Chicago hopes to draw global architectural talent to the city next year.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Tuesday that Chicago will host the first Chicago Architecture Biennial, an international forum on architecture and design. The biennial takes place Oct. 1, 2015, through Jan. 3 2016, at the Chicago Cultural Center.
"Architecture defines a city, and no city has been defined by its architecture--or has been influenced global architectural design--like Chicago," Emanuel said in a statement.
The city is partnering with the Graham Foundation, a local architectural grant foundation, to host the Chicago Architectural Biennial.
Thousands of architectural professionals, students and cultural enthusiasts are expected to come to see the large exhibitions at the cultural center and around Chicago. New installations will be placed in Millennium Park and in Chicago neighborhoods.
"Obviously there's an economic benefit in tourism and travel," Emanuel said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. "Chicago will continue to be seen worldwide as an epicenter of modern architecture. The real question is: why wasn't Chicago doing this before?"
