“Minimum” means that this purchase is critically important for successfully completing coursework.

The discussion of hardware and software provided here applies to students from the sophomore year onward, and graduate students. Once students reach the sophomore year, they begin design studio courses and other technical courses that have heavy computer requirements.

Freshmen can use a MacBook, hand-me-down laptop, or even an old desktop computer in many cases during freshman year. They write papers, take notes, collaborate online, and so forth, but they do not yet need architecture-specific software. Undergraduates have minimal computer requirements in the freshman year. Whatever computer will get a student to this result is an acceptable computer. The only requirements are that sophomore students and above – including all graduate students – must have a laptop computer running the Windows Pro operating system, with enough memory to run the architectural software required to complete their coursework. It is offered as a resource to help new and returning students make informed decisions about computer purchases. Please note that most of the following information is provided as recommendations, not requirements. Whenever possible, we provide “minimum” computer/software recommendations and “preferred” alternatives. Carefully consider your own needs and purchase the right laptop for your situation. We understand that individual student circumstances vary. These resources are intended as a guide for the typical BSAS or M.ARCH student.īefore Buying, Consider Your Circumstances Their hardware/software recommendations for architecture students and a technology FAQ are provided below. This makes them expert sources on the computing resources that aspiring architects require. Professors in the School of Architecture & Urban Planning work in private practice in addition to their teaching and research. More specifically, this work requires a laptop that costs more than an iPad or lightweight PC. You will use parametric representations to simulate intelligent, responsive envelopes and structures and interface with robotic fabrication equipment. You will produce intricate technical drawings. You will simulate lighting, materiality, air flow and energy flow. Completing bachelor- or master’s-degree studies in the School of Architecture & Urban Planning requires the support of a robust and reliable laptop computer that is capable of producing professional-quality architectural work.ĭuring your time at SARUP, you will develop complex 3D models. Students use the same tools and apply them in the same ways as professionals. A powerful computer might be a close second.Īrchitecture students are no different from professional architects when it comes to technology. The human brain is an architect’s most valuable tool. The life and work of an architect is intellectually and technologically rigorous.

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