above> the 2012 google doodle on mies’ 126th birthday. the year before executive director, justine jentes, asked to no avail for a doodle on the 125th.

This year’s annual Mies Birthday Party features a special installation toasting Mies’ genius with SHOW ROOMS, which will be created in S. R. Crown Hall by top emerging designers and inspired by the timeless design of Mies furniture. Emcee Lee Bey—former architecture critic of WBEZ and the Chicago Sun Times—will introduce you to the featured designers:

Stephen Burks (DSGN ’92), Stephen Burks Man Made
Katherine Darnstadt (ARCH ’05), Latent Design
Melissa Johnston, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP
Ryan Monteleagre (M.S. ARCH ’13), RDK Design LTD
Todd Snapp (ARCH ’01), Perkins+Will

Each designer’s creation went before a panel of jurors who included:

Gordon Segal, Crate & Barrel
Maurice Parrish, Farnsworth House (National Trust for Historic Preservation)
Skip Redner, Knoll
David Williams, Morningstar, Inc.
Chandra Goldsmith Gray, Mies van der Rohe Society Board of Directors

above> werner rohde, portrait of ludwig mies van der rohe, 1934 bauhaus-archiv berlin

Tickets are $50 per person or $85 for a ticket and discounted year membership to the Mies van der Rohe Society. Complimentary parking is available in lot D5V on State Street. This event is sponsored by the Mies van der Rohe Society and Knoll. Mies’ birthday is 27 March and 2015 is his 129th.

date> thursday 26 March 2015
venue> s.r. crown hall | 3360 south state street
time> 5:30p cocktails and appetizers | 6p program