The focus of the second day program of the LafargeHolcim Awards ceremony North America was on architecture in the city of Chicago. Mark Lee, Artistic Director of the Chicago Architecture Biennial 2017, introduced the participants to the Chicago Cultural Center and led through “his” exhibition; later the guests enjoyed a Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise.

Contributions of 140 practitioners from 25 countries are to be seen at the second Chicago Architecture Biennale which remains open to the public until July 1, 2018 at the Cultural Center as well as at nine anchor sites throughout the city. Mark Lee explained the main goal of the team of curators led by him and his partner Sharon Johnston was to create continuity following the first exhibition dedicated to “Status of Modern Architecture”.

Under the title “Make New History” the current Biennial does not just show the history of buildings, materials and images – but adds contemporary elements and inspiring ideas that themselves might make history at some stage. The list of participating design offices reads like a “Who is Who” of architecture. It was remarkable to see that many of the architects and designers who contributed to the exhibition are linked to the LafargeHolcim Foundation including former Awards prize winners, Awards jury members, or Forum speakers.