Friday, October 23rd & Saturday, October 24th

Join us for a two-day immersive workshop exploring the foundations of classical architecture through historical study, guided observation, and hands-on drawing. Designed for students, emerging professionals, and anyone with a passion for traditional design.

This program qualifies for credit toward the ICAA's Certificate in Classical Architecture. Participants who are pursuing the certificate and wish to receive credit may do so upon request.

Schedule & Learning Objectives

Friday, October 23

The Elements of Classical Architecture: Advanced Mouldings - Application
4 Credits (Elements)

9:00 AM – 12:45 PM

Mouldings play a central role in the articulation of exterior and interior architecture. Through careful calibration of scale, and with respect to the function of individual elements within an ensemble, mouldings contribute to the coherence of a composition and help make the individual components of a design intelligible. This course explores the grammar that guides the selection, combination, sequencing, and application of mouldings within an architectural composition.

Topics covered will include: formal considerations in the design and use of mouldings; methods of proportioning mouldings with focus on unique aspects related to interior conditions; the enrichment of mouldings through ornament; the character of mouldings associated with various architectural traditions; and an introduction to key references and resources. The class concludes with an opportunity to design a family of moulding profiles for an interior room.

Elements of Classical Architecture: Drawing the Doric Order
5 Credits (Elements)

1:45 PM – 5:30 PM

Through the exercise of drawing and constructing a classical order, participants will explore in depth the terminology, geometry, and proportions of the Doric columnar system. The components and mouldings of the order will be drawn step-by-step, illustrating the relationships and underlying geometry that unify the parts into a cohesive whole.

Saturday, October 24

Walking Tour: The Architecture of Chicago's Gold Coast
2 Credits (Elective)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Exploring the history and architecture of Chicago’s magnificent lakeside neighborhood, this Gold Coast walking tour will feature stories of the influential fair committee members and the architects who shaped both the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and the Gold Coast—figures like Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mrs. Potter Palmer. The tour will be guided by local historian Sally Kalmbach, who has taught at institutions like the Newberry Library and serves on the board of the Chicago Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians.

Measured & Analytical Drawing: Elks National Memorial
4 Credits (Measured & Analytical Drawing)

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Studying and learning from successful built works has long been central to the classical tradition. For centuries, architects have engaged in this practice through sketching and analytical drawing. This session introduces techniques for creating orthographic, scaled drawings in a sketchbook—tools for analyzing design composition, moulding profiles, and the relationships between plan, section, and elevation.

Chicago-Midwest ICAA Immersive Workshop: The Measured Language of Classicism