What the Windy City might have been.

• Position: Architecture - Exhibition of architectural plans and drawings, Chicago, Illinois

The outward face of the rich architectural legacy of Chicago is seen in its buildings. No one can dispute the prominent positions held by such icons as the Monadnock or inland Steel buildings, the Rookery, and the Hancock and Sears towers, to name just a few. Yet, what about the numerous architectural projects that never were realized--that for one reason or another never made it off the drawing board? In this field, too, Chicago has a rich history. These are projects that exist only on paper or as models, allowing a glimpse into what might have been and providing us a chance to consider some of the buildings that architects have dreamt of, planned for, and delineated--but never built.

Unbuilt projects, regardless of the reason for their destiny, often are more fascinating than realized ones. They are collections of untested thoughts, some possibly naive or ill-fated, but nonetheless provocative. Usually relegated to shadowy darkness, these projects typically are located down hallways and in basements, in drawers and dusty boxes of archives. They are forgotten until the door is opened, the lights turned on, and the bindings broken open.

An exhibition has been organized that explores this possible twist in the Windy City's history, encouraging visitors to ponder the "Chicago that might have been." Featuring approximately 90 drawings, plans, and models for architectural projects that never were constructed, "Unbuilt Chicago" presents a unique opportunity to experience this great Midwestern metropolis as it never has been seen before.

Provided are a cross-section of projects from the 1880s to the present, examining the road to realization by reviewing the relationship among architect, building, and city--in addition to presenting various architectural processes from idea to construction. With each design being subject to many conditions and constraints, the complexity of...