Facilities and Resources

Each architecture graduate student has a CDes mailbox (not for uses as a USPS drop) in Rapson 150 and secure 24-hour access to Rapson Hall and its facilities. CDes fees are necessary for access and support to many resources such as the Workshop and Computing Facilities. Each M.Arch student is provided a desk when enrolled for studio. The student is individually responsible for the proper maintenance of the desk, which is signed out to each student through the School of Architecture office. Dedicated desks are also reservable by M.S. and M.HSPH students, depending on availability. If you are an M.S. or M.HSPH student and would like a desk, please contact the School office.

Ralph Rapson Hall

In 2002, under Dean Thomas Fisher, work was completed on the renovation and expansion of the building that houses the College of Design. The new facilities include the original building (by Thorshov and Cerny, 1960), which was completely renovated, and a 50,000 square-foot addition designed by Steven Holl (with Vincent James Associates and Ellerbe Becket), for which Holl won a New York Chapter American Institute of Architects (AIA) design award.

The addition's asymmetrical angular forms and spaces contrast with the rectilinear modernist sensibility of the original building. Clad in copper, the addition's cruciform shape expands outward to define a series of outdoor courtyards. The complex interior spaces are suffused with light that radiates through the Profilit structural glazing system. Students can learn from the building's exposed interior structure, the glazing system, the deep walls housing vertical mechanical ducts, and the furnishings that make use of recycled materials.

The renovation and addition, which increased the size of the main CDes facility to 150,000 square feet, house a library, a 200-seat auditorium, flexible design studios, technology-enhanced classrooms, an exhibition gallery, an outdoor materials and construction demonstration yard, and other facilities that enhance CDes’ educational and research missions. Named in honor of Ralph Rapson, the noted modernist and longtime Head of the school, the building is a learning center for students, professionals, and the community.

Computing Facilities

CDes provides students with wireless access nodes throughout Rapson Hall, and 24-hour access to three computer labs that offer numerous computers, large format scanners, black and white and color laser printers, large format plotters, and a wide range of software, from AutoCAD to high-end modeling programs and graphics software.

Library

The Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library, a beautiful day-lit space in the Rapson Hall addition, has over 35,000 volumes dedicated to architecture, landscape architecture and planning. The library is part of a 5 million-volume campus-wide computerized library system, incorporating over 40 libraries as well as an interlibrary loan system, which extends internationally. The library's new endowment fund ensures that future students and professionals will have access to the latest publications and journals in the field of architecture.

Media Resource Center

The Media Resource Center includes a full photography studio, video editing, and digital imaging equipment. It also houses a media lending library. Digital cameras and videos are loaned to students to support coursework. The Media Resource Center equipment includes Nikon cameras and lenses, studio sets and lights, Charette ModelScope camera, analog and digital video editing stations, and digital cameras.

Photographic documentation is an important part of design at the University of Minnesota. The College of Design Imaging Lab provides College of Design students with the resources and support to work with digital photography within a studio setting as well as the equipment to record and edit digital video. The Imaging Lab is staffed daily to educate and assist students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of technological resources they may use within their coursework and classes.

Rapson Hall Location: The Rapson Hall location is setup with 3 to 4 workstations to document large projects. Lights and backgrounds are available. Backgrounds are black fabric and white seamless paper.

McNeal Hall Location: The McNeal location is designed for small projects such as packaging design and for photographing apparel design projects. Lights and backgrounds available. One workstation allows a student to utilize the space for a range of subjects.

Printing and Copying Services

Some of the studios have local, small-format printers; color printers, plotters, and large format copiers are available in the Computer Labs. The School copier is to be used only for class-related materials; it requires access codes given by instructors only to Graduate Teaching or Research Assistants available at the main office.

Virtual Reality Design Lab (VRDL)

The Virtual Reality Design Lab (VRDL), located in the public courtyard of Rapson Hall, launched in March 2012. The VRDL is run by faculty and staff in the College of Design and is a continuation of the Digital Design Consortium, a partnership between the College of Design and Computer Science and Engineering made possible by a gift from Ted and Linda Johnson. The courtyard is the center of life at Rapson Hall, home to the School of Architecture and the Department of Landscape Architecture. At over 5000 square feet (520 square meters), the courtyard can accommodate a variety of class activities, social gatherings and now, the VRDL. While many virtual reality (VR) installations are constrained by the space they occupy, the courtyard has enabled the VRDL to offer one of the largest virtual environments found anywhere. Key to this achievement has been the suspension of a truss system in the center of the space. This truss serves as an armature for mounting tracking cameras and has allowed an expansion of the lab without adding obstacles to movement on the floor below.

Workshop

The W. L. Hall Workshop provides College of Design students a safe and collaborative environment for the development of material literacy and process knowledge. The Workshop provides a full complement of power and hand tools for the manipulation of wood, metals, plastics and composites. Workshop staff provide user assistance, training and supervision while offering users an extensive knowledge of materials, tools, processes and safety. Instructors of courses which will utilize the Workshop are encouraged to contact Workshop staff to arrange for an introduction to Workshop capabilities and procedures. Unsafe use of Workshop facilities or equipment may result in revocation of access to the facility.

At over 3,500 square feet, the W. L. Hall Workshop provides 2,400 square feet of woodworking space, with 2 table saws, 4 band saws, 2 miter saws, 2 planers, drill press, scroll saw, a variety of stationary and portable power tools, and a complete array of hand tools. A metal shop has plasma welding, brake and shear. A laser cutter has been installed. The shop is connected directly to the demonstration yard behind the building.

Digital Fabrication Amenities:

  • Laser Cutter (6 @ Rapson and 1 @Mcneal Hall)
  • 3d printer
  • CNC Router (2)
  • CNC plasma cutter
  • Knife plotter
  • 3d scanner