DC Velocity - Promat Planner 2015

t comes as no surprise that MHI has continued its long tradition
of locating the biennial ProMat conference in Chicago. Chicago is
an architectural pioneer, a tourist center, and a city of firsts and bests,
and “all that jazz.”
Chicago is known for its historical firsts. The first skyscraper and the
first Ferris wheel call this city home. Chicago is also the birthplace of
the refrigerated railcar, mail-order retailing, the car radio, and the TV
remote control. The city seems to be a breeding ground for innova-
tion, whether it’s the first zipper, the first pair of roller skates, or the
first box of Cracker Jack.

Chicago is also a city that was always meant to be on display. Before you even set foot in one of its museums, you’ll encounter sculptures, fountains, and architectural masterpieces, which are located throughout the downtown area. For instance, in the Chicago Cultural Center, visitors can gaze at the world’s largest Tiffany art glass dome, constructed with nearly 30,000 pieces of stained glass. In the center of the city, Grant Park boasts Buckingham Fountain, the world’s largest illuminated fountain, and Millennium Park, which has been praised as a showcase of art and urban design.

From historic landmark buildings to contemporary towers, the architecture of Chicago reflects the genius of such pioneers as Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Helmut Jahn. The public can visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio as well as Wright’s Frederick C. Robie House.

There is no shortage of organized art and culture collections either. The venerable Art Institute of Chicago contains one of the best Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections in the world. The Field Museum of Natural History is home to Sue, the largest and most complete preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered. The nearby Shedd Aquarium houses no fewer than 32,000 aquatic animals, including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. At the Museum of Science and Industry, you’ll find a U-505 German submarine, a full-size replica coal mine, and the Apollo 8 spacecraft that carried the first humans to orbit the moon.

Chicago is also tops for sports fans, boasting teams for all five major American professional sports leagues (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and soccer). Voted three times by Sporting News as the Best Sports City, Chicago has passionate fans, personable players, and a 2013 Stanley Cup victory. (And while you’re cheering on the home team, don’t forget to grab a piece of Chicago deep-dish pizza or a Chicago-style hot dog.)