189 Years Young! Happy Birthday Chicago

Happy Birthday, Chicago!

189 years ago today, a city was platted on the edge of a lake — and it has never stopped building itself into something greater. From the ashes of 1871 a new skyline rose, creating an architectural language copied around the world. From the drawing boards of historical firms like Adler and Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright came new forms of living in space, while today’s firms and schools continue to shape architectural futures globally. Our rich neighborhoods developed a living architecture of real life - take a walk through Bronzeville, Pilsen, Woodlawn, Logan Square and learn what inspired and influenced the immigrants, laborers, families and dreamers that lived in each one.

At zpd+a, this city is both our backdrop, and our foundation. We draw from its layered history and the bold structural honesty of the Chicago School. The civic ambition of its parks and boulevards, the quiet dignity of its two-flats and courtyard buildings; we carry that inspiration forward into every project we take on. The past doesn’t constrain us; it inspires and carries us forward.We are honored to work in spaces crafted by the giants before us and put our own mark on this city. Chicago has always known how to honor where it came from while reaching for what comes next, and that’s the spirit we bring to our work every day.

Here’s to 189 years of that lesson. We’re still learning.