DuSable Park, our City's Next Great Public Space
Chicago, get ready!
Architecture critic Lee Bey (Chicago Sun-Times) is looking ahead to 2026—and the future is bold. Among the most anticipated projects includes DuSable Park, our City’s next great public space. Read more here.
Designed by the DuSable Park Design Alliance—with Ross Barney Architects and Brook Architecture—this long-awaited park is finally coming to life. After 39 years, Chicagoans will soon have a place worthy of celebrating the city’s founder, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.
Decades in the making and a landmark for what’s next!
Reset the Bar Architectural Record: November 2025
The November issue of Architectural Record is out — and it features a fantastic story on our Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation at McHenry County College.
A single, flexible hub unites technical programs with hybrid-learning environments built for real workforce needs.
High-impact, low-carbon, and on track for LEED Gold, the center powers the future of advanced manufacturing, robotics, welding, digital media, and more.
Bold, forward-looking design—delivered on a real-world budget.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to realizing this thoughtful, high-performance building for MCC. We’re proud to see it recognized among outstanding contemporary designs.
What’s the view from your front PORCH?
In conjunction with PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity at the U.S. Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale (May 10–November 23, 2025), Ross Barney Architects has created a new PORCH Moves video, now live on the PORCH Instagram and coming soon to the PORCH website.
This ongoing series invites many voices—from across the nation and the globe—to bring the Porch to life, revealing the beauty of architecture in communion with people.
In support of PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity at the U.S. Pavilion, The Architect’s Newspaper is hosting a free day of online talks and conversations.
Episode 1: Spaces of Community
With Carol Ross Barney, Andrew Freear (Rural Studio), Jerome Haferd, Daniel Simons (David Baker Architects), and David Perkes (Gulf Coast Community Design Studio).
Check the site here for the full lineup and updates.
Monday, November 17
12:00–5:30 PM EST
Free & open to all
Register Here
Texas Society of Architects - Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Keynote at the conference themed “Cultivate”
Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Design Principal and Founder of Ross Barney Architects, delivered an empowering keynote at the Texas Society of Architects Annual Conference, themed “Cultivate.”
“Cultivate means you never stop learning or growing — and that’s exactly why I’m an architect. I love what I do; it keeps changing, and I’m always growing with it.”
Speaking to more than 1,800 architects and designers from across Texas, Carol shared thoughts on designing livable cities and the essential role architects play in fostering community. Architects have the power to cultivate innovation, connection, and excellence through design. Design is our Superpower!
Check out a short clip from the conference here.
2025 Openlands Luncheon Keynote
At the Openlands Annual Luncheon, Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Design Principal and Founder of Ross Barney Architects, shared that Architecture isn’t just about shaping cities; it’s about shaping our relationship with the world around us. The landscapes, waterways, and communities we touch deserve our care and respect.
We’re honored to stand alongside Openlands, a tireless advocate for protecting and celebrating the natural world around us.
Click to here watch the keynote.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of Fred Anzevino
Ross Barney Architects celebrates the life and legacy of Fred Anzevino, Founder and Artistic Director of Theo Ubique Theater for over 27 years. Fred’s passion for theater and remarkable creative journey—from studying in George Washington University’s MFA Acting Program to directing award-winning productions like Cabaret and Evita—inspired everyone who knew him.
We are proud to have designed the Howard Street Theater, home to the Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in Evanston, IL—now newly dedicated as The Fred Anzevino Theatre.
Common Chicago Guided Tour
Take a guided tour of Common Chicago, the exhibition that is part of the 2025 Chicago Architecture Biennial and showcases twenty projects that put community at its center. The projects focus on different programmatic needs, including housing, civic, institutional, and open space for a shared present and future.
Created by Ross Barney Architects Lena Reiff and Simon Peschong, the Chicago Riverwalk is presented in a reimagined model image, celebrating this activated, civic space in the heart of Chicago.
Guided Tour: Common Chicago – Chicago Architecture Biennial
Oct 19, 2025
2:00pm–3:00pm
Guided Tour: Common Chicago
at MAS Context Reading Room
1564 N Damen Ave #204, Chicago, IL 60622
America By Design; Special Feature on Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Design Principal and Founder, Ross Barney Architects
Enjoy an engaging America By Design conversation with Mike Chapman as he gets an exclusive behind-the-scenes look from AIA Gold Medal recipient Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Design Principal and Founder of Ross Barney Architects. Together, they explore the Chicago Riverwalk, Ross Barney Architects studio, and the LEED Platinum-certified McDonald’s Chicago flagship restaurant.
Watch on Primetime CBS News (New York Livestream) Saturday, October 11 at 9 pm (EDT)
Concrete Culture: Chicago and Beyond
Krista Simons Gliva, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, and Mordecai Scheckter, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, led a tour of the Chicago Riverwalk during ‘Concrete Culture: Chicago and Beyond, ' a symposium sponsored by UIC that focused on Chicago’s concrete legacy, contemporary design explorations and challenges, and the future of concrete-based architecture.
Click here for more information on 'Concrete Culture: Chicago and Beyond.'
Auburn Gresham Apartments
Ross Barney Architects has always advocated for quality design that serves the people of Chicago, and the Auburn Gresham Apartments are a thriving addition to the community with light-filled and connected spaces.
“It has been a privilege to collaborate with the Auburn Gresham community to bring this project to reality. Our dedicated team, including Nia Architects, alongside lead developers Evergreen Real Estate Group and Imagine Group, worked to create transformative new homes for the community," said Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, Founder and Design Principal of Ross Barney Architects.
Chicago Architecture Biennial, Studio Visit at Ross Barney Architects | Wednesday, October 1, 5–7 pm
Get an inside view of Ross Barney Architects’ architecture studio as we host the Chicago Architecture Biennial, Studio Visit. Experience the collaborative environment and learn how building designs are developed through collaboration. Click here to register.
The 2025 Biennial, themed "SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change," runs from September 19, 2025, to February 28, 2026, and includes both exhibitions and public events across the city. Click here to see more events.