A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.
Portrait of a white woman standing and smiling in a hallway

Lauren Oldenburg

Continuing Studies Instructor

Bio

Lauren Oldenburg (she/her) is a faculty member of SAIC's Continuing Studies program. Lauren is a licensed architect and interior designer working in Gensler's Chicago office just next to SAIC's main building downtown. Lauren applied to teach in the CS program at SAIC because she has always had a passion for mentorship and teaching others.

Lauren lives in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago with her fiance, Parker, and their two cats, Rocket & Nebula. She has lived in Chicago for the last seven years where she has worked in the design industry as primarily a hospitality and restaurant designer. Lauren received her MArch from Boston Architectural College in December 2022 and her BA of Interior Design from Michigan State University in 2017. After finishing her graduate program Lauren got to studying and passed the Architecture Registration Exams in December 2023.

Originally a Boston-suburb native, Lauren loves traveling home to the east coast to visit family and friends as often as she can, and loves a beach day down the Cape in the summer. Outside of the A&D world, Lauren loves cooking up a meal at home, reading a good fantasy book, sweating it out in a hot yoga class, and perusing Chicago's incredible restaurant scene with her friends.

Personal Statement

I have always been a person who loves to learn. In recent years, I have discovered that this passion for learning has also evolved into a passion for teaching others, which ultimately led me to SAIC.

I have been fortunate to form some truly remarkable relationships with past professors, who have significantly shaped who I am today and helped pave the way for my successful career. I always knew that when I was ready to take on a new challenge, it would be to teach architecture and design, giving back to students in the same way my professors did for me.

Although my teaching philosophy is still taking shape, it will center around students' personal discovery of their passions and what motivates them. I aim to foster a love for creation and instill that addicting and profound sense of pride in seeing something you helped design positively impact the lives of others.

I can't wait to meet you all.

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

Students will develop an understanding of software interfaces as they learn to translate 2D drawings into 3D models, working with digital drawing tools including Autodesk AutoCAD and SketchUp, and a rendering solution.

Students are responsible for their software when this course is offered online.

Class Number

2374

Credits

1

Description

This class is for students who want to learn how to use 3D modeling software specifically for a career in Interior Design. Learn how Autodesk AutoCAD, SketchUp, and a rendering solution can help you bring your ideas into the digital space for potential clients and colleagues to view. We will explore how to create a workflow for your interior design projects which will include space planning, furniture modeling, and applying materials for viewing and rendering. This class will also include how to draw 2D floor plans; using 3D warehouse; customizing furniture and fixtures; and setting up views and rendering. Prerequisite(s): Digital Drawing: Objects and Space or equivalent experience.

Students are responsible for their software when this course is offered online.

Class Number

2287

Credits

1