In this research seminar we will look at our surroundings and interpret our environment in new ways. We will uncover unifying systems beneath superficial fragmentation and apathy. We will pay special attention to fuzzy, hard to measure urban criteria such as environmental quality, style, culture, environmental differentiation, creativeness, innovation, or just a general feeling of satisfaction about a place in which to live, work, study or stay. Research will center on identifying Chicago 's unique qualities relative to its wider position within a cross-border sprawling metropolitan network, and identifying Chicago 's global position within a broad, unbounded network society.

The seminar will explore the future of Chicago as a global city using multiple mapping strategies. The resultant research will generate a core set of principles for metropolitan architecture + urban design. Findings will be exhibited at the Chicago Architecture Foundation in December, 2007. The exhibition will feature our diagrams, charts, statistics, photographs, movies, and 2-D/3-D maps. (We will endeavor to create projective rather than simply analytical and/or descriptive diagrams and maps.)

Topics for Map This! Chicago revolve around themes central to all American style urban areas and Chicago's specific story of urbanization, industrialization, architecture, infrastructure and environment (each student shall choose one research topic):

WET: engineering the environment

FLAT: building the landscape

ORGANIZED: designing for industry

CONNECTED: linking/transporting city and world

DIVIDED: defining neighborhoods

CROWDED: packing them in

WASTE/DISPOSABLE: keep it or trash it?

TALL: developing the high-rise city

WINDY: building chicago with words