Overview
The city’s annual celebration of its architectural heritage comes to Symphony Center as part of Open House Chicago, presented by the Chicago Architecture Center. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 20, visitors can explore Orchestra Hall, designed by pioneering architect Daniel Burnham, and other spaces throughout the historic 1904 building on Michigan Avenue — including the 1997 Symphony Center enhancements and addition created by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Enjoy a self-guided, station-by-station tour with information provided by volunteer tour guides. Open House Chicago visitors have access to:
- The Michigan Avenue lobby and Adams Street passage
- Orchestra Hall
- Grainger Ballroom
- Arcade
- Buntrock Hall
- Rotunda
- Richard and Helen Thomas Club
- A resource fair hosted by CSO affinity groups, including the Overture Council, Student Ambassadors, CSO for Kids Ambassadors, League of the CSOA, Latino Alliance and African American Network
This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. We hope to see you there!
All-day events
- Explore the historic building on a self-guided tour of Symphony Center
- Take a selfie at the conductor’s podium in Orchestra Hall
- Connect with CSOA community members at the resource fair (plus, enter to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming concert!)
- Venture upstairs to the ninth floor, and enjoy sweeping views of Lake Michigan from the Thomas Club
- Enjoy refreshments at select locations throughout the building
- Learn and play at the kids’ fair in Buntrock Hall, featuring coloring stations and scavenger hunt worksheets. Enjoy special activities and CSO for Kids videos from 1:00-5:00. Recommended for ages 5-12.
- Visit the Box Office for exclusive ticket offers
- Commemorate your experience with exclusive, CSO-branded merchandise and apparel from the Symphony Store
Performance schedule
Enjoy live music in Grainger Ballroom presented by the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO:
- 11:00 Soloists from the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative
- 12:00 Ritmos de mi tierra – Venezuelan Folk Music
- 1:00 Civic Orchestra of Chicago String Quartet
- 2:00 Jaden Teague-Núñez and Liam Teague: Steelpan Feature