Directions to BEACH 2004

The Main Campus of Illinois Institute of Technology is located south of Chicago's downtown "Loop" district, between the Dan Ryan Expressway and Michigan Avenue, from 30th Street to 35th Street. It is also between the Green and Red rapid transit lines of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Please note: if you are familiar with Chicago you will find that certain expected streets like Dearborn and Wabash, and 32nd and 34th are missing on the IIT map below. This is because these streets have been closed and ceded to IIT. However, you may also note that postal addresses on these streets are still used to designate buildings constructed before the streets were removed, and some street signs remain as well.

The BEACH 2004 conference is being held in the McCormick-Tribune Campus Center (MTCC) located on the east side of State Street between 32nd and 33rd Streets. You may enter the building from State Street near 32nd Street or at the south end of the building near 33rd Street.

From O'Hare and Midway Airports you may reach IIT or the Essex Inn hotel via public transportation, automobile, taxi cab, or limousine. Taxi cabs from O'Hare are metered and will cost $40–50 depending on traffic. Midway, also metered, will be $10–20 less. Shared cabs are available from both airports – check with the taxi dispatcher outside any terminal. Limousines may be arranged for from call boxes located in the airport baggage claim areas, and will probably cost about the same as taxi cabs. Airport shuttle transportation is the best way to get from an airport to the Essex Inn if you have a lot of luggage. If you choose to use public transit from O'Hare airport to the Essex Inn, you should exit the Blue Line train from O'Hare at the Jackson station. Public transportation should be used from the Essex Inn conference hotel to IIT.

Driving to IIT
- From O'Hare Airport (or the north and northwest suburbs)
  Take the Kennedy Expressway, I-190, merging with I-90/94 (or the Edens Expressway, I-90/94) south and east toward and through the Loop (downtown) area to the Circle Interchange where the same roadway becomes the Dan Ryan Expressway.
- From Midway Airport (or the southwest suburbs)
  Take the Stevenson Expressway, I-55, to the downtown area and exit south on the Dan Ryan Expressway, I-90/94, towards Indiana.
- From the west suburbs
  Take the Eisenhower Expressway, I-290, to the Circle Interchange and exit south on the Dan Ryan Expressway, I-90/94, towards Indiana.
- From the south suburbs
  Take the Dan Ryan Expressway, I-90/94, north to 35th Street. Exit at 35th Street, go two blocks east (right) to State Street, and then north (left) three blocks to 32nd Street.
The most convenient visitor's parking lot is located on State Street at 32nd Street. You can find a detailed campus parking map here. Metered spaces in the visitor's lot accept quarters for 30 min, or you may purchase a permit for daily or weekly use in non-metered lots at the registration desk.

Public Transportation to IIT
IIT can be reached by CTA rapid transit using the Green or Red Lines, exiting at the 35th Street station of either line. The Green Line station is on the IIT campus, whereas the Red Line runs in the median strip of the Dan Ryan Expressway one block west of IIT. At either station you should exit from the north end of the platform (at the rear of the train coming from downtown) which is 34th Steeet on the Green Line, or 33rd Street on the Red Line. IIT is an urban campus and caution should be exercised off the campus. If you should miss the 35th Street station, simply exit the train at the next station, stay on the platform, and take the next train in the opposite direction – do NOT exit to the street southbound. If you anticipate using the CTA during your stay in Chicago, you might consider one of the multi-day tourist passes. Information on fares as well as maps and schedules can be found here, as well as at the airports and some downtown locations.
- From the Essex Inn Hotel
  Both the Green and Red Lines are easily accessible from the hotel. Green Line elevated stations are at Wabash (one block west of the Essex Inn entrance) and Adams, about 6 blocks north of the hotel and at State (two blocks west of the Essex Inn entrance) and Roosevelt, about 4 blocks south of the hotel. The Red Line Subway is also at State Street and Roosevelt Road, with another closer station 2 blocks north of the hotel at State and Harrison Streets.
  From the Loop area you can also get to IIT via the southbound #29 State Street or #4 Michigan Avenue buses. You can use a farecard or exact cash on buses. The State Street bus stops at the corner of State and 32nd Streets across from the MTCC. (There is no traffic signal – or street! – at 32nd Street, but there is a bus stop.) The Michigan Avenue bus stops at Michigan and 33rd Street, two blocks east of the MTCC.
- From O'Hare Airport
  To reach the Green Line from O'Hare Airport, you take the Blue Line train from the O'Hare CTA station on the lower level beyond the baggage claim area. Take the train to the Loop, transferring to the Green Line at the Clark and Lake station. To get to the Green Line, you go UP to the street level and continue UP onto the Elevated platform. Directions to the Green Line are prominently posted at the station. You will want to take the train in the direction South toward 63rd Street. The one-way fare is $1.75, and you must buy a farecard from a vending machine at the airport station to enter the system. Transfers between rapid transit lines are free, but you must hold onto your farecard to transfer.
- From Midway Airport
  The CTA serves Midway Airport with the Orange Line. You can transfer from the Orange Line to the southbound Green Line on the platform at Roosevelt Road. IIT (the 35th Street/Bronzeville station) will be the first stop after Roosevelt Road. Again, purchase a farecard for at least $1.75 at the airport before entering the system.