Television series ByDesign returns to CBS this season, with its sights set on American architecture. America ByDesign: Architecture will feature six of the United States’ most significant architectural accomplishments, competing toward a finale to determine the ultimate winning design. Past ByDesign seasons have focused on New York, California, and Australia—and now, the series will zoom in on the Windy City and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

ByDesign visited SAIC’s campus to explore the School’s unique architecture and our commitment to sustainability. In the six-minute segment, Vice President for Campus Operations Tom Buechele led tours of the new SAIC Galleries and the recently renovated 280 Building. Buechele discusses how updates to the 280 Building have decreased the building’s energy costs by 40 percent, while still honoring the history of the building. Additionally, SAIC Galleries features energy-efficient lighting, a brand-new ventilation system, recycled carpet, and resurfaced flooring from the building’s original 106-year-old floor. Since 2020, the School’s campus has been carbon neutral. 

SAIC is involved in this season in more ways than one: Professor Emeritus Linda Keane will also serve on the judges’ panel. Keane is the founding chair of the Department of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects (AIADO) at SAIC and is also a co-founder of STUDIO 1032. Her own work focuses on ecology, imagination, and greening public spaces. "[SAIC is] an ambitious school, and it's connected to a world-class museum in a beautiful city," Keane said in her Meet the Faculty interview. "I came to the museum as a child, and after architecture school, understood that the Art Institute was home to an unbelievable creative community; students and faculty are always talking about new ideas and doing provocative and innovative current work." 

Going on its fifth year in production, ByDesign: Architecture’s mission is to find and celebrate architecture that innovates, surprises, or disrupts the status quo. Chicago is known as an architect’s city, and SAIC’s architecture program sits at the center of that legacy. Now, that history will be highlighted on television screens everywhere.

You can tune into America ByDesign: Architecture starting November 12 on the CBS News Streaming Network. Episodes will air on CBS on Saturday nights in February 2023. ■

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