Architecture Program Report Tulane University New Orleans ...

equipment, a laser cutter and a 3-D printer. These will be part of
a new digital media production lab, which will be housed within
Richardson Memorial (the School of Architecture).
● There has been an enhancement of the Computer Lab, as
well as newer faculty hires that have aided and abetted the
development of the Lab, with more timely procurement of new
hardware and software. Students and faculty have access to the
most current two- and three-dimensional modeling software, as
well as more traditional rendering and computational media.
Courses in this area have therefore been added to the curriculum,
and are now achieving an increased saturation across all studio
and support course levels.
● ADA requirements have been met.
● Life safety issues have been addressed (including a new
sprinkler system, as specified in the VTR), and are a stated goal
of the ongoing Capital Campaign. The School currently meets all
requirements regarding Life Safety according to the Fire
Department and University-at-large.
● The University has accepted its part in needing to upgrade
the facilities, and there is a 'strategic plan' in place to develop
learning opportunities in the terms of a modern shop quarters,
materials lab space, mock-up spaces and spray booths.
● Faculty offices have been added, and therefore the
necessary quotient for appropriate faculty space has been met.
This includes space for the Tulane Regional Urban Design Center
(TRUDC) and adjunct faculty offices (albeit in a shared location).
All tenured and tenure-track faculty have private offices equipped
with wireless and wired computer access.
Curriculum
The faculty, and more specifically the Curriculum Committee, met
on a regular two-week basis during the months before Katrina,
and on a twice weekly basis after, in order to revise the entire
curriculum to reflect these (Comprehensive Design,
Representation), and other important concerns, mainly the shift to
the five-year Masters of Architecture curriculum. The curricular
model will now reflect a more integrated goal and outcome
approach to studio and course work, with a comprehensive
'curricular strategic plan' to be put in place for the upcoming year
(2006-07). This plan will cascade through not only upcoming
classes, but will be reflected in modifications in the curricula of
current students—thus achieving a current and coherent
resonance across the entirety of the program from the Fall of
2006 forward.