Future Chicago, now! The 20 people, places and things shaping a better city today

These are the advancements and innovations making the city’s future look extra bright.

Written by Zack Long, Morgan Olsen and Emma Krupp

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Chicago is a city that’s constantly in flux, continuously changing in ways both big and small that will shape the lives of residents for years to come. We can’t predict exactly what tomorrow will bring, but we can examine the innovative people, places and things working toward a better future for Chicago.

Over the past few months, we’ve seen change accelerate in ways that we couldn’t imagine. Chicago’s best restaurants have been forced to rethink how they do business, Chicago music venues have taken concerts online and drive-in movie theaters have become some of the most popular destinations in town.

Some of these innovations may not be permanent, but the disruption to city life as we’ve come to know it offers a chance to rewrite the rules and create lasting change. As we take stock and look forward, we’ve gathered some of the most exciting people, places and things that are creating a better Chicago today, tomorrow and beyond.

The fitness studio that’s embracing the outdoors

Photograph: Courtesy Studio Three

The way we work out has changed dramatically this year, with yoga instructors turning to Instagram Live and Peloton sales going through the roof. But what does the future hold for group fitness experiences? Chicago-based gym Studio Three blazes the trail ahead while keeping its members safe, hosting a 50-person outdoor fitness studio that offers socially distanced workouts in a vacant parking lot. Inside, yoga and cycling studios are outfitted with plexiglass barriers that make every station feel insulated and protected. Though we hope that one day we’ll be able to sweat it out like we used to, Studio Three goes the extra mile to show what the future of fitness could look like.