SAIC’s Material Source is your partner in obtaining supplies for the making possibilities available at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Our inventory serves curricular and facility needs throughout the School’s many departments and our locations are embedded in or near these areas. We also provide convenience and introductory items to help you explore the variety of art-making processes our facilities support.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has provided on-campus sales of materials in various forms for many years. In 2004, materials sales across campus were consolidated under one department with two locations. Since then our department has grown into an operation supporting 3 independent storefronts with an additional 3 storefronts that operate in tandem with the SAIC instructional shops. We are excited to continue to grow and assist the community in new and more comprehensive ways.
Each location primarily serves the departments and facilities in which they are located offering items catering to their specific needs. We also carry many items at multiple locations that are useful to the whole community. Most of our items have been chosen by faculty and staff to support your educational needs.
FALL SEMESTER Aug 30th – Dec 18th
ALL LOCATIONS CLOSED: Sept 4th (Labor Day), Nov 22nd-26th (Thanksgiving Break), Dec 19th-Jan 1st (Winter Break)
280 Material Source (Room B1-31):
9 am to 8 pm, Monday through Thursday
9 am to 5:30 pm, Friday and Saturday
CLOSED 11:45AM – 12:15PM EVERYDAY
Maclean Material Source (Room 806):
9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday
CLOSED 11:45AM – 12:15PM EVERYDAY
Sharp Material Source (Room 333):
9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Saturday
CLOSED 11:45AM – 12:15PM EVERYDAY
Materials can also be found for sale in the Sharp Instructional Shop, Sullivan Fabrication Studio, and the 280 Woodshop and Metal Shop. These sales locations follow the same hours as the shop they are located in. Please review each shop’s website to see the most up to date hours of operation.
280 S. Material Source
280 S Columbus Drive, Room B1-31 312.857.7173
This location carries select materials to support the Columbus Wood and Metal Shops, Print Media, Sculpture, Painting and Drawing, and Laser Cutter Facilities.
Payments for purchases of items from SAIC’s Ceramics Department are made in this location.
Lumber and metal items are sold inside the wood and metal shops.
Sharp Material Source
37 S Wabash Ave, Room 333 and 316 312.759.1655
This location carries select materials to support the Sharp Instructional Shops, Fashion Design, Fiber & Material Studies, and Contemporary Practices.
Lumber items are sold at tool checkout.
Sullivan Material Source
36 S Wabash Ave, Suite 1243 312.629.6699
This location carries select materials to support the Sullivan Fabrication Studio, AIADO, and Laser Cutter Facilities.
This location is inside the Sullivan Fabrication Studio.
Maclean Material Source
112 S. Michigan Ave, Room 806 312.345.3515
This location carries select materials to support Neon, Film, Video, New Media & Animation, Sound, Art & Technology.
The entrance to this location is to the right of the Media Center.