WELCOME TO THE ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN STUDIOS (A+DS)
The work of 21st century design professionals involve a range of activities, from the craft-based traditions of design making to the leadership skills of design thinking, and our facilities are designed to support this spectrum.
Located in the A+DS which we share with the School of Architecture, our studio classrooms are housed on several floors and designed to support guided individual instruction as well as collaborative exchange. Our large atrium and public spaces serve as galleries for student work as well as an open workspace that encourages community building and student collaboration. With their UIC IDs, students have 24/7 access to our public spaces.
The School of Design and the School of Architecture jointly operate the Project Lab and the Digital Fabrication Lab (Fab Lab). Easily accessible on the first floor of our shared building, these labs foster student exchange between the two schools. The Project Lab offers equipment for foam, wood, and metal model-making. The Fab Lab houses a CNC router, two laser printers, and an array of 3D printers. Both labs are supervised by full-time staff who conduct required student training sessions each semester. Additional safety checks and guided instruction ensure that all students learn how to safely use the laboratory equipment with no prior experience necessary.
The Print Lab offers the latest in digital imaging services including color laser, large format, and Risograph printing; it is also the place where students can check out camera equipment, laptops, power chargers, production tools, and more. And the Photo Studio supports coursework as well as individual student projects.
In addition to the resources of the A+DS building, our students have access to UIC’s world-renowned Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) with immersive projection and virtual reality capabilities, as well as the UIC Innovation Center where interdisciplinary student and faculty teams work collaboratively with university, business, and cultural partners.