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
F) Technology physical resources
The School values the accessibility of technology to students in all academic disciplines. Through
classes and authorizations, students can gain access to specialized labs and high-end peripherals. This
access is facilitated by: a required laptop program; Student Computing Help Desks (for laptop sup-
port and training); wired and wireless networking; access computer labs; specialized and department-
specific labs; and access to a high-quality digital output facility. A detailed list of materials, sub-divided
by facility, follows:
1) AIADO-Specific labs and equipment
These resources are found in the Sullivan Center:
• G4 PowerBook laptops, sixteen • PC towers, five
• iMacs: dual core Intel, eight • PC attached to CNC Router
2) General access labs
These resources are found in the MacLean building (112 S Michigan Ave) of SAIC and are open to the
entire SAIC community:
a) MacLean 908
• CRT monitors, thirteen • G4 eMacs, six
• Epson 1200U scanners, seven • G4 towers, thirteen
• Epson 4990 scanners, two • laptop workstation, seven
b) MacLean 901
• Cinema display LCD monitor • G5 towers, thirteen
• CRT monitors, thirteen • Imacon drum scanner
• Epson 3200 scanners, two • LaCie monitors, three
• Epson 4990 scanners, five • laptop workstations, two
• Film Recorders, two • mini DV decks and NTSC monitors
• Flatbed scanner: 11 x 17 • multi-slide scanner
• G4 towers, three
3) Software
While in attendance, students are granted access to SAIC’s extensive library of software via the
School’s centralized license management KeyServer. Because students are not required to purchase
such professional software applications on their own, they are able to use the newest versions of
software as soon as they are available to SAIC, which allows them access to comprehensive training
in their uses and creative potential. Students have a basic software template on their laptops and
“Pro-Applications” are available on request and for curricular use. The software is available in general
access labs and in specialized labs in various departments across campus.
MArch and MDes/DesOb students are given access to a Windows XP SP2 partition on their laptops
with access to Rhino 3D 4.0 and RhinoCAM, and MDes/DesOb students are given access to Maxwell
Renderer 1.7. Currently AIADO faculty are evaluating copies of Real Flow 4.0, Digital Project, REVIT,
and AutoCAD for compatibility with the key server systems and utility in the curriculum.
CRIT has recently secured licensing with Lynda.com, a web-accessible site that provides training in
a wide range of software programs and applications. All members of the SAIC community have free
access to this site to gain facility with any number of programs.
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