Computers
are introduced into the curriculum in the fourth year of study once students
have a solid grounding in drawing by hand, developed over the first three
years of study. The Introduction to Computers class teaches a broad range
of computer graphics skills beginning with simple line representation.
For the past several years students have gone to the Gold Coast of Chicago
to do measured drawings of the neighborhood's beautiful townhouse facades.
Through the measured drawing, students learn speed and accuracy on the computer,
and that the very same issues which apply to hand-drawn representation apply
in the digital realm as well.
Next the students build digital models of their facades in order to produce drawings with shade, shadow and color. Finally students learn digital editing and compositing, and put together an analytique in the Beaux-Arts tradition of their townhouse façade.
In the spring semester, an advanced class is offered in which students learn advanced modeling techniques, digital editing, Web design and animation. In the studios computers are made available to the students as another option set alongside the traditional media of watercolor and pen and ink.
The School makes available to students a wide range of hardware and software, including work stations, scanners, and color plotters, Autocad, Arriscad, 3D Studio Viz, Lightscape and Photoshop.
The School has no specific requirements for students wanting to purchase their own computer. Computers are not emphasized during the first three years of study, therefore, some architecture students find it best to purchase a PC or Macintosh just before they begin their fourth year. Computers will be needed for the University's required courses but there are several large computer labs open to all students throughout campus - including a cluster in the basement of Bond Hall.
At the School, PCs outnumber Macs and are generally recommended by the School's professors. The benefit of desktop computers are large, graphic friendly monitors. The benefit of notebooks are their ability to travel and link up with the wireless network available throughout Bond Hall.
For specific questions about computers and software, please contact the Notre Dame Solutions Center (nd.edu/~ndoit/solutions/).
