Day 1| Innovative Adaptation Panel & Tour
September 24, 2026 | Illinois Institute of Technology
Shaping Contemporary Realities: Architecture and Beyond Symposium
Symposium
@ BURO-GDS
Join us for this three-day public symposium taking place in Chicago in September organized by Villa Albertine Chicago and MAS Context, with leading support by Saint-Gobain, global leader in light and sustainable construction.
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.
The symposium will foster lively transatlantic exchanges through the perspectives of architects, landscape architects, urban planners, curators, artists, scientists, researchers, writers, industry leaders and leading experts exploring three key themes: Innovative Adaptation, Civic Changemaking, and Flourishing Environments.
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. Explore the full program here
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.
This symposium on architecture 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 Chicago and MAS Context, with leading support by Saint-Gobain, a global leader in light and sustainable construction.
Additional support is provided by Albertine Foundation, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, IIT School of Architecture, Experimental Station, and Chicago Architecture Center. The Driehaus Museum is a collaborating institution. Editorial partners include States – Villa Albertine and Constructing a Sustainable Future.
In partnership with
Saint-Gobain
Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services adapted to the residential, non-residential and infrastructure markets. Its integrated and innovative solutions provide sustainability, performance and well-being for its customers. The Group is guided by its purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”. Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
- €46.5 billion in sales in 2025
- 162,000 employees, locations in 81 countries
For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit https://www.saint-gobain.com/en/ and follow us on LinkedIn Saint-Gobain
Albertine Foundation
Albertine Foundation is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting French American relations through innovative cultural and educational programs. In close partnership with Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education, Albertine Foundation administers grant programs across diverse creative disciplines including visual and performing arts; cinema; and literature, while also supporting exploratory residencies for creative professionals and thinkers across the United States. Albertine Foundation also contributes to promoting French language learning in the United States and funds new opportunities for students, professors, and researchers in the spheres of secondary and higher education. Albertine Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation by Internal Revenue Service determination. Contributions from corporate, foundation, and individuals are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports the built environment, architectural excellence, and historic preservation in Chicago through strategic grantmaking. This mission is closely integrated with the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, which is housed in the landmarked 1883 Samuel M. Nickerson House. The museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the decorative arts and architecture of the Gilded Age, serving as a primary cultural venue that connects the foundation’s philanthropic goals with the public study of the city’s architectural heritage.
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain
The Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain is a forum for discussion and artistic experimentation that places contemporary art in all its forms, its exhibition, and its accessibility to the public at the core of its institutional mission. Since its founding in 1984 by Alain Dominique Perrin, who was President of Cartier at that time, its activities have promoted collaboration and exchange across artistic disciplines. Built up over the course of its exhibitions, its Collection reflects the multidisciplinary and breadth of the themes it explores through its programming, in resonance with society and contemporary stakes.
The Fondation Cartier carries out its activities and commitments with the desire and ambition to make contemporary art accessible to everyone. Through its program of exhibitions and events, the Fondation Cartier creates pathways between creative spaces and fosters a genuine environment for multicultural exchange.
Its new Parisian premises, located at 2 Place du Palais-Royal in a Haussmannian building constructed in 1855, have been completely reconceived by architect Jean Nouvel. The dynamic architecture he envisioned, consisting of five mobile platforms, allows for fully adjustable spatial configurations and lighting variations, multiplying the possibilities for programming and exhibition-making. The architecture acts as a flexible system serving the institution’s commitments, open to the broad spectrum of visual arts, crafts, performance, and science.
Expanding its potential, the Fondation Cartier has turned this unique venue into a space for educational innovation and shared aesthetic experiences, where artists and audiences come together to open up new perspectives on contemporary art and culture.
Constructing a Sustainable Future
Constructing a Sustainable Future is an international media platform dedicated to sustainable construction, part of the Sustainable Construction Observatory launched by Saint-Gobain. It aims to engage architects and other built environment stakeholders to raise awareness and deepen understanding of sustainable construction. Through articles, interviews, podcasts, videos and in-depth reports, CSF highlights innovative solutions, showcases exemplary projects from around the world and gives voice to those advancing the sector. It covers topics including decarbonization, circularity, renovation, energy efficiency, quality of life, urbanization, climate adaptation and resilience, public policy, and economics. Each year, its annual print edition explores a major challenge shaping the future of sustainable construction and is distributed in print and online to a broad international network of stakeholders and collaborators. Constructing a Sustainable Future is proud to partner with Villa Albertine Chicago for its 2026 Symposium, helping advance dialogue and awareness around sustainable construction.
Discover their latest annual edition: Sustainable Construction Means Decarbonization And Also…
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