Visit

Directions to the Poetry Foundation

Our building is located at the corner of Dearborn Street and Superior Street. The entrance begins by the ramp or steps at the corner where the tree lined courtyard opens, part of the building’s slowly-unfolding spatial sequence revealed space by space, not unlike a poem is revealed line by line. Walking through the tree lined courtyard leads past the performance space and gallery, to the doors which are just before the library.

If traveling by bus or train:

The Poetry Foundation can be reached via CTA: the Chicago Avenue stops on the Red Line or Brown “L” Lines (the Red Line is closest); or, CTA Bus Route 22 to Huron and Clark (Southbound) or Huron and Dearborn (Northbound).

If traveling by car:

The nearest parking garages include InterPark Parking Garage, located at 750 N. Dearborn St., and Standard Parking located at 1 W. Superior St. Discounted parking is available at 1 W. Superior for Poetry Foundation guests. Purchase your parking here using the access code PF. Metered street parking is also available in the vicinity of the building.

Accessibility

Ramp access is available on Dearborn Street. All public spaces, including an all-gender restroom, are accessible, and located on the ground level. For questions, please call (312) 787-7070.

A more detailed accessibility guide is available.

Group Visits

All groups of more than 10 people must register before visiting the Poetry Foundation. Please contact reception@poetryfoundation.org to register.

Private Meeting Space for Nonprofits

The Poetry Foundation makes its Pegasus Room available to 501(c)3 nonprofit cultural and arts organizations for private internal meetings.

Meeting space request details:

• Private meeting space for up to 50 people.
• Limited availability on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM–5 PM.
• These hours include time for setup and take down.
• Please submit your request six to eight weeks in advance.
• Requests are considered in the order they arrive.
• The space is not available to rent for public events.

Complete this form to request the meeting space.

About the Building

Designed by the Chicago firm John Ronan Architects, the building helps the Foundation carry out its mission: to recognize the power of words to transform lives and work to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.

Since its opening in June 2011, the structure has been praised widely. The November 2011 issue of Architectural Record notes, “In keeping with the art form it serves, the new Poetry Foundation is a respectful, restrained building that employs an economy of means and methods, just as a good poem employs an economy of language.”

The building complies with the Silver Level of the US Green Building Council’s LEED Rating System.

Poetry Foundation Building Guidelines

The Poetry Foundation recognizes the power of words to transform lives. We work to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry.  We serve this mission in multiple ways, including by inviting guests—poets and other artists, library and gallery visitors, public program audience members, institutional partners, and contractors—into our space.

We are committed to fostering a harassment-free environment where all are welcome. Poems allow us to explore the many experiences life can offer; in this spirit we ask that you show curiosity, tolerance, patience, respect, and kindness to others while in our space. We do not tolerate threatening behavior or harassment of any kind, including discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, or disability.

Please help foster a collective positive experience by respecting the rights and dignity of all individuals in our space. Please be careful with your words and show common courtesy. Be kind. We appreciate you treating our staff with respect as they work hard to create a place for respite, reflection, art, and poetry.

By entering the space, you are agreeing to abide by the guidelines below. We kindly ask that you:

• Not consume food in the library and limit beverages to non-alcoholic drinks in a sealed container
• Use headphones if watching or listening on your device
• Avoid photographing or recording other visitors, performers, and staff without permission (see our photography policy for additional information)
• Refrain from soliciting of any kind
• Ensure an adult accompanies any visitor younger than 14 years old
• Not sleep in the library

All individuals in this building are expected to follow these guidelines. Any person who engages in disruptive and/or harassing behavior toward staff, performers, or other visitors will be asked to stop, and if the behavior continues, the person will be asked to leave.

We welcome diverse perspectives and institutional critique, and our building is a space for respectful dialogue.The Poetry Foundation is committed to regularly reviewing and updating these guidelines. We welcome your feedback as a guest in the Poetry Foundation building.

If you would like to report a breach of these guidelines, please approach Poetry Foundation staff. You can also email info@poetryfoundation.org or call 312-787-7070 to submit a report confidentially.