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
the department with several teaching significantly outside the department, three adjunct faculty, and 22
part-time faculty. There were 71 BIA students and 22 MFA students.
Now nine years later, in 2010 the department has doubled its full-time faculty to 14, in addition to eight
adjunct faculty, and 32 part-time faculty along with four full-time faculty from outside the department
who teach some classes in the MArch program. Comparing student numbers, the BIA program suggests
a nearly 40% increase, with a 50% decrease in MFA students to a more selective 11 students, and an
overall increase of the graduate population with over 100 graduate students in the department and a
total of 64 Master of Architecture students.
Strengths cited in 2001 included:
o Thriving, rigorous program that would be enhanced with the presence of architecture
o Strong community of faculty, students, and alumni
o Positive impact of history and theory that would continue with new critical studies from
a proposed new design core
o Strong curricular presence of historic preservation, theory, and digital imaging, areas
considered declared weaknesses in competitor programs
Challenges cited in 2001 included curriculum and facilities:
2001 Programmatic and Curricular Concerns
o Recognition of SAIC as an art and design school
o Plan for a three-year architecture program to diversify department offerings, and clarify
between MFA-tutorial based education and professional structured path
o Need for accomplished faculty in designed objects, material research, and interior
architecture with achievement in their fields.
o Integration of newer, recent faculty with established, tenured faculty as well as
curricular integration of traditional with digital instruction
o Curricular move from a stylistic, historical approach emphasizing creativity toward a
more critical, research-oriented program.
2001 Facilities and Technology Concerns
o Spatial constraints of classrooms in Sharp building’s 12th floor, already at maximum use
potential, preclude growth and cultivation of studio culture; not equipped for wireless
o Urgent need for NT lab, Auto CAD classes, and Rapid prototyping CNC shop
o Lack of material processes available for studio work
o Lack of raw demonstration and assembly space
o Inadequate task lighting for offices and studios
In 2001 the dream of a three-year graduate degree or additional space and resources seemed speculative.
En route to establishing the MArch program, SAIC has met most every challenge of fully and profoundly.
Brief descriptions of how challenges were met are included below:
a) Raising the Profile of SAIC as a School of Art and Design
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, celebrated for its #1 ranking in the fine arts, has
strived to reposition itself as a school of art and design. In addition to undergraduate and
graduate-level program development, several strategies have been developed to effect this
change—the formation of an Advisory Design Council comprised of leading design and
engineering professionals in Chicago; student and faculty participation in major national and
international design expositions; and faculty-curated exhibitions and lecture series for the public.
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