Chicago is used to throwing big architecture parties—the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 and the Century of Progress in 1933. It’s high time for another. The Chicago Architecture Biennial, which opens this month, will celebrate visions of the future by showcasing more than 90 young international firms. On the following pages, Architectural Record explores the built environment and the cultural and social context for this major convocation, including a commentary on the city’s contribution to the skyscraper, an analysis of public housing today, and a look at the new parks and public spaces animating urban life.