The Progressive City: Wright & his Chicago Contemporaries

The Progressive City is the Conservancy’s third Chicago conference, the first there in fifteen years. Chicago around 1900 was a laboratory of progressive reforms addressing widespread social inequality, public health crises, and lack of access to education, nature and affordable housing.

• Education sessions will focus on the efforts of Wright, his peers and collaborators to improve the city through innovations in architecture, urban planning, parks, public health, education, social services, and housing.
• Special online events will delve into preservation advocacy for and restoration of Wright buildings in the Chicago area.
• In-person tours will revisit must-see favorites from our past tours including Unity Temple and the Frederick C. Robie House (both a part of The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright World Heritage inscription and restored since our last visit), as well as the Bradley House, The Rookery, Wright’s Oak Park Home & Studio, the Coonley Estate, Emil Bach House, and more. We will also have the opportunity to visit homes never before toured during in-person Conservancy events: the Jessie and William Adams House, Foster House, Baker House, Kathryn and Lloyd Lewis House, and others.
• Evening events will provide fellowship, support the Conservancy’s mission, and celebrate the recipients of the 2022 Wright Spirit Awards.
• The Conservancy’s Annual Meeting will take place on the morning of Saturday, October 22.

We hope you will join us in Chicago – or online!

2022 Conference Co-Chairs
Kelly Jones, FLWBC Board
Carmen Korleski, TAWANI Hospitality/Emil Bach House
Heidi Ruehle, Unity Temple Restoration Foundation

The schedule of in-person conference events, with confirmed highlights, is below. All times given are Central Daylight Time (CDT). The schedule remains under active development and will be updated as additional details are confirmed. All programs, tours and times are subject to change. Registrants will receive a final schedule prior to the conference.

Wednesday, October 19

9 a.m. CDT
Pre-Conference Tour
Begin your conference experience by traveling to Kankakee, Illinois, where we will tour the Bradley House (Wright, 1900) and its extensive grounds as well as a nearby shingle style house, the Volkmann House (1883). We will return to Chicago to tour the Jessie and William Adams House (Wright, 1900) and Foster House (Wright, 1900). Tickets $225. Lunch and transportation included.

6 p.m. CDT
Opening Reception
The Rookery
Kick off the conference with a reception at this landmark 1888 building by Burnham & Root, in the atrium transformed by Wright in 1905. Included with general registration. The Rookery is located in walking distance from the Palmer House Hilton, but bus transportation will be available as well.

7:30 p.m. CDT
Leadership Circle Dinner
Glessner House
Members of the Leadership, Clerestory and Visionary Circles are invited to an exclusive dinner at the Glessner House. Completed in 1887, the Glessner House is one of Henry Hobson Richardson’s last works, and considered to be among his masterpieces. Its fortress-like exterior shocked the sensibilities of its wealthy Prairie Avenue neighbors, but thanks in part to its innovative floor plan it has earned enduring recognition as a National Historic Landmark. We’ll enjoy a meal with bar, a brief talk from curator Bill Tyre, and tours of the house. Tickets $85. Transportation from opening reception and back to hotel provided. General conference registration is not required to attend this event. Members at the Leadership Circle level and above may contact the office at [email protected] for tickets.

Thursday, October 20

9 a.m. CDT
Conference Tours
We’ll enjoy a bus tour of significant sites connected to Wright and this year’s conference theme on Chicago’s West Side and western suburbs, along with special tours of Wright’s Home and Studio (Wright, begun 1889), the Coonley Estate (Wright, 1907) and Unity Temple (Wright, 1905). Transportation and lunch included.

6 p.m. CDT
Benefit Dinner
Unity Temple
After touring Unity Temple, stay for a reception and grazing meal to support the mission of the Conservancy. Hosted in partnership with the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation. As music fills the space, enjoy extra time to appreciate the amazing restoration of this building, which is included in The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright World Heritage inscription. There will be remarks from Tim Samuelson, Chicago Cultural Historian Emeritus. Tickets $175. Includes drinks, meal, program and transportation back to hotel. General conference registration not required. Click here to purchase standalone tickets for the Benefit Dinner>>

Friday, October 21

9 a.m. CDT
Conference Tours
We will venture north to enjoy visits to the Emil Bach House (Wright, 1915), Colvin House (George W. Maher, 1909), Baker House (Wright, 1909), Dorothy and William Ross House (Wright, 1915), the new location of Booth Cottage (Wright, 1911; exterior only) and more. Transportation and lunch included.

