Design Observer
TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION IN ARCHITECTURE/INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Design Observer, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION IN ARCHITECTURE/INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
The Department of Architecture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full‑time, tenure‑track Assistant Professor. The position begins in August 2026 subject to final budgetary approval. Salary is competitive and commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
Compensation:
$79,690 - $83,998 per year.
Benefits information for this position can be found below: https://articbenguide.com/whos-eligible/
Department Profile
The School offers a professional, NAAB‑accredited Master of Architecture (MArch) with tracks in Architecture and Interior Architecture, and a Certificate in Historic Preservation. The AIADO department also offers courses within the interdisciplinary BFA and MFA programs. Design at the School is taught within an interdisciplinary curriculum and through engagement with external partners. Recent and ongoing projects include partnerships with the Chicago Architecture Biennale, Argonne National Laboratory, bLUMEN (a design‑build project for a pavilion on Chicago’s West Side), and the curating and commissioning of the US Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. The School has access to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives of the Art Institute of Chicago and many fabrication facilities. Further information about the department can be found at https://www.saic.edu/aiado.
The Interior Architecture curriculum focuses on the interior as an emerging area of architectural practice and an expansive territory for making, research, and speculative work. The department’s unique placement at the center of American architectural practice in the Chicago Loop and the 150‑year experimental legacy of fine arts education enrich this focus.
Responsibilities Full‑time faculty teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment. Faculty guide students in developing an approach to design that integrates material exploration, conceptual development, and prototyping or construction methodologies. They support students in translating ideas into cohesive bodies of work through both traditional and experimental techniques, fostering innovation and critical thinking throughout the design process. Successful candidates will demonstrate an ability to teach at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels and be able to draw from a range of professional experiences. They will contribute to program goals through their area of specialization and participate in SAIC community through ongoing curricular development, departmental administration, school governance, and service.
Qualifications A Master of Architecture is required. A minimum of three years of college‑level teaching experience is required. The department seeks candidates with primary expertise in interior architecture, sustainable building systems, construction, materials, and codes, with additional expertise in emerging technologies, 2D and 3D digital and physical representation, light, and color. Candidates with a background in emerging technologies related to interior environments and grounded professional practice are particularly desirable. The ideal candidate will significantly contribute to intellectual conversations and practices in the field, possess the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students, and have demonstrated experience or aptitude for departmental administration as service will be expected.
Application Procedures Applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday, February 16, 2026 for full consideration. Please submit application materials via https://saicfaculty.slideroom.com/#/Login. After creating an account, complete the application, which includes fill‑in fields and required documents to upload. It is recommended to begin the application well before the priority deadline.
Complete the fields for educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.
Please convert all Word documents into PDF before uploading. Required files to upload include:
Cover Letter Stating Your Interests And Qualifications
Curriculum vitae
Statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from a range of backgrounds
Statement of research and practice
Documentation of a selection of professional work
All applicants must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check if selected as a finalist.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Art Institute of Chicago is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff. Employment decisions are based on qualifications and are made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by law. For inquiries regarding the non‑discrimination policies, please contact the Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator at Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, title9@saic.edu.
Requests for Accommodations
SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, at mscranton@saic.edu for assistance.
Questions regarding the School’s open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. For more information, consult www.saic.edu or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.
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Compensation:
$79,690 - $83,998 per year.
Benefits information for this position can be found below: https://articbenguide.com/whos-eligible/
Department Profile
The School offers a professional, NAAB‑accredited Master of Architecture (MArch) with tracks in Architecture and Interior Architecture, and a Certificate in Historic Preservation. The AIADO department also offers courses within the interdisciplinary BFA and MFA programs. Design at the School is taught within an interdisciplinary curriculum and through engagement with external partners. Recent and ongoing projects include partnerships with the Chicago Architecture Biennale, Argonne National Laboratory, bLUMEN (a design‑build project for a pavilion on Chicago’s West Side), and the curating and commissioning of the US Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale. The School has access to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives of the Art Institute of Chicago and many fabrication facilities. Further information about the department can be found at https://www.saic.edu/aiado.
The Interior Architecture curriculum focuses on the interior as an emerging area of architectural practice and an expansive territory for making, research, and speculative work. The department’s unique placement at the center of American architectural practice in the Chicago Loop and the 150‑year experimental legacy of fine arts education enrich this focus.
Responsibilities Full‑time faculty teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment. Faculty guide students in developing an approach to design that integrates material exploration, conceptual development, and prototyping or construction methodologies. They support students in translating ideas into cohesive bodies of work through both traditional and experimental techniques, fostering innovation and critical thinking throughout the design process. Successful candidates will demonstrate an ability to teach at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels and be able to draw from a range of professional experiences. They will contribute to program goals through their area of specialization and participate in SAIC community through ongoing curricular development, departmental administration, school governance, and service.
Qualifications A Master of Architecture is required. A minimum of three years of college‑level teaching experience is required. The department seeks candidates with primary expertise in interior architecture, sustainable building systems, construction, materials, and codes, with additional expertise in emerging technologies, 2D and 3D digital and physical representation, light, and color. Candidates with a background in emerging technologies related to interior environments and grounded professional practice are particularly desirable. The ideal candidate will significantly contribute to intellectual conversations and practices in the field, possess the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students, and have demonstrated experience or aptitude for departmental administration as service will be expected.
Application Procedures Applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday, February 16, 2026 for full consideration. Please submit application materials via https://saicfaculty.slideroom.com/#/Login. After creating an account, complete the application, which includes fill‑in fields and required documents to upload. It is recommended to begin the application well before the priority deadline.
Complete the fields for educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.
Please convert all Word documents into PDF before uploading. Required files to upload include:
Cover Letter Stating Your Interests And Qualifications
Curriculum vitae
Statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from a range of backgrounds
Statement of research and practice
Documentation of a selection of professional work
All applicants must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check if selected as a finalist.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Art Institute of Chicago is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff. Employment decisions are based on qualifications and are made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by law. For inquiries regarding the non‑discrimination policies, please contact the Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator at Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, title9@saic.edu.
Requests for Accommodations
SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, at mscranton@saic.edu for assistance.
Questions regarding the School’s open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. For more information, consult www.saic.edu or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.
#J-18808-Ljbffr