Street Closures and Parking Restrictions for Convocation

MAY 19, 2025

The University of Chicago will hold its 539th Convocation on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Convocation will take place on the Main Quadrangle at the University of Chicago campus with the gates opening at 7 a.m.

In the lead up to the ceremony, there will be several road closures and parking restrictions on the University of Chicago's campus.

Street Closures

Saturday, May 31, 2025 — Wednesday, June 11, 2025

• University Avenue closed from 57th Street to 59th Street

Thursday, June 5, 2025 — Saturday, June 7, 2025

• Ellis Avenue closed from 57th Street to 59th Street

Saturday, June 7, 2025

• North Midway Plaisance closed from Ellis Avenue to Dorchester Avenue
• 59th Street closed from Ellis Avenue to Dorchester Avenue
• 56th Street closed from Maryland Avenue to Ellis Avenue
• Drexel Avenue closed from 57th Street to 56th Street

Parking Restrictions

Several parking restrictions will also take effect in the area around the University of Chicago's campus beginning Wednesday, May 27 and lasting until Wednesday, June 11:

• Parking restrictions on both sides of University Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street
• Parking restrictions on both sides of 57th Street from Ellis Avenue to University Avenue
• Parking restrictions on both sides of 56th Street from Cottage Grove Avenue to Ellis Avenue
• Parking restrictions on the west side of Ellis Avenue from 56th Street (100 feet)
• Parking restrictions on 1100 North Midway Plaisaince
• Parking restrictions on 59th Street from Woodlawn Avenue to Kimbark Avenue
• Parking restrictions from 1231 to 1337 on 60th Street
• Parking restrictions from 5828 to 5856 S. Woodlawn Avenue

• Parking restrictions on both sides of Ellis Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street

• Parking restrictions on 59th Street from Ellis Avenue to Dorchester Avenue
• Parking restrictions on both sides of Drexel Avenue between 57th Street and 56th Street

• Parking restrictions on North Midway Plaisance from Ellis Avenue to Dorchester Avenue

Public transportation via the CTA 171 and 172 bus routes will be rerouted from 7 a.m. to noon and will have service suspended from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. Regular service will resume at 5 p.m.

UGo Shuttles will NOT be affected by an street closures on Convocation Weekend.

For more information, including several FAQs, you can visit the University of Chicago's Convocation website. 

A more detailed breakdown of street closures and parking restrictions for Convocation weekend can be found below:

FRIDAY, JUNE 6:

Parking Restrictions:

• Both sides of Drexel Avenue from 56th Street to 57th Street
• Both sides of Ellis Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street
• Both sides of University Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street
• Both sides of Kimbark Avenue from 60th Street
• Both sides of 56th Street from Cottage Grove to Ellis Avenue
• Both sides of 57th Street from Ellis Avenue to University Avenue
• The first 100 feet on the north side of North Midway Plaisance from Dorchester Avenue
• The south side of Midway Plaisance North from Ellis Avenue to University Avenue
• The north side of 60th Street from Kimbark Avenue to Kenwood Avenue

Street Closures:

• Ellis Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street
• University Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street

Parking operations on campus and medical center lots will remain the same on Friday, June 6.

Public transportation via the CTA 171 and 172 bus routes will also be unaffected.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7:

Parking Restrictions:

• Both sides of Drexel Avenue from 56th Street to 57th Street
• Both sides of Ellis Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street
• Both sides of University Avenue from 57th Street to 59th Street
• Both sides of Kimbark Avenue from 60th Street
• Both sides of 56th Street from Cottage Grove to Ellis Avenue
• Both sides of 57th Street from Ellis Avenue to University Avenue
• Both sides of 59th Street from Maryland Avenue to Blackstone Avenue
• Both sides of North Midway Plaisance from Cottage Grove Avenue to Stony Island Avenue
• The north side of 60th Street from Kimbark Avenue to Kenwood Avenue

Street Closures:

• Drexel Avenue from 56th Street to 57th Street
• Ellis Avenue from 57th to 59th Street
• University Avenue from 57th to 59th Street
• Kimbark Avenue from 56th to 57th Street
• North Midway Plaisance from Cottage Grove Avenue to Stony Island Avenue
• 56th Street from Woodlawn Avenue to Kenwood Avenue
• 57th Street from Woodlawn Avenue to Kenwood Avenue
• 59th Street from Maryland Avenue to Dorchester Avenue

Operations at the medical center will remain as, however parking medical center guests and patients will be provided exclusively at Parking Garage B, located at the corner of 57th and Cottage Grove.

Public transportation via the CTA 171 and 172 bus routes will be rerouted from 7 a.m. to noon and will have service suspended from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 7. Regular service will resume at 5 p.m.

There will also be street closures on 57th Street and Kimbark Avenue related to the 57th Street Art Fair.