The Burnham Plan Centennial - Bold Plans, Big Dreams

Calendar & Projects

Urban Planning & Design

Previous Events

November, 2008

Saturday, November 8, 2008 10:00am to 11:30am

The GO TO 2040 Plan: Bold Innovations for a Better Chicago

Chicago Humanities Festival

How will metropolitan Chicago look by the year 2040— and how should it look? This Community Conversation, organized for  the 2008 Chicago Humanities Festival by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), will focus on the role of commuter rail and potential regional high-speed rail service. [MORE]

Monday, November 17, 2008 1:30pm
Monday, November 17, 2008 7:00pm

Community Conversation: GO TO 2040

Elmhurst Public Library

We strive to find ways to make our communities stronger and our residents more involved. These "Community Conversations," co-hosted by the Elmhurst Public Library and CMAP, will help the GOTO 2040 initiative identify issues, concerns and new ideas about the future of our region. [MORE]

Thursday, November 20, 2008 1:30pm to 3:30pm

On The Eve of the Centennial: Daniel Burnham, Big Thinkers, and the Future of the Metropolis

American Planning Association - Chicago Metro Section

2009 will be a big year for the Chicago region.

April, 2009

Saturday, April 4, 2009 11:00am to 3:00pm

My Kind of Town (The Artist's Studio)

Art Institute of Chicago

Visit the exhibition Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago to see drawings for the design of Chicago from more than 100 years ago, then create your own beautiful city in a drawing. This is a drop-in workshop that meets every Saturday and Sunday (except April 12) from 11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. [MORE]

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:30am to 1:30pm

Weaving a Regional Vision: Grantmakers as Partners in Creating Sustainable Growth

Donors Forum

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is creating a regional vision for greater Chicago with the core themes of sustainability, equity, and innovation. The vision encompasses issues of major concern to Chicago-area grantmakers: quality of life, the environment, housing, health, safety, education, economic strength, energy production and consumption, water use, intergovernmental cooperation and planning, and civic involvement. A final plan, for release in Fall 2010, will include public input through events focusing on the Burnham Centennial.

Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:30pm to 9:00pm

The Founders Lectures: RICHARD FLORIDA Conversations in the Arts

Columbia College Chicago

Urban studies theorist Richard Florida is one of the world’s leading public intellectuals. Florida is best known for developing the controversial concept of the “creative class” and its impact on urban regeneration. He argues that metropolitan regions with concentrations of high-tech workers, artists, musicians, lesbians and gay men correlate with a higher level of economic development.

May, 2009

Saturday, May 9, 2009 9:00am to 2:00pm

2nd Annual Green Summit: Steel Town to Green Town

Claretian Associates, Inc. (South Chicago NCP)

Learning to live green on the Southeast Side will be the focus of the 2nd Annual 10th Ward Green Summit. This year attendees can learn about greening efforts such as new affordable, energy-efficient homes, roof gardens, community gardens, solar-operated trash collectors, and restoration of Hegewisch Marsh, the future site of the Ford Environmnetal Education Center. [MORE]

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 10:00am to 3:00pm

Sneak Preview: GO TO 2040 "Invent the Future" Workshop

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)

At this event to kick off CMAP's "Invent the Future" phase of the GO TO 2040 regional planning campaign, you will be the first to experience interactive tools that will let residents create, share, and compare their future scenarios. In addition to workshops like this, the software will be available starting June 1 at www.goto2040.org and in kiosks at dozens of locations that include Millennium Park, Metra stations, libraries and festivals across the region. [MORE]

June, 2009

Thursday, June 4, 2009 7:00pm to 9:30pm

Community Conversation: Historic Preservation and a Sustainable Future:

Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple Restoration Foundation

As part of the Burnham Plan Centennial Celebration, UTRF and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning team up with Landmarks Illinois, the Pleasant Home Foundation, the Village of Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission, and the Village of Oak Park Environment and Energy Commission to encourage active citizen participation in the development of GO TO 2040, Chicago’s first comprehensive, long-range regional plan.

Friday, June 5, 2009 noon to 1:30pm

A Reform Roadmap for Viable Infrastructure in the Chicago Region

Metropolitan Planning Council

The first panel of the "Reinventing Public Investment" series will explore how federal investment policies in energy, transportation and water have shaped decisions and development in the Chicago region. Panelist include: [MORE]

Monday, June 15, 2009

Virtual Burnham Initiative: Web Launch!

Lake Forest College

 

We bring you the City that Never Was.

