i. institutional support and commitment to continuous improvement

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects
Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture with emphasis in Interior Architecture
Course Number & Title:
ARCH 6220 Architecture Studio 6: Thesis (4.5)
Course Description:
The thesis studio asks students to construct an
original problem, investigate pertinent issues, and
design an innovative response to some aspect of
architectural production.
Course Goals & Objectives:
1) Design culture and practice: This class gives
individual students the opportunity to define and
research an aspect of architectural production in
depth, developing a personal approach to an im-
portant issue of contemporary significance to the
field of architecture, and to the early professional
career of the student. Emphasis is on originality,
clarity, and high production values at the end of
one’s architectural education.
Student Performance Criterion:
1) Best exemplifies the following criteria:
a) A.2. Design Thinking (ability)
2) Additional criteria
a) A.1. Speaking and Writing (ability)
b) A.3. Visual Communication Skills (ability)
c) A.11. Applied Research (understanding)
Topical Outline:
Design culture and practice: Thesis studio is
the opportunity for students in the MArch and
MArch IA programs to construct a self-directed
architectural research project. All conditions of
topic relevance, value, developmental precision,
material investigation, comprehensive address of
project topics and final presentation scheme are
critiqued relative to stated intentions for student
work. During the thesis semester the develop-
ment of that work is assessed according to the
following criteria:
Site Investigations
Precedent Analysis
Presentation of Design Questions
Theoretical Grounding / Use of Sources and
References
Explorations of Spatial Questions / Depth of
Investigation / Clarity and Inventiveness of
Visual Material
Consistent and Progressive Development of
Project.
Strategic / Exhibition Intentions.
Architecture Program Report | 182
Course progress is assessed at ½ term, ½ term,
½ term and final term – descriptions of projects
strengths and weaknesses are delivered at
those times from course faculty via studio cri-
tique and written statement. Review events at
½ term and final term involve outside critics as-
sembled to deliver specific comment on partic-
ular project content identified as student work
develops. Students are responsible for installing
completed presentation media or prototypi-
cal work in the AIADO Design Show exhibited
in the SAIC Sullivan Gallery in mid June. This
material must include a written statement and
graphic / material based descriptive media.
Prerequisites:
All required fifth semester coursework.
Textbooks/Learning Resources:
T.B.D.
Offered (semester and year):
• Semester: SPRING
• Year: THREE
Faculty assigned:
• 2009-2010 academic year:
Pancoast, Douglas (F/T), Nicholson, Ben
(F/T)
• 2010-2011 academic year:
Pancoast, Douglas (F/T), Nicholson, Ben
(F/T)