From September 24 to 26, 2026, Villa Albertine in Chicago and MAS Context present Shaping Contemporary Realities: Architecture and Beyond, an international symposium that will transform Chicago into a platform for French-US dialogue on the future of architecture, innovation, and the built environment.
“Shaping Contemporary Realities: Architecture and Beyond celebrates architecture not only as the art of building, but also as a catalyst for cultural dialogue, scientific innovation, and civic imagination,” explains Nathalie Filser, director of Villa Albertine in Chicago.
The symposium will foster lively transatlantic exchanges through the perspectives of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, curators, artists, scientists, researchers, philosophers, industry partners, and leading experts exploring three key themes: Innovative Adaptation, Civic Changemaking, and Flourishing Environments.
“We are at a time when architecture is increasingly called upon to address climate change, engage with technological transformations, and support evolving ways of living,” adds Iker Gil, founder and editor in chief of MAS Context. “Shaping Contemporary Realities: Architecture and Beyond positions Chicago as a critical meeting point to discuss ideas, build partnerships, and share innovations that are shaping the future of our built world.”
“The future of sustainable construction depends on stronger collaboration across the entire construction value chain. Bringing together architects, industry leaders, researchers, institutions, and communities is essential to building a shared understanding of both the challenges ahead and the solutions already available” says Fabienne Robert, Sustainable Construction Observatory and International External Relations Director of Saint-Gobain. “Through its Sustainable Construction Observatory, Saint-Gobain fosters this dialogue. Its media outlet, Constructing a Sustainable Future, extends these conversations to a broader international audience. And symposia like this one bring them to life.”
Each day will take place at a different venue and will combine short talks, public Q&A sessions, and expert-led guided visits, offering participants direct access to exemplary architectural sites and current urban transformations.
Day 1 → Thursday, September 24 on the theme of Innovative Adaptation
Location: S.R. Crown Hall, designed by Mies van der Rohe and located on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.
Day 2 → Friday, September 25 on the theme of Civic Changemaking
Location: Experimental Station located on Chicago’s South Side and close to the recently opened Obama Presidential Center.
Day 3 → Saturday, September 26 on the theme of Flourishing Environments
Location: Chicago Architecture Center located on the Chicago River inside a Mies van der Rohe-designed building.
The discussions will foster transatlantic exchanges around contemporary architectural achievements and construction projects, pioneering research, technological innovation, experimental pilot initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaborations between architects, scientists, artists, and other leading thinkers shaping tomorrow’s cities. Adding a unique sensory dimension to the event, a participatory sound artwork created by a sound artist, Stefania Becheanu, recipient of the 2026 Villa Albertine Music grant, will invite visitors to contribute their own voices and perceptions, creating a collective acoustic portrait of the symposium and its exploration of contemporary realities.
The program is free and open to professionals, academics, students, and the broader public. The full program will be available in late August.
The September 24–26 symposium on architecture in Chicago follows the presentation of the French Pavilion Living with / Vivre Avec from the Venice Architecture Biennale in Chicago (November 2025–February 2026), and the organization of a Summer Academy in Architecture and Urban Studies in Paris by Villa Albertine of 19 French and US students in architecture and urban design.
The symposium is organized by Villa Albertine and MAS Context, With leading support by Saint-Gobain, Additional support is provided by Albertine Foundation, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, IIT College of Architecture, Experimental Station, Chicago Architecture Center. Collaborating institutions include the Driehaus Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA). Editorial partners include States–Villa Albertine and CSF–Constructing a Sustainable Future.
