“Concrete Culture: Chicago and Beyond” (What We Might Do)

The conference situates Chicago’s concrete legacy within global conversations, drawing together architects, engineers, historians, preservationists, and artists to examine how this material continues to shape spatial experiences and urban narratives. Structured around three themes—"What We Have,” “What We Are Doing,” and “What We Might Do”—the program moves from history to present practice to future possibilities, fostering dialogue on concrete’s past inheritances, contemporary uses, and speculative potentials.

Day 2, Session 3: “What We Might Do”

Panelists in this session consider the future of concrete in architecture and urbanism through speculative ideas, emerging technologies, and inventive design.

Moderated by Thomas Leslie (Professor of Architecture, UIUC).

Panelists:
Ted Fishman (journalist and author, Chicago), Roger Hubeli (Principal, APTUM Architecture, Syracuse), Caitlin Mueller (Associate Professor, MIT, Cambridge).

“Concrete Culture: Chicago and Beyond,” organized by Judith De Jong, Stewart Hicks, and Daniela Osorio Sanudo, was an international conference held on October 3-4, 2025, that explored the cultural, ecological, and architectural significance of concrete.

For more information, visit https://concreteculture.uic.edu


Video produced by Truth & Documentary (https://truthanddocumentary.org)