Loop as Lab: The Walking Tour

  • Bridge over a river that is partially lifted from the left side to create room for boats underneath

    DuSable Bridge

Experience Chicago’s urban planning history with a tour that reveals the city’s growth and the impact of visionary designs on the Loop’s landscape.
  • Bridge over a river that is partially lifted from the left side to create room for boats underneath

    DuSable Bridge

Chicago was a planned city from its very beginnings. Loop as Lab: the Walking Tour provides a street-level view of how city planning has shaped Chicago's growth from 1909 through to the downtown plan currently in development.

Duration
1.5 hours
Site Type
Neighborhoods
Location
Downtown
Meet

Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E. Wacker Dr.

What do the DuSable Bridge, Illinois Center, and Block 37 have in common? They all began as part of a city plan. The Loop as Lab tour walks you through six different city plans, showing the successes and failures, what resulted and what never came to be. What has city planning done for Chicago? Take this tour and decide for yourself.

Know before you go:

  • Guests climb short flights of stairs during the tour.
  • Tour route differs slightly between weekday and weekend departures due to weekend closures of sections of the Pedway.


Notes:
  • Many tours sell out. To guarantee your space advance reservations are strongly recommended.
  • Ticket price includes entrance to the Chicago Architecture Center within 7 days of your tour. View the CAC's hours.
  • Your safety is our priority. The itinerary of this tour may be altered in accordance with health and safety policies and considerations.
  • Woman in red jacket points across the street to a theatre with a red sign utside that says Goodman. She is speaking to a tour group

    Goodman Theatre. Photo by Anna Munzeshemier

  • Tall black steel building on the riverfront

    111 E. Wacker Drive. Photo by Eric Masi.

  • Tall slim black building covered in glass

    Block 37

FAQ

  • Essential walking tours depart from the center at 111 East Wacker; they are free for all CAC members. Premier walking tours depart from other locations across Chicago, including neighborhood tours. Premier tours are discounted for individual, dual and family memberships and free for Deco level and above.

  • The CAC welcomes all visitors and is committed to making its offerings feel safe and accessible to everyone. Learn more about accessibility options.

  • Many of our tours depart from the CAC at 111 E. Wacker. Your ticket (regular or print-at-home) will indicate the departure location. If you have any questions about your tour’s meeting place, give us a call at 312.922.TOUR (8687).

    For tours that don’t begin at the CAC, please consult the individual tour webpage, or call 312.922.TOUR (8687) for details on the meeting location.

All walking & bus tours FAQ

Buildings on This Tour

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Group & Private Tours

CAC offers discounted rates and customized options for groups and tour operators. Learn about options here.

See Group and Private tours
Skyscraper GallerySkyscraper Gallery

Free Center Entry with Your Ticket

Ticket price includes entrance to the Chicago Architecture Center within 7 days of your walking or bus tour.

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