The Virtual Burnham Initiative (VBI) transforms a selection of flat images from the 1909 Plan of Chicago—by Daniel H. Burnham and Edward H. Bennett into 3-D models accessible through the VBI website and navigable in Google Earth.  [MORE]

August, 2009

Saturday, August 1, 2009 noon to Sunday, November 1, 2009 noon

Chicago Past, Present and Future - Multimedia Installation

Burnham Pavilions

From dusk until 11 p.m. nightly, a film installation is projected onto the Zaha Hadid Burnham Pavilion’s fabric interior. From three different points inside the pavilion, two from the front and one from the rear of the screen, the projection creates a fully immersive, intermittently 3-D effect. [MORE]

Monday, August 17, 2009 noon to 1:30pm

Sustainable Choices for a Greener Chicago Region

Metropolitan Planning Council

Sustainable Choices for a Greener Chicago Region, the third panel of the "Reinventing Public Investment" series, will explore how federal energy,water, and land use policies have shaped decisions and development in the Chicago region and beyond. [MORE]

September, 2009

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 7:30pm to 9:00pm

Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City

Archimedia Workshop

This documentary film, making its world premiere at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, explores the fascinating life and complex legacy of architect and city planner Daniel Hudson Burnham and how his vision to organize the chaos of the nineteenth century America shaped the nation's towns and cities for generations. [MORE]

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 6:00pm

Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City

Chicago Public Library

The Chicago Public Library's One Book One Chicago fall programming offers multiple opportunities to view  this film which explores the fascinating life and complex legacy of Daniel Hudson Burnham and how his vision to organize the chaos of 19th century America shaped the nation's towns and cities for generations.

The film, the first full-length documentary about Burnham, was directed by Judith McBrien and produced by The Archimedia Workshop in consultation with Kartemquin Films.

Upcoming showings are: [MORE]

October, 2009

Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:30pm

Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City

Chicago Public Library

The Chicago Public Library's One Book One Chicago fall programming offers multiple opportunities to view  this film which explores the fascinating life and complex legacy of Daniel Hudson Burnham and how his vision to organize the chaos of 19th century America shaped the nation's towns and cities for generations.

The film, the first full-length documentary about Burnham, was directed by Judith McBrien and produced by The Archimedia Workshop in consultation with Kartemquin Films.

Upcoming showings are: [MORE]

Thursday, October 8, 2009 8:00am to 5:00pm

Context Sensitive Street Design: How Illinois is Responding to the Challeges and Opportunities

Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), Illinois Chapter

Learn the design side of context sensitive solutions for urban thoroughfares. Learn how to make them efficient, attractive and vibrant. Appreciate their ability to connect cities and neighborhoods to each other and understand how such ideals are echoed amidst the planned intentions of Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett 100 years ago as presented in the great Plan of Chicago. [MORE]

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 5:00pm to 6:00pm

An International Perspective on Planning in 1909

American Planning Association - Chicago Metro Section

The same year Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett presented the Plan of Chicago to the City's Commercial Club, the British Parliament passed the first piece of legislation dealing with town planning. This shared centenary provides an opportunity to look at some of the different ways that urban planning has developed in the two nations and to see what lessons can be learned for the future of planning in a time of economic, social and environmental turbulence.
  [MORE]

Friday, October 23, 2009 7:30am to 10:00am

Burnham's Plan of Chicago: History or Inspiration?

Lambda Alpha International Ely Chapter

The Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, the Honorary Society for the advancement of Land Economics, is proud to sponsor a public symposium discussing Burnham's influence on Chicago and throughout the world. An exceptional panel of visionary pragmatists will explore questions about 21st century urban development. [MORE]

Sunday, October 25, 2009 2:00pm

Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City

DuSable Museum of African American History

This documentary film explores the fascinating life and complex legacy of Daniel Hudson Burnham and how his vision to organize the chaos of 19th century America shaped the nation's towns and cities for generations. This special viewing is free and open to the public.

December, 2009

Sunday, December 6, 2009 8:00am to Sunday, December 13, 2009 11:50pm

Vehicle Sticker Art Design Contest

City of Chicago

All Chicago high school students grades 9-12 were invited to submit artwork for the 15th annual City Sticker Art Contest. The 2010-2011 theme is “Burnham’s Chicago, and more than 300 area students created designs highlighting Daniel Burnham’s contributions to our city. A panel of volunteer judges—including artists and civic leaders—determined the top 10 designs, which are up to a public vote.” [MORE]

Thursday, December 17, 2009 8:00pm

Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City

WTTW Chicago

The first full-length documentary about Daniel Hudson Burnham makes its television broadcast premiere. Directed by Judith McBrien, the film—narrated by Joan Allen—explores Burnham's fascinating life and complex legacy and how his vision to organize the chaos of 19th century America shaped the nation's towns and cities for generations.
  [MORE]

January, 2010

Thursday, January 21, 2010 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Burnham Goes To 2040

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)

Please join us at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) as we build on the momentum of the 2009 Burnham Plan Centennial to launch bold new plans for the region's future.
 
At this very special kick-off, you'll be the first to receive a copy of the CMAP's preferred Regional Scenario, the last major policy publication before the draft GO TO 2040 comprehensive seven-county plan itself is issued in June 2010. The preferred Regional Scenario will describe the policies upon which the detailed plan will be based. [MORE]

The Burnham Plan Centennial
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