LODGING & ACCOMMODATIONS
We will be based at The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. The City of Chicago offers a variety of lodging options to fit your needs. We know it’s a lot to sort through, so we’ve organized a set rate block of rooms at a nearby hotel.
Hotels. ACD has reserved a block of rooms at the SOPHY Hyde Park at a discounted rate for ACD attendees. About a 25-minute walk or direct connection of the 55 or 172 CTA bus from The DuSable, this option is also within walking distance to restaurants, bars, and attractions. Room rates are $249/night (plus tax) from October 19-21. Complimentary self-parking is included with the rooms rented in the block. The block was scheduled to close on September 25th but if you did not book in time, please reach out (info@communitydesign.org) and we can help confirm if there are additional rooms available at the special rate.
Booking Link: ACD Group Block Booking Link
Booking by Phone: 833 347 0042
Group Name & Code: ACD Group Block 143573
Note: Should you wish to stay outside of these dates, you must book your reservation for the group block dates online first and then reach out to Teja Syers in sales via email (tsyers@sophyhotel.com) with your confirmation number to add the additional nights. Trying to include additional dates not listed above will result in an “Invalid Code” message. The hotel has offered to ensure the same rate for additional nights for those staying in the block.
Hotel Amenities
- Complimentary WIFI in guestrooms & public spaces
- Complimentary in-room boxed water
- Complimentary coffee & tea station; daily 6-9am
- 24/7 Fitness & Business Center
- Full service restaurant & bar, Mesler Chicago
- Self-Parking (Inside Target Structure) - $34 per night, in/out access (included for free with room block reservation)
- Sustainable; Silver LEED certified
- Top-rated hotel; top ten of all Chicago hotels
There are additional hotel options in Hyde Park and in other neighborhoods near the venue.
Shared Accommodations. Also, if you are looking to share accommodations with a fellow attendee to defer costs, feel free to self-coordinate through this spreadsheet.
Vacation Rentals. While it is up to all attendees to secure lodging, we highly encourage folks to avoid booking short-term rental properties. Chicago, like many other urban communities in the U.S., has been impacted by housing shortages and increased housing costs due, in part, to a rapid increase in short-term rentals. In support of efforts to ensure housing and communities are affordable to existing residents, ACD encourages Conference attendees looking for alternative accommodations to consider owner-occupied rentals.
There are a large number of boutique hotels and small inns to choose from in the city if avoiding large chains is a personal preference.
A POST-PANDEMIC/CURRENT COVID WORLD
ACD is aware that gathering in public in a post-pandemic culture is still not something everyone is comfortable with and we will take precautions to ensure everyone who joins us feels safe and that we protect our community. ACD will strive to allow for physically-distant seating and event space set-up to allow individuals who wish to physically distance themselves while in sessions to do so comfortably. The venue has an occupancy of 445 people and we plan to only allow 250 registrants for the conference to allow for safe distancing.
Additionally, to help attendees communicate their level of comfort in interacting with one another, ACD will provide color-coded lanyards to all attendees at registration as part of the name badges:
Red = Greet From 6 Feet
Yellow = Elbows Only
Green = Handshakes and Hi-fives
GETTING AROUND
The Conference will be hosted at The DuSable in Washington Park and adjacent to the University of Chicago. CTA transit stops for several major bus lines are located just outside the doors and public parking is available in the near vicinity. The Garfield stop on the green metro line service is about a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride. A Divvy bike-sharing station is also located just outside the museum's entry.
Organizers encourage attendees to take advantage of public transit and (what we hope) will be some crisp October fall weather.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Our host committee has made some recommendations for other things to do while in Chicago! Check out this link for some additional events you might want to put on your itinerary for the trip.
ACCESSIBILITY & ACCOMMODATIONS
In need of audio descriptive assistance or services? A nursing space? If you are in need of any accommodations to make your attendance at the event possible, please reach out to Michelle at mstadelman@communitydesign.org to help coordinate.