Studio Culture

The members of the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture community agree to uphold the Studio Culture Policy. The Policy will be introduced to the College of Architecture at an all-school meeting and subsequently posted in the studios and included in the Student Handbook. The Policy will be presented at fall orientation for incoming freshmen and transfer students.

A team of faculty and students will confer with the Dean’s Student Council to review the Policy annually, determine its efficacy and applicability, and ensure its implementation. Revisions to the current policy will be discussed by the team with the common goal of maintaining a healthy studio environment that supports the sharing of knowledge, ideas, and experiences.

Illinois Institute of Technology supports its students, faculty, and staff by providing resources to promote healthy, balanced, and well-rounded lives. Members of the College of Architecture community are also encouraged to take advantage of the school’s Chicago location for its wealth of cultural outlets, neighboring institutions, and ongoing events beyond the academic environment.

Time Management
Although studio projects often require long hours of hard work, time-management skills are emphasized such that outside coursework and the realities of daily life are not sacrificed as a result.

Faculty
Faculty members in the College of Architecture are selected for their ability to share personal expertise, engage students in learning, and convey a sense of optimism about the profession. The College of Architecture supports the continuing education of its faculty as an essential component of staying current with issues critical to the profession. At the completion of each semester students submit course evaluations to appraise the performance of faculty members and aid in educator development.

Studio
The studio environment in the College of Architecture is characterized by its openness, fostering a free and respectful exchange of ideas and the development of interesting and innovative proposals.

Collaboration
Group, partner, and individual projects are a part of every studio, preparing students for professional life during which collaboration between varied disciplines, specializations, and interests is essential to a successful project.

Studios in the College of Architecture often engage communities in the local Chicago area, as well as nationally and internationally, to address relevant present day needs. Diverse opportunities such as these provide students with experience as both team members and team leaders.

Critiques

The College of Architecture supports constructive discussion of student work during design critiques and engages IIT faculty, students, practitioners, owner-representatives, and community members to achieve a multi-faceted conversation.

Assessment

Dialogue between instructors and students throughout the semester allow for studio design work to be continuously supported and assessed according to the design intent, design process, and designed product.

Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Allied consultants are frequently involved in architecture studio critiques to better inform the students’ design work. Additionally, Illinois Institute of Technology offers an Interprofessional Projects Program (IPRO) whereby students and faculty from all academic departments work together on real-world research topics to achieve multidisciplinary responses and gain essential experiences for the global professional environment.

Diversity

The studio environment relies upon mutual respect for the faculty, students’ and staff’s diverse backgrounds, educational and professional experiences, as well as differing cultures, races, religions, genders, and sexual orientation: these differences are recognized as opportunities, creatively and culturally.