6:30 p.m. CDT
Homeowners & Public Sites Dinner
Union League Club of Chicago
Join us for an evening with fellow Wright homeowners and public site staff from across the country—the only gathering of its kind. Supported by Chuck and Kit Henderson, owners of the Mrs. Clinton Walker House. Reception begins at 6:30 p.m. CDT, with dinner to follow. There will be a program of short talks by homeowners and public site directors entitled “Stories in Contrast”. Tickets $85. General conference registration not required. Homeowners and public sites staff may contact the office at [email protected] for tickets.

Saturday, October 22

8:30 a.m. CDT
Annual Meeting
The Executive Director and Board President will provide an overview of the Conservancy’s work over the last year. The 2022 Thorpe Fellows will be introduced. A vote will be taken on the proposed slate of new Board members. Conservancy members not attending the conference online or in person may participate in the annual meeting via Zoom free of charge by registering here>>

9 a.m. CDT
Education Sessions
See list of confirmed speakers below. Lunch included. Included in general registration, but standalone Education Sessions tickets are available for $175. Click here to purchase standalone tickets for the Education Sessions>>

2:30 p.m. CDT
Conference Tours
We will tour the Frederick C. Robie House (Wright, 1909), which is included in The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright World Heritage inscription and underwent an interior restoration completed in 2019, as well as the Heller House (Wright, 1896) with its notable third-floor frieze sculpted by Richard Bock. Transportation included.

6 p.m. CDT
Silent Auction Reception
Palmer House Hilton
Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while you browse select silent auction items in the elegant Honore Ballroom and online. Included with general registration.

7 p.m. CDT
Gala & Wright Spirit Awards
Palmer House Hilton
Celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the 2022 Wright Spirit Awards honorees at an elegant gala dinner in the opulent Empire Room at the Palmer House, underwritten by Ron and Jan Scherubel. We’ll share highlights from the Conservancy’s silent auction and raffle. Included with general registration. Standalone tickets $175. Click here to purchase standalone gala tickets>>

10 p.m. CDT
Bidding closes in online silent auction. Catalogue >>

Sunday, October 23

9 a.m. CDT
Post-Conference Tour
Round out your conference experience with tours of two noteworthy houses from Wright’s Prairie and Usonian periods, the Willits House (Wright, 1902) and the Kathryn and Lloyd Lewis House (Wright, 1939), as well as another to be announced. Tickets $225. Lunch and transportation to and from the hotel is included. A bus will be able to stop at O’Hare International Airport no later than 4 p.m.

Online attendees can participate live in most events via Zoom, or watch recordings of the events for three months after the conference concludes. Additionally, online attendees will have the option to stream the Unity Temple documentary on demand for a limited period of time. Details about each event are below.

Education sessions will take place in Ganz Hall, the recital hall in Adler & Sullivan’s Auditorium Building, on Saturday, October 22. Following the annual meeting, which begins at 8:30 a.m. CDT, sessions will run from 9 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m. CDT. Attendees will enjoy coffee, snacks, and a lunch in the building’s Wells Lounge. Included in general registration; standalone tickets may also be purchased. This event is not a function of Roosevelt University, which owns the Auditorium Building.

The following presentations are confirmed:

• Mapping Chicago: social science, social change, and the progressive city
  Jennifer Gray, Director of the Taliesin Institute, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
• Frederick and Grace Bagley: Progressive and Influential Early Clients
  Julia Bachrach & Jean Follett, Independent Historic Preservation Consultants
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Francisco Terrace as Model for Urban Living
  Gregory Brewer, Independent Researcher
• Casting Their Lots with the Wage-Earners: The Development of Social Science at Hull- House in the 1890s
  Kit Ginzky, PhD Student, Department of History and Crown Family School of Social Work, University of Chicago
• The Architecture of Progressive Education: Building Transformative Social Change
  Kris Hartzell, Director of Facilities, Visitor Services, and Collections, Evanston History Center
• A progressive interpretation of a progressive building: the Abraham Lincoln Center
  Ayad Rahmani, Professor of Architecture, Washington State University
• TO WAKE LEVIATHAN – On Public Health and Chicago’s Park Systems 1840-1940
  Matthew Skjonsberg, Associate Director, Future Cities Laboratory, ETHZ-FCL Global
• Preservation Session
  Paul Harding, architect and owner, Davenport House
  Tom Bassett-Dilley, architect, Balch House
  Carol Yetken, landscape architect, numerous Wright properties

