AI-Powered Architectural Workshops at Evanston’s Levy Center This Fall

Key takeaways

Useful thresholds

When and where are the workshops held?

The AI-Powered Architectural Workshops at Evanston’s Levy Center run every Saturday from September 14 to December 7, 2026, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM in Room 204 of the Levy Center Digital Lab (300 Dodge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202).

Sessions are in-person only. Capacity is limited to 25 participants. The lab provides 10 workstations on a first-come basis; attendees must bring their own devices for software compatibility. Room 204 includes high-resolution monitors, ergonomic seating, and a dedicated MidJourney server.

Exceptions: The December 7 session extends to 3:00 PM for a networking mixer. No make-up sessions or hybrid attendance. Minors aged 14–17 require a registered adult. Software (Rhino 8, MidJourney v6) is incompatible with tablets or Chromebooks.

Parking: $2/hour in the adjacent lot (free after 6:00 PM). CTA Purple Line (Main Street station) is a 5-minute walk; Metra UP-N (Central Street) is 0.7 miles away. Nearby coffee shops (Starbucks, Curt’s Café) offer 10% discounts but open at 7:00 AM. Parking meters remain active until 6:00 PM on Saturdays; violations may incur fines.

Registration opens August 1, 2026, via the City of Evanston’s ActiveNet portal. Peak delays occur August 1–15; register between 9:00 AM–11:00 AM or after 7:00 PM. Alternate workshops: Chicago Architecture Center’s "AI in Design" (quarterly). Lodging: Nearby accommodations include the Hilton Garden Inn Evanston (0.3 miles away), with rates starting at $120/night in Fall 2026.

Arrive 15 minutes early on September 14 for software verification. Rhino 8’s 90-day trial should be installed at least 48 hours before the first session. MidJourney requires a Levy Center-provided license key (distributed on-site). Bring a valid ID and mouse (trackpads are insufficient for Rhino). Lab workstations may not support macOS plugins; claim by 9:30 AM if needed.

Who can attend—and who should skip?

The AI-Powered Architectural Workshops at Evanston’s Levy Center are open to participants aged 14 and older. No formal prerequisites exist, but basic familiarity with Rhino or 3D modeling software is strongly recommended. Minors aged 14–17 must attend with a registered adult.

Workshops focus on Rhino 8, Grasshopper, and MidJourney v6. Participants must bring their own laptops (Windows 10/11 or macOS 12+) with Rhino 8 pre-installed; tablets and Chromebooks are incompatible. The Levy Center provides 10 lab workstations on a first-come basis. MidJourney access requires a Discord account and a Levy Center license key distributed on-site.

Evanston residents receive a $50 discount ($250 vs. $300 for non-residents). Students/seniors with valid ID pay $150. Groups of three or more registering together qualify for a 10% discount on the non-resident rate. Continuing education credits (AIA LU/HSW) for licensed architects are pending approval as of July 2026. Workshops are in-person only; no hybrid or virtual options are available. The December 7 session extends to 3:00 PM for a networking mixer.

International participants should verify Rhino 8’s 90-day trial availability in their region. Common issues include failing to install Rhino 8 at least 48 hours before the first session (required for license verification) or misusing MidJourney’s "chaos" parameter (values below 20 recommended). Rhino’s unit system must be set to millimeters before importing Grasshopper scripts to avoid scaling errors.

Skip if: seeking advanced AI training (e.g., custom neural networks), lacking a laptop with 8GB RAM/dedicated GPU, unwilling to install Rhino 8, or without basic 3D modeling experience. Alternatives include the Chicago Architecture Center’s "AI in Design" workshops.

Action: Verify laptop meets Rhino 8’s system requirements (rhino3d.com/8/system_requirements) and install the 90-day trial by September 12, 2026. Minors must secure an adult co-registrant. Evanston residents should prepare proof of residency. Register via the City of Evanston’s ActiveNet portal starting August 1, 2026, between 9:00–11:00 AM or after 7:00 PM to avoid delays.

What AI tools will you actually use?

The AI-Powered Architectural Workshops at Evanston’s Levy Center use three tools: MidJourney v6, Rhino 8 with Grasshopper, and Stable Diffusion XL. These are the only AI platforms in the 2026–2027 curriculum.

MidJourney v6 generates conceptual renderings from text prompts. Rhino 8 handles 3D modeling and parametric design via Grasshopper. Stable Diffusion XL refines urban planning visualizations. MidJourney is standard for early-stage concept art; Rhino 8 is the dominant CAD platform in architecture schools; Stable Diffusion XL’s open-source flexibility allows custom urban dataset training. Levy Center provides MidJourney license keys on-site. Rhino 8 must be pre-installed on participants’ laptops (90-day trial available). Stable Diffusion XL runs locally on lab workstations or personal devices with ≥8GB VRAM.

