exhibition of architectural ideas, projects and displays. It seeks "to provide[] a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments that demonstrate how creativity and innovation can radically transform our lived experience.". The first of its kind exhibition in North America, its initial showing took place in Chicago between October, 2015 and January, 2016, and was headquartered at the Chicago Cultural Center.
The biennial is managed by a charitable corporation under the auspices of the city's Cultural Affairs department, and sponsored by public and private organizations and individuals. The 2015-16 biennial had entries from 104 architects or practices. The exhibitors were invitees, many from North America and Europe, but also from Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Ecuador, India, Israel, Japan, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, and South Korea. The theme of this biennial was The State of the Art of Architecture.' The title of the first biennial originates from a 1977 conference organized by Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman, which invited leading American designers to Chicago to discuss the current state of the field. The first biennial announced it had more than 500,000 visitors, and plans for its return in 2017.
The 2017 theme is Make New History, and will run from September to December.