Kevin Matthews — Architecture — University of Oregon —
Service
Architecture and Allied Arts: Advanced Graphics Laboratory.
The advanced graphics laboratory will address the needs of environmental design students
in the School of Architecture and Allied Arts. The lab will focus on input and output
of visual information in electronic formats. Design students currently develop and manipulate drawings, 3D computer models, and photographic images on personal computers
at their individual studio desks. For review and presentation printed output is
required. These printed images are "pinned up" in review spaces in which faculty
reviewers simultaneously scan a variety of floor plans, building sections and 3D views
to form an understanding of the students' design concepts. Computer generated images
are compared and contrasted with traditional drawings, freehand sketches and physical models in these settings. At the present time there is not sufficient capacity to
meet the rapidly growing demand for output from the literally hundreds of students
who work with computers in design studios and professional courses.
The Department of Architecture requires all professional degree students entering
both graduate and undergraduate degree programs (architecture and interior architecture)
next academic year to have access to a personal computer throughout their course
of study. A similar requirement exists in Planning, Public Policy and Management and
one is contemplated in Landscape Architecture. The Architecture requirement alone
will result in the student purchase of 145 new machines before the fall term. Undergraduate architecture students have been purchasing computers on a voluntary basis for the
past five years. Of the roughly 100 students entering each year, 90% elected the
computer oriented program in 1994, 70% in 1993, and 50% in previous years. This
means that in September 1995 there will be at least 250 student owned, high speed, multi-media
machines connected to the network within Lawrence Hall. By September of 1996 the
number will exceed 400. The basic recommended workstation is a Power Mac with a
CD-ROM drive and a high resolution color monitor.
Given this extraordinary investment on the part of the students and their families,
it is incumbent upon the School to provide the infrastructure and support services
necessary to realize the educational benefits anticipated by their investment. The
advanced laboratory for graphic output is a critical element in meeting this obligation.
Services at the lab must include qualified consultation on input/output techniques
and a few extremely powerful workstations capable of adding "finishing touches" to
large graphics files in preparation for printing. Purchase of two new color plotters is
required with a modest initial budget for printing supplies and materials. It is
assumed in this proposal that the School will be able to win approval of a "fee for
output" collection mechanism such that the continuing costs of paper, ink, maintenance and
perhaps additional printing devices can be met from a new revenue stream. The final
element detailed below is a video package used to import site information (e.g. views
of adjacent structures) into the electronic domain of the design workstation.
Proposed Budget:
Lab Consultant/ Manager: 30,000.
Academic OPE: 10,014.
Basic workstation for the consultant: 3,000.
Training: 2,000.
High end graphic processors (total of 3):
Based on Power Mac 8100/110 with AV cards
and monitors. 24,300.
Memory upgrades to 80 megabytes (3): 6,000.
D-size color plotters (total of 2): 18,000.
Video equipment (cameras, VCR's and monitors): 10,000.
High volume data storage medium: 4000.
Software and initial CD-ROM library: 12,000.
Supplies for printing prior to fee approval: 6000.
Total request: $125,314