CHICAGO – The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) and the Mies van der Rohe Society are pleased to co-host Classical and Modern Mies on Thursday, May 19, 6 PM. The event takes place virtually and in-person at NHM, 333 S. Halsted Street in Chicago, and will explore the blend of classical Greek influences and constructivist form in Mies van der Rohe’s architecture, with a special focus on how he folded the two together at Illinois Institute of Technology– the site of the largest concentration of his buildings. The event continues NHM’s monthly public program series.

“As our museum continues to explore and share the relevance of the Hellenic legacy today, we’re thrilled to cohost this event with the Mies van der Rohe Society investigating how classical Greek architecture and concepts influenced one of our foremost modern architects,” said Marianne Kountoures, executive director of the National Hellenic Museum.

“This event addresses the ancient Greeks who developed their formalized style based on balance and proportion to represent a place of worship. Two thousand years later, Mies van der Rohe did the same thing during the modern era but for a different purpose at the Illinois Institute of Technology,” said Cynthia Vranas Olsen, director of the Mies van der Rohe Society. “Together with the National Hellenic Museum, the Mies Society and our partners will present how these two types of structures explore, through their use of architectural language, an extra temporal vision that led to the creation of these masterpieces.”

Featured speakers for Classical and Modern Mies include: Carol Ross Barney, Architect, Founder and Design Principal at Ross Barney Architects; Kevin Harrington, Professor Emeritus of Architectural History at Illinois Institute of Technology; Peter Kilpatrick, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at Illinois Institute of Technology; and Michael Lykoudis FAIA, Professor of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame.

Virtual event tickets are $10. Tickets for the in-person program are $40 and include a reception with light refreshments immediately following the event. For the safety of NHM’s employees and guests, proof of COVID vaccination is required for all in-person attendees.

For more information on this event and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.miessociety.org/events/classical-modern-mies.

NHM is offering complimentary event tickets for undergraduate and graduate students on a first come, first served basis. To claim a student ticket, email: [email protected]  with the subject line “student ticket” and include your name, school email address, school and department.

Classical and Modern Mies is presented in partnership with the College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology, the Benjamin Marshall Society and the Society of Architectural Historians.

About the National Hellenic Museum

The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) is a premier museum dedicated to sharing Greek history, art and culture, from ancient times to the present day, including the modern Greek American experience. NHM preserves the Hellenic legacy and makes this rich heritage relevant today through its collection of thousands of physical artifacts, oral histories, exhibits, educational programs and special events. Originally founded in 1983 and located in Chicago’s historic Greektown neighborhood since 2011, the NHM provides lifelong learning for the community and sparks inquiry and discussion about the broader issues in our lives and society. For more information, visit www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.

About the Mies van der Rohe Society

The Mies van der Rohe Society, while preserving Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s legacy, is maintaining the architectural integrity of his buildings at Illinois Institute of Technology. One of the most influential architects of the 20th century and Director of Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture for 20 years, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe expressed his modernist vision at IIT’s campus, which he designed in the 1940s and 1950s. As the steward of Mies’ legacy, the Mies Society at IIT is committed to restoring his masterworks, enhancing educational programs for our students and reinforcing Chicago’s international reputation for architectural distinction. For more information, please visit miessociety.org.