Computer Facilities

Systems Architect: John Ramahlo

The School has embarked on an ambitious campaign to incorporate state-of-the-art digital technologies in the design curriculum. Since the introduction of the first “paperless” design studios on the seventh floor of Avery in the mid-nine-ties, there has been substantial annual investment and dramatic improvements in the facilities and electronic infrastructure for research, teaching, presentation, computer-aided design, and general computing at the GSAPP. Meanwhile, the general computing resources provided by the University have been upgraded as well and include a variety of e-mail and online services as well as a campus-wide wireless network.

The GSAPP’s groundbreaking “paperless” studio model has evolved as new digi-tal-design environments have been installed, evaluated, and modified in 500 and 600 Avery. As of fall 2002, all students in Avery have immediate access to high-end computing at their individual desks, which also provide space for drafting and model making. There are also computer lab areas within the Historic Preservation and Urban Planning studios as well as a computer classroom in Fayerweather.

A centralized technical and administrative structure has been set up to allow the School to provide a higher level of technical support, standardization of computer hardware and software, and more generous computing resources for all GSAP students. The result is a very wide selection of professional software packages ranging from CAD and GIS to multimedia and video editing, all avail-able at all times from any one of well over 300 workstations in the School, plus vast central data-storage capacity that is measured in terabytes.

The School’s Audio/Visual Department lends digital projectors, digital-still and video cameras, and laptop computers for student reviews, classes, and special events. The AV team also maintains a growing number of “electronic theater” and digital classroom spaces that are network connected and equipped with PCsand ceiling-mounted projectors. The School has a Digital Output Facility on the 600 Avery level with a variety of large-format color plotters, color laser printers, and 3D output devices.

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