Our diverse blend of studios and labs represent our focus on experiential learning. These spaces feature state-of-the-art equipment and offer the opportunity to work alongside faculty and industry professionals seeking to solve real-world design and planning challenges.

Design Studios and Labs

Design studios

The studio method of education is central to CAP’s success and provides students with hands-on design exercises almost every semester. That makes the design studios the hub of activity in our college.

Throughout your college career, you will be assigned your own personal work space in a studio, accessible 24/7 while the university is in session. Each design studio offers state-of-the-art tools and materials for creating drawings, models, and other hands-on assignments. All departmental and faculty offices are located near the studios to enhance mentoring and student/faculty rapport.

You will have all of the technology you need to succeed in today’s world of environmental design and planning, which employs digital technology to facilitate both the analysis that precedes the design process as well as the design process itself.

Our students have access to a variety of digital design and presentation tools, including 3-D modeling and animation software, video filming and editing equipment, and live interactive media.

Student Working in Studio

This high-end computer lab is available to classes with exceptional project-based needs. It has been used to create thermal, solar, environmental, acoustic, or structural simulations for recognized projects.

Tools and Equipment

  • High-end workstations including those with Xeon processors and Quadro graphics cards
  • VR-capable workstations connected to Oculus headsets
  • Small meeting/presentation area with large monitor

High-end software includes:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
  • Autodesk Suite
  • Rhino 3D
  • CAM software for 3-Axis Mill and 5-Axis robotic arm

Digital Simulation Lab

Learn More

Through the SimLab, our students and faculty work directly with businesses and nonprofits, helping them address their challenges while gaining real-world experience. See for yourself.



Digital fabrication is the way of the future, and this laser lab allows you to engage in this process that joins design with production through the use of 3D modeling software or computer-aided design (CAD) and additive and subtractive manufacturing processes.

The "Fab Lab," as we call it, contains equipment for designing and making 1:1 prototypes of building and furniture components, as well as smaller-scale models. Located in the Architecture Building, room 031, the lab is part of the CAP shops, which includes the woodshop, metal shop, and paint room.

For more information, contact Judy Kreiger.

You may only enter the Laser Lab through AB 031 and the Wood Shop in AB 029. If either door is closed, that respective area is closed. For more information visit our website.

About the Laser Lab

The Laser Lab in the Architecture Building is a CAP STUDENTS only facility.
Individuals and groups outside the college must have permission to use the laser lab. Contact CAP Dean, David Ferguson for permission.

  • CAP students may only use the laser cutter after they have gone through the online training and certification process by either a makercorps student, your studio professor, or other faculty. Certification will be tagged to your ID and will enable sign up. This training/certification process is required for use of AT 141 and BSU CAP Indy lasers too.
  • Certified students are required to schedule appointments to use the lab (see ‘Scheduling’ below).
  • Always sign in and out at the check‐in desk. Provide your: First Name, Last Name and Class (ex: ARCH 263, LA 211, etc) and Time of arrival.
  • Individuals are required to complete a CAP Laser Lab - Laser Lens Responsibility Form prior to laser cutting.
  • Never leave a project unattended while the laser is in operation. YOU MUST REMAIN IN THE ROOM, ensuring that your project cuts safely. If you leave your project, it will be shut down.
  • CAP 1st Year Students may not use the lasers.

Scheduling

To make reservations, please go to WebCheckOut – Patron Portal. A link to system can be found on my.bsu, under “Additional Tools”. Individuals who have had training, will be granted access to reserve a machine.

 Laser Lab Reservation with WebCheckOut : Step-by-Step Process

Students are permitted to sign up for 1 hour per day, no less than 30 minutes in advance. If there is no one scheduled on the machine after you, you may stay beyond your scheduled 1 hour appointment. 

Available Machines:

  • 4 machines are available for scheduling: 3 large 18 x 32, 1 medium, 18 x 24, 1 hour per day, per person.
  • Unreserved time slots will be used on a first‐come first‐served basis.
  • It is anticipated that if you schedule an appointment for one of these laser cutters that you will arrive on time for that appointment. If you are 4 minutes late for your appointment, it will be given to the next person in line. Missed appointments will be noted by the FAB Lab Attendant on duty.
    Individuals who fail to show up or cancel appointments will receive a non‐refundable $10 fine to their Bursar account for missing their appointment. If you need to cancel your appointment Visit My Account, on WebCheckOut – Patron Portal. 

Laser Cutter Instructions

Materials

The laser lab is for model making. Material settings are provided for the following:

Permitted Materials

  • Acrylic (from the CRC)
  • Mat Board
  • Illustration board
  • Balsa Wood
  • Bass Wood
  • Chip Board
  • Plywood
  • Masonite

Other materials not listed require special permission from Judy Kreiger.

Materials not permitted

  • Foam Core
  • PVC
  • Vinyl Steel or any other metal
  • Vinyl
  • Cement or Concrete
  • Other materials not listed require special permission from Judy Kreiger 

Material Restrictions

Maximum material thickness to be cut in the laser is ¼ inch. Material thicknesses greater than ¼” should use a different cutting method. 

NEVER leave a project unattended! While your file is cutting on the laser, YOU MUST REMAIN IN THE ROOM, ensuring that your project cuts safely. If you leave your project, the machine will be shut down.

It takes the latest equipment and technology to adequately research and preserve the oldest architecture and buildings.

Students in our historic preservation program use the Preservation Lab to carry out class projects in preservation technology, including conservation and paint and mortar analysis.

Equipment

  • stereo microscopes that can capture digital images of material samples up to 180 times
  • field kits for building assessments
  • heat lamps for drying mortar samples
  • a desiccating chamber
  • various hand tools for material sampling
  • a pressure washer
  • catalogs and literature related to the latest materials and products

Architecture Building, Room 029 and the Design-Build Lab 765-285-5859
Supervised by a full-time shop technician, the Wood/Metal/Plastics Shop provides students with the equipment they need for working with wood, metal, plastics, and other materials. The technician assists students in model building and creative projects for hands-on courses in the R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (CAP). 

Tools and Equipment

  • hand tools
  • woodworking machines
  • welding equipment
  • vacuum forming machines
  • computer numerical control (CNC) router

Wood Shop Hours

  • Sunday, 3pm to 7pm
  • Monday, 11am to 6pm
  • Tuesday, 12.30pm to 6pm
  • Wednesday, 11am to 6pm
  • Thursday, 12.30pm to 6pm
  • Friday, 11am to 5pm
  • Saturday, Closed

Read the Wood Shop's General Policies

Students in Digital Fabrication Lab