In-Person General Registration

Includes opening reception; education sessions; lunches and tours Thursday-Saturday; silent auction reception and gala dinner on Saturday; and ability to stream conference videos online for three months. Capacity is limited and events may sell out. Register early to secure your spot. In-person attendees must read and agree to our COVID-19 general disclaimer and safety policies, as well as our other participation policies, which you can find below. Online registration and payment via credit card is preferred. If you require assistance registering or have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 312.663.5500.

AIA credit has been approved for multiple conference programs. In-person attendees will be able to receive credit for attending education sessions and tours, including pre- and post-conference. Additional details and instructions will be made available once credit has been approved.

October 10 update: Online experience registration is now available. Registration to attend in person is now closed, but please contact the office at [email protected] or 312.663.5500 to inquire.

Conservancy Members: $795 per person
Friend members receive member price for one; all other members receive member price for two.

Non-Members: $895 per person
Includes a Friend membership.

In-Person Add-Ons

Capacity for all add-on events is limited.

Pre-Conference Tour: $225 per person
Requires general conference registration.

Leadership Circle Dinner: $85 per person
Open to members of the Leadership, Clerestory and Visionary Circles only. General conference registration not required. Members at the Leadership Circle and above, contact the office if you have not received an invitation.

Benefit Dinner: $175 per person
General conference registration not required. Click here to purchase standalone tickets>>

Homeowners & Public Sites Dinner: $85 per person
Open to Wright homeowners and public site staff. General conference registration not required. Homeowners & public sites, contact the office if you have not received an invitation.

Standalone Gala tickets: $175 per person
Included in general in-person registration; this is the price to purchase tickets for those not otherwise attending the conference. Click here to purchase standalone Gala tickets>> If interested in purchasing a block of 10 or more gala tickets, please email [email protected].

Standalone Education Sessions tickets: $175 per person
Included in general in-person registration; this is the price to purchase tickets for those not otherwise attending the conference. Click here to purchase standalone Education Session tickets>>

Post-Conference Tour: $225 per person
Requires general conference registration.

Online Experience Registration

Online attendees will be able to livestream the events list above at the times when they occur, and watch recordings of the events for three months after the event.  They will also have the opportunity to stream the documentary “Unity Temple: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece” on demand for a limited time. If you require assistance registering or have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 312.663.5500.

AIA credit has been approved for multiple conference programs. Online attendees will be able to receive credit for attending education sessions as well as both Sunday events. Additional details and instructions will be available to registrants in the Event Hub once credit has been approved. Please note that, in order to receive credit, it will be necessary to livestream sessions; viewing recorded sessions after they take place will not confer credit.

Online Experience Registration Links & Rates

All rates are per viewing household. If multiple individuals are participating together, only one online experience registration is necessary. Student or public site pricing is subject to verification of eligibility.

To save Wright, we must encourage the next generation of advocates. In memory of architect and preservationist John Thorpe, the Conservancy selects a small number of graduate students and young professionals in architecture and historic preservation to attend the conference at no cost. Any tax-deductible donation that you add to your conference registration will support the Thorpe Fellowship.

Applications for the Thorpe Fellowship closed on Friday, August 26. Learn more. Notification will be made to applicants by Friday, September 9.

Conference attendees stay at the Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe St.) at the special group rate of $239 per night (plus tax). Most tour departures and the Gala will take place at the Palmer House.

The hotel block is now closed to new reservations. We have prepared a list of nearby options.

The Conservancy’s most popular annual fundraiser will take place online in conjunction with the conference. Bidding will open on Tuesday, October 18 and close on Saturday, October 22 after the gala. The auction offers rare Wright memorabilia, artwork, collectibles, experiences at Wright sites, books, and more. All proceeds support our mission of preserving Wright’s remaining structures. The silent auction is open to everyone; registration for the conference is not required.