Digital Studios

Revised 12/5/02

“So the challenge... is to make computer integration into the process more pervasive and to extend it into areas of the architectural process where more value can be added. We need to think not of the electronic, intelligent drawing board. But the virtual design studio or the virtual design office.”  - William Mitchell, Professor and Dean of MIT School of Architecture and Planning

Introduction

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette consistently demonstrates on a national level its commitment to computer technology and pursues new teaching strategies that the technology fosters to maintain its presence at a national level. This commitment to technology extends to the School of Architecture and Design.  The School of Architecture and Design is embarking on a new era in the education of designers at UL Lafayette. The curriculum requires that Second-year design students in their spring semester have access to their own personal notebook computers. This computer must be portable (i.e., notebook computers) to allow its full use in the Fletcher studios, lectures classrooms and site visits. It must also be capable of running high-end CADD, modeling and graphic software (i.e., Form Z, Photoshop, other CAD programs). This requirement is in direct response to the changes occurring in the design professions that favors graduates who are capable of integrating computers with traditional methods in all aspects of design; schematic design, presentations, modeling, design development, construction documents, construction and manufacturing supervision, and analysis.

To accomplish this integration in design the computer must be capable of traveling with the designer to the various sites of the design process. The notebook is capable of going where ever the students goes and will enable a fluid back and forth method between traditional mediums sketch-books, tracing paper, models and digital medium. The student can carry their design process with them to studio, to support courses, to their home, to where ever they need to work on it as they do with sketchbooks now, recording thoughts and ideas. Students will have the capability to post their work for additional faculty input and questions outside studio time.

This technology expands the medium of the traditional studio through the capabilities of software and hardware but also though a linking to the campus network and from there to the Internet. The Internet is increasingly becoming an important tool in design for information, remote critiques and portfolio web sites. The student will have access to University input and output hardware, i.e., printers, scanners, digitizers, etc. through their notebooks via the network connections in the Visual Resource Center.

Each year more institutions enact this requirement to allow the student to fully meet the changing demands of education and practice. When faculty surveyed students as to who thought they would own a computer by graduation 99% said yes. When asked if they supported this plan it was a resounding 100% with questions about how and when could they participate. National and local surveys place CADD abilities' second only to personal abilities in requirements for recent graduates. This requirement is necessary for the School of Architecture and Design and its students to continue in an ongoing quest to be competitive.

Implementation

Students are required to hold off on their purchases until the fall of their second-year. In the spring of their second-year students will enroll in an introduction to digital communications course a co-requisite of the design studio. The two courses will be coordinated to foster the integration of digital technology into their design processes as developed in first-year and the fall of second-year. Students will continue to develop both their design process and role of digital medium in subsequent design studios culminating in their final senior or Graduate thesis projects. Student purchased hardware is a curriculum requirement; this requirement may enable the purchases to be made through student grants, loans, scholarships, etc. Students should consult with the Financial Aid office.

Hardware: The hardware platform is a matter of personal preference of the individual students the school is capable of supporting PC, or Macintosh platforms. The hardware is required to be portable. Students will need their computers during studio class periods and for additional coursework. The cost of a notebook computer is approximately: new Apple $1,100-$3,200, new PC $1,500-$3,200; and refurbished or used $500-$2,800 depending on the level of platform. All of the following platforms meet the requirements to operate the necessary software applications: (the level of platform should be based on the individual students budget)

The following connectors are required: Ethernet, Serial, USB, Video 15 pin, VGA. Floppy drives and Firewire cards are optional.

Optional Hardware: Extra battery, Zip disk drives, CD-RW drives, drawing tablets, printers, scanners, etc. are available and should be considered on personal need and resources. Compatibility of all components is critical.

Software: Students are required to have legal licenses of all software. The School has established a partnership program with Autodessys Form Z University Joint Study Program offering special discount pricing for software to students; Form Z ($95/year). Each student is required to have word processing software, such as MS Office or MS Works. Other software, available through educational partnerships or academic discounts, including AutoCAD LT , Autodesk, Rhino, Sketch-Up, VIZ, Lightscape, and Adobe Photoshop may be required for specific courses.

Internet: Fletcher hall has been wired for Ethernet 10/100. Some cards support both Modem and Ethernet and may be considered. If you are off campus, modem connections require you to have an Internet Service Provider (ISP). On campus students set the network configuration to DHCP.

Support:  The College will provide the necessary peripheral equipment; scanners, plotters, printers, in the VRC and network access in the studios. A charge will be collected for prints differing for each device. The University does not provide technical assistance for hardware; students should contact the manufacturer for solutions to hardware problems. Students may also refer to the Computing Center Help Desk in Stephens Hall with general operating system questions. Students have access to electronic mail service accounts on the main university computer. Contact the Computing Center Help Desk to activate your account.

Insurance: It is strongly suggested that students purchase an additional rider policy specifically for this machine. The School is not responsible for security of this equipment.

Financial Assistance Programs: This can occur through student aid programs and individual hardware vendor discounts. Financial assistance may be available to qualifying students as grants or loans; students should contact the University’s Financial Aid office in Foster Hall for further information. Many manufacturers have student loan programs with competitive interest rates and educationally discounted hardware. Each student should investigate these individually.