RECAP: Friday Forum Toledo & Chapter Spring Quarterly '26

The Ohio/Kentucky Chapter continued its 2026 programming this spring with a weekend centered around connection, education, and regional engagement in Toledo. The Chapter’s Spring Quarterly Meeting and Friday Forum brought together members and board leadership from across Ohio and Kentucky for meaningful conversations, collaborative planning, and an in-depth exploration of one of Toledo’s newest cultural additions.

Friday Forum: Toledo Edition took attendees to the National Museum of the Great Lakes for an exclusive tour of the museum’s newly completed addition. Designed to expand the museum’s educational and experiential offerings, the addition creates new opportunities for visitors to engage with the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes region through immersive exhibits, gathering spaces, and thoughtfully integrated architectural design.

Attendees had the opportunity to tour the new spaces, learn more about the project’s development and design process, and hear directly from the project team about the challenges and opportunities involved in expanding an established cultural institution while maintaining a strong connection to the existing museum experience.

The tour offered a closer look at how the design balances historical storytelling with contemporary functionality. From material selections inspired by the industrial and maritime context of the Great Lakes to carefully considered circulation and views, the addition reflects a thoughtful approach to creating an engaging and flexible visitor experience.

The event concluded with a panel discussion with the design team. Conversations focused on adaptive and experiential design strategies, and the importance of creating spaces that foster education and public engagement.

Attendees earned IDCEC credit for participating in the Friday Forum program, which continues to evolve into a traveling, in-person series designed to highlight impactful regional projects while strengthening connections across the Chapter’s city centers.

The Spring Quarterly Meeting carried that momentum into Saturday, where Chapter leadership and members gathered to discuss ongoing initiatives surrounding communications and public relations. Breakout sessions generated new ideas for our approach to reaching our chapter. We are excited about enhancing our chapter communications strategies!

A huge thank you to our speakers, sponsors, attendees, and the National Museum of the Great Lakes team for hosting us and sharing their insights throughout the weekend. We’re excited to continue building on this energy as we move through the remainder of 2026 programming.