Art & Design

Columbia College Chicago MFA Programs in Architectural Studies and Interior Architecture aspire to educate future designers to understand the practice of sustainability, and the belief that sustainability is paramount to the current practice of architecture and interiors, and other areas of design.  The faculty and staff have a commitment to the A&D community and upholding best practice standards.  Our Programs will prepare our MFA candidates intellectually and technically, with the knowledge and skills regarding sustainable practice in multiple areas of design.  By the end of a students tenure in our Programs the graduate will be ready to transition to a professional team and become a valued contributor to architecture and design practice.

Sustainable Design Overview

The spectrum of environmentally conscious design can be viewed from two perspectives.  The first focused on recyclability, which was brought to the forefront in the Architecture and Design community through the publication of Cradle-to-Cradle, by William McDonough.  The second point of view is focused towards preventability and practice.  The idea of using fewer resources and safer materials. There are now models in place,  established by municipalities, that address the spectrum of environmentally conscious design ? no matter what the perspective. In order to provide a national standard for what constitutes a green building? the US. Green Building Council developed  LEED Green Building Rating System.  LEED sets in place standards, which are written to limit environmental impact and sets standards for resource usage and safer materials  and methods.

In terms of  recyclability, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), the Virginia based product and process design firm founded by McDonough an Braungart in 1995, defines Cradle-to-Cradle design as follows: The new paradigm proposes that human design can learn from nature to be effective, safe, enriching and delightful.  Cradle-to-Cradle design models human industry on nature?s processes, in which materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms.  Industry must protect and enrich ecosystems- natures biological metabolism- while also maintaining safe, productive technical metabolism for the high-quality use and circulation of mineral, synthetic and other materials.

Through exposure and contact with the various organizations and resources established for the purpose of sustainability within our city of Chicago, such as: LEED, the USGBC, and the Chicago Center for Green Technology, we will prepare our MFA candidates intellectually and technically, with knowledge and skills regarding sustainable practice. This sustainable focus will work in tandem with the ability of our graduate student to develop as a creative problem solver, and one who has an overall understanding of the visual arts and their historical context.  Upon graduation our graduate will possess a full set of skills and abilities, enabling them to join the architecture and design community, and contribute professionally to that community.

LEED - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design

LEED-CI Contract Interiors

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System represents the U.S. Green Building Counci?s effort to provide a national standard for what constitutes a green building.  Through its use as a design guideline and third-party certification tool, it aims to improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings using established and innovative practices, standards and technologies.
Green Building Rating System Version 2.1, November 2002, Revised 1/16/2002

USGBC - U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from the building industry working to promote building that are enviornmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work

In a recent survey conducted by Enviornmental Design + Construction:

• In 2003, 22% of respondents had been involved in LEED-registered building projects.  In 2004, this number grew to 32%, in 2005 it was 39%
• 53% of respondents stated a "slight" increase in requests for enviornmental building design, 41% reported a "signifigant" increase
• In 2003, little more than half of respondents reported having a designated enviornmental expert on staff.  In 2005, the number rose to 75%
• In 2005, only 2% of respondents said that "none" of the firms total projects included some type of enviornmentally-considerate or sustainable aspect
  

The USGBC reports that there are nearly 20,000 LEED Accredited Professionals worldwide.

There are currently four available LEED standards: LEED-NC (version 2.1) for new construction and major renovation projects; LEED-EB (pilot version) for existing building operations and maintenance; LEED-CI (pilot version) for commercial interiors projects; and LEED-CS (pilot version) for core and shell projects.

Fulfillment of pre-entry requirements is the basis of consideration for approval of students making application to the Masters Programs in Architectural Studies and Interior Architecture, who are without educational and or professional background in architecture or interior architecture.  Applicant shall provide evidence of fulfillment of college or university level study of the three subjects listed below by official copies
of transcripts and work samples for committee consideration.

The pre-entry (3) three classes of study as listed are intended to provide the student with a foundational skill and understanding that will allow for immediate successful application. 

Required Pre-Entrance Classes:

1) Manual Drafting
2) Fundamentals of AutoCAD
3) History of Architecture-Antiquity to Renaissance

Each MFA program is designed to be completed in three years.
Courses are typically held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00AM-5:20 PM.

DEPARTMENTAL CONTACT INFORMATION
Department Chair: Sabina Ott
Director of Architectural Studies & Interior Architecture Programs: Joclyn Oats
Office Information: 623 S. Wabash, Room 615,  Phone: 312-344-7446 Email: joats@colum.edu