A Look inside the School
We understand that choosing a graduate program is a big decision. As you weigh your options, this page is intended to help you get to know the UIC School of Architecture even better!
Graduate Programs Guidebook
View our Guide to Graduate Programs to learn more about curriculum, recent studio and seminar topics, school culture, faculty, and more.
Architecture + Design Studios
UIC's Architecture + Design Studios building houses both the School of Architecture and School of Design. Each school has its own studios and classroom spaces, but the shared building lends itself to greater collaboration across the disciplines. The School of Architecture has 5 studio spaces--one graduate studio and one studio for each year of the undergraduate program. There are also small seminar classrooms, various labs, and larger lecture and exhibition spaces. Students have swipe card access to the building and studios 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. View a photo tour of the building.
Lab facilities
The School of Architecture’s FabLab and Project Lab provide students with a safe, collaborative, and experimental space for learning materials and processes. Elements of woodworking, metalworking and digital fabrication are integrated into the studio curricula. The labs also provide opportunities for student employment. View a photo tour of the labs.
Woodworking equipment includes standard hand tools as well as machinery: planers, joiners, lathes, sanders, and saws.
Metalworking equipment includes a MIG welder, metal lathe, metal roller, and a variety of hand bending tools.
Digital fabrication equipment includes three universal laser cutters, a trotec engraving machine, a three-axis CNC router, and several 3D printers.
Additional fabrication equipment includes a vacuum former, sandblaster and access to a spray room. Visit the Labs website to learn more.
Print Lab equipment includes Canon copiers for standard printing and two HP PageWide XL Large Format Printers, both new as of 2020. These printers feed the entire width of the paper under all nine of their print heads, which significantly reduces banding while increasing resolution and speed. The Print Lab provides affordable on-site printing to all architecture students. It is typically open seven days per week during the semester and staffed by a team of student proctors who assist with file setup and troubleshooting.
Student portfolios
Each year, all graduate students submit portfolios for faculty review. This process culminates in our annual Portfolio Day. View some recent student portfolios.
Sample course schedules
View sample schedules with course meeting times for each graduate program:
Talk with a current student
Submit this request form to be put in touch with a current School of Architecture student. Ask questions about studio culture, graduate classes, living in Chicago, etc. Student-to-student emails are currently available only for MArch students. Please note that responses will be delayed during UIC’s spring break, March 18-22, 2024.
Talk with an advisor
Annemarie Furlong, the Graduate Academic Advisor is available for one-on-one Zoom calls with admitted students. Request an appointment via email.
Contact graduate faculty
Members of the faculty would be happy to talk with you and answer questions. Below is a list of the primary faculty who teach in the graduate program and the courses they typically teach. Learn more about all of our faculty on our faculty page.
Florencia Rodriguez, Director - theory/history, writing seminars
Sarah Blankenbaker, Associate Director of Graduate Studies - studio, tech seminars
Zehra Ahmed - theory/history
Paul Andersen - studio, research seminars, elective seminars
Kelly Bair - studio
Sarah Dunn - studio, research seminars
Alexander Eisenschmidt - theory/history
Chris Frye - tech
Grant Gibson - studio, tech/design development
Stewart Hicks - studio
Alexander Eisenschmidt - theory/history
Chris Frye - tech
Grant Gibson - studio, tech/design development
Stewart Hicks - studio
Sean Lally - studio, research seminars, tech
Clare Lyster - studio, research seminars, theory seminars
Francesco Marullo - studio, theory seminars
Clare Lyster - studio, research seminars, theory seminars
Francesco Marullo - studio, theory seminars
Bob Somol - theory/history, writing seminars
Andrew Zago - studio, research seminars, elective seminars
Andrew Zago - studio, research seminars, elective seminars