The Vision
The College of Architecture and Planning's Tech Library will act as a hands-on resource room available to students and faculty members. It is envisioned as a cross between a design firm's product library and a supplier's showroom. It will serve as an educational support facility to all students, especially in the Departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. We seek the support of product manufacturers and suppliers who will become partners in developing this exciting new resource center.

Educating an environmental designer is a complex undertaking. Critics complain that recent graduates are not yet ready to enter the professional market. Almost consistently, practitioners cite student knowledge of both material and building systems as two top priorities that must be considered by educators. On the other side of the same argument, theorists insist that a designer's work also must enrich the soul and challenge the imagination. Both sides of this argument are clearly favored at CAP. Consequently, our graduates are recognized nationally for their balanced education.

CAP graduates have participated in a number of design/build projects, with an emphasis on the "build." Students also have the opportunity to experience community-based design and planning projects. Our graduates are introduced to the industry through plant tours and through contact with product manufacturers and other suppliers. CAP has one of the most active student chapters of the Construction Specifications Institute. In short, CAP alumni have established their reputation as effective hands-on designers, able to understand how building or landscape projects are assembled.

The Departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture are underscoring their commitment to hands-on teaching with the establishment of a new product and material resource library.

The Facilities
A large laboratory in the Architecture Building is being remodeled to accommodate the Tech Library. This room is accessible to all CAP studios. This facility will be organized to showcase the exciting mix of material and technology essential for the successful completion of any building project.

The Collection
A selection of product literature, samples, and mock-ups is being assembled for use in the design studios as well as in building technology and site engineering courses. The selection will be organized using the 16 CSI divisions. Consideration will be given to everyone's product contributions within the space limitations of the collection area.

The Partnership
The success of CAP's Tech Library program depends upon the participation of product manufacturers and suppliers. Contributions of product literature and samples will enable us to make these vital resources available to our students. Financial contributions will allow us to develop and maintain this new educational resource center at an optimum level.

If you're a product manufacturer or supplier, your contribution will give you the following privileges:

• A link to your company's Web site will be included on the CAP Tech Library Web page.
• Your product will be maintained as part of the Tech Library collection.
• You will have the opportunity to make your literature available to future construction specifiers and environmental designers. 

For More Information
Michel Mounayar, Associate Dean
College of Architecture and Planning
Architecture Building 104
(765) 285-5861
(765) 285-3726 fax
mmounaya@bsu.edu