The city of Chicago is planning a large-scale architectural event to showcase groundbreaking work and new design experiments.

The city of Chicago has unveiled plans for “The Chicago Architecture Biennial,” a multi-month international architectural event developed by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events that will provide a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments.

Via exhibitions, full-scale installations, and program of events set to run from Oct. 2015 through the New Year, the Biennial will invite the public to engage with and think about architecture in new and unexpected ways, and to take part in a global discussion on the future of the field.

The State of the Art of Architecture

Officially titled “The State of the Art of Architecture,” the Biennial takes its title and inspiration from a 1977 conference organized by architect Stanley Tigerman, which invited leading American designers to Chicago to discuss the current state of the field. Both emerging and established architectural practices will take part in the Biennial, all in an effort to show how new advances in the field are addressing today’s pressing issues. In addition, there were be several commissions exclusive to the Biennial, including a photo essay by world-renowned photographer Iwan Baan.

The  Chicago Cultural Center will be the main exhibition venue for the Biennial, but there will be other installations in other parts of the city, including Millennium Park and the South Side, where Theaster Gates will develop new projects and public programs; additionally, partner institutions in the region will host exhibitions and events, and will offer educational programs for local and international students.