Free event takes the public behind-the-scenes of more than 150 of the city's greatest spaces and places. Event is for all ages, locals and visitors, suburbanites and city dwellers. The self-guided experiences for OHC2012 are a "backstage pass" to many of Chicago's most important and interesting buildings in some of Chicago's diverse communities including downtown Chicago, Bronzeville, Garfield Park/North Lawndale, Little Village, Chinatown, Gold Coast, Hyde Park and Rogers Park/West Ridge. Sites range from the original Sears Tower in North Lawndale, to an apartment building resembling a castle with a Moorish-style basement swimming pool, to a development that re-uses bowling alley flooring.

Details on each building, along with a map of all the open houses, can be found at openhousechicago.org.