Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University

Philadelphia, PA

The Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University, located in Philadelphia, combines disciplinary rigor in the visual arts, design, art history, and architecture with an increasing emphasis on sustainable practice and curricular innovation. As part of its broader commitment to environmental stewardship and curricular transformation, the school is undertaking a phased conversion of its Glass Studio from fossil fuel to electricity. This climate-focused initiative reflects Tyler’s efforts to align pedagogy, facilities, and research with institutional sustainability goals—positioning the school as a model for academic programs seeking to reduce emissions while shaping environmentally conscious artists and designers.

Supported by an FCI Implementation Grant, the school will complete an initial phase of the Glass Studio’s electrification plan. This first phase includes upgrading the furnace room’s electrical infrastructure and replacing one of three gas-fired furnaces with a high-efficiency electric model. The initiative builds on the findings of a previous FCI Scoping Grant (2024), which outlined strategies for carbon reduction and curriculum integration. The studio’s conversion will reduce an estimated 23.9 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions—approximately 48 tons of CO₂ annually—and serves as a tangible expression of Tyler’s commitment to climate action in arts education. Faculty across Tyler’s various departments are revising curricula in tandem, embedding sustainability into studio methods, materials research, and interdisciplinary pedagogy—prompting emerging artists to engage deeply with environmental responsibility as a core component of their practice.

Milestones

• Replace one gas furnace with a high-efficiency electric furnace

• Upgrade furnace room electrical systems to support electrification

• Reduce glass studio greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 48 tons of CO₂ annually

• Align infrastructure improvements with curricular reform in sustainable glass practices

• Serve as a national model for low-carbon academic glass studios

• Expand integration of sustainability across disciplines and course offerings