Sponsor New Equipment

As of Fall 2007, all freshman and transfer students in the Architecture Department are required to have a personal laptop computer for use in the classroom. This requirement is an acknowledgment of the place digital media has come to occupy both in the academic and the professional environment. At the same time, the Architecture Department remains committed to a balanced education where traditional drawing methods and the making of architecture in the shop are complimented, but not replaced, by new digital technology.

With the arrival of the next generation of architecture students the Architecture Department is evolving toward integration of the newest digital media. We are working to compliment the traditional drafting studio environment with electronic capability for each student. To this end the following high end peripheral devices along with having an adequate workstation environment are important upgrades to meet the students’ own personal commitment to using these newest tool.

Support for the acquisition of these devices will enable Digital Media to have an impact on the teaching environment, which will assure our students’ success in the twenty first century workplace.

Portable 3D Physical Model Scanner, software, and high-end laptops ($80,000)

Architecture students will have access to a portable system to rapidly scan their physical models, which will facilitate the input of complex data into the computer. Scanned in data can be easily imported into computer modeling program, which enables design development and production of final presentation drawings.

3D Environment Scanner, software, and high-end laptop ($110,000)

Architecture students and faculty will have the ability to use this equipment to scan in site information for design studios and community based projects. This scanner can be set up on a site and through its rotation take in all the surrounding 3D site information and translate it into a single digital model. Scanned data can be further imported into GIS and digital model software providing support for cross-disciplinary collaborations.

High-end 3D Printer ($30,000)

Architecture students will have the ability to print out physical models in color for a range of selected digital representations. This Printer will be particularly useful in allowing students to study projects massing, function, and cladding, details at all levels of their design process. Having access to this technology will offer students an advantage in learning early on about the physical implications of design decisions.

Desktop 3D Printer ($5,500 each)

Due to its size and lower cost budget, this smaller printer has the benefit to allow students greater access to a 3D printer for each of the design studios. Students will have the ease to test their models before moving to the larger high-end 3D printer.

Medium Sized Format Bed Scanner (11 x 17, or 18 x 24) ($2,500 each)

Students’ access to a medium-sized format scanner will enable them to digitally scan in traditional drawings; sketches developed during the design process and re-work them as appropriate for further development of the project. The Architecture Department is seeking four (4) of these scanners to assist over 800 students. At present time only two of these large scanners can be found on campus in the Kennedy library and are heavily used.

Large Format Scanner (Large format poster sized up to 64” in width) ($15,000 each)

Students’ access to a large format scanner will enable them to digitally scan in large format traditional drawings; sketches developed during the design process and re-work them as appropriate for further development of the project. The Architecture Department is seeking two (2) of these scanners to assist over 800 students. At present time students must use commercial companies outside of the campus and therefore pay a premium for this service along with the inconvenience of printing off- campus to get this work done.

30” Large Format Flat Screens ($2,000)

It is the desire of the architecture department to provide six to seven of these large format monitors in each of the design studios, which will allow students with laptops (required for all incoming freshmen as of Fall 2007) to hook onto these large format flat screens to obtain greater screen real estate in working digitally and therefore have an ability to develop innovative presentations during review sessions.

Design Studio Workstations (750 need: $350-$850 per workstation)

Finding a balance between traditional and digital capability has become for the department a priority we need to offer to all of our students. Updating the existing workstations and desk stools will allow students to be in an environment that will allow for more fluency in using both digital and traditional modes of production. Providing the appropriate working space for using traditional media, building models, and using the computer & accessories (scanner & printer), along with having storage for supplies, and appropriate task lighting all help with improving the work environment in the studio.

$350 is for the renovation of existing workstation
$850 is for a new workstation