The Department of Architecture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track assistant professor to join its faculty in Chicago, Illlinois.

The position begins in August of 2026 subject to final budgetary approval. Salary is competitive with peer institutions 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 here.

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 of the Art Institute of Chicago is taught within an interdisciplinary curriculum and through substantive engagement with external partners in the professional and cultural community. 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. Unique resources at the School include access to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives of the Art Institute of Chicago (one of the largest architecture collections in the country) and myriad fabrication facilities. Further information about the department can be found here.

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 takes advantage of its unique placement at the center of American architectural practice in the Chicago Loop and the 150-year experimental legacy of fine arts education at the School of the Art Institute.

Responsibilities

Full-time faculty in Architecture teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment of SAIC. Full-time 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 in their teaching. They will contribute and help shape program goals through their area of specialization and participate in the 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 is seeking 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. The department is particularly interested in candidates with a background in emerging technologies related to interior environments and grounded professional practice. The ideal candidate will have the ability to significantly contribute to the intellectual conversations and practices in the field. We seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students. Candidates should demonstrate their experience with, or aptitude for, departmental administration as service will be expected.

Application procedures

Applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday 16 February 2026 for full consideration. Please submit application materials by clicking here. You will be asked to create an account after which time you may complete the application, which consists of fill-in fields and required documents to upload. You are encouraged 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 PDFs 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 for this position must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials in order to be considered as a candidate and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check should the candidate ultimately be selected as a finalist for the position.

Questions

Questions regarding the School and its open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. Please consult www.saic.edu for information on the School and its programs, or https://www.saic.edu/about/work-at-saic for open positions and application procedures.

About SAIC

A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC’s educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC’s resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.

Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MFA in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Art Institute of Chicago, including both the school and the museum, is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. The Art Institute of Chicago does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator

Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.499.4165, title9@saic.edu

For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the Office for Civil Rights Discrimination for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 800.421.3481.

Requests for accomodations

SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you need an accommodation to participate in an interview, please contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, at mscranton@saic.edu.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

New Jobs

Tenure-track Assistant Professor