Exceptions: The October [Date] session uses only Rhino 8’s generative design tools. The November 2 session replaces Grasshopper with Stable Diffusion XL for urban planning. Participants without Rhino 8 can use the lab’s 10 workstations. MidJourney requires a Discord account (created in advance). Stable Diffusion XL’s checkpoint models are pre-loaded on lab machines; personal laptops must download them (12GB file). Common mistakes: MidJourney’s "chaos" parameter >20 (unusable outputs) or Rhino’s unit system not set to millimeters (Grasshopper scaling errors).

Alternatives (DALL·E 3, Adobe Firefly) are excluded due to lack of Rhino integration. Tools must export to Rhino’s .3dm format—MidJourney outputs import as reference images; Stable Diffusion XL outputs require manual tracing. Grasshopper’s AI components (e.g., "Galapagos" solver) optimize, not generate. Instructors recommend MidJourney’s "chaos" (values 5–15) over "stylize" for architectural use.

Action: Install Rhino 8’s 90-day trial by September 12, 2026. Create a Discord account for MidJourney. For Stable Diffusion XL, download the "RealisticVision" checkpoint model (12GB) if using a personal laptop. Set Rhino’s unit system to millimeters before the first session. Bring a mouse—trackpads are insufficient for Rhino’s precision workflows.

How much does it cost—and how to save?

AI-Powered Architectural Workshops at Evanston’s Levy Center cost $300 for general admission, $250 for Evanston residents, and $150 for students or seniors with valid ID. Groups of three or more non-residents registering together pay $270 per person (10% discount).

Evanston residents receive a $50 municipal discount. Students and seniors qualify for the $150 rate. The group discount reduces administrative overhead and cannot be combined with resident or student/senior rates. All fees are non-negotiable and must be paid in full at registration via the City of Evanston’s ActiveNet portal.

Financial assistance may be available; contact the Levy Center for details.

Common cost pitfalls: Rhino 8’s 90-day trial should be installed at least 48 hours before the first session to avoid a $195 license purchase. Lab workstations must be claimed by 9:30 AM on September 14; late arrivals may not have access to lab workstations, which are allocated on a first-come basis. MidJourney licenses are distributed only to registered attendees—no walk-ins. Parking violations in the Levy Center lot may incur fines; use the free CTA Purple Line or park after 6:00 PM.

Register on August 1, 2026, between 9:00–11:00 AM or after 7:00 PM to avoid portal delays. Evanston residents: prepare proof of residency (utility bill or ID). Students and seniors: bring valid ID to the first session. Groups of three or more: register simultaneously to trigger the 10% discount. Install Rhino 8’s 90-day trial by September 12, 2026; verify system requirements (8GB RAM, dedicated GPU).

What do you need to bring (or install)?

Bring a Windows 10/11 or macOS 12+ laptop with Rhino 8 and Grasshopper pre-installed. The Levy Center provides MidJourney v6 license keys on-site; all other software must be installed before arrival.

Rhino 8’s 90-day trial should be installed at least 48 hours before the first session (September 14, 2026). MidJourney requires a Discord account—create one in advance. Stable Diffusion XL will be introduced November 2; no pre-installation is needed. Laptops must meet Rhino 8’s minimum requirements: 8GB RAM (16GB recommended), a dedicated GPU (Intel Iris Xe or better), and 600MB free disk space. Trackpads are insufficient; bring a wired or Bluetooth mouse.

The Levy Center provides 10 lab workstations on a first-come basis for participants without compatible laptops. These are allocated by 9:30 AM each session; late arrivals risk losing access. Mac users: Rhino 8’s macOS version lacks some Grasshopper plugins used in the curriculum. If using a lab workstation, arrive by 9:15 AM to claim one. Tablets and Chromebooks are incompatible and will not be accommodated.

Common issues: Rhino’s unit system must be set to millimeters before importing Grasshopper scripts (scaling errors otherwise). MidJourney’s "chaos" parameter above 20 produces unintended abstract outputs. Test Rhino 8’s generative design module at home to avoid on-site troubleshooting. For MidJourney, practice prompts like "/imagine prompt: modern library, brutalist concrete, natural light, --ar 16:9". Stable Diffusion XL will use custom urban planning datasets; bring a USB drive (8GB+) to save project files.

Additional items: valid ID (required for MidJourney license key), notebook for sketching prompts, and water bottle (lab fountain unreliable). The Levy Center provides high-resolution monitors; participants may bring their own 4K monitors (HDMI/USB-C).

What to do next

Now that you know the full scope of the AI-Powered Architectural Workshops, take these concrete steps to secure your spot and prepare for the Fall 2026 series. Act quickly — registration opens August 1 and the 25-participant cap fills fast.

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Sources: architectatwork, wikipedia, openai, govdelivery