Shaping Contemporary Realities: Architecture and Beyond Symposium

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.

PROGRAM

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.