Information for Current Students

DAL LOCATION + HOURS

The DAL is located at 404 The Diana Center. During the Fall 2021 semester, The Diana Center will be open from 8AM-midnight. 

ACCESS TO THE DAL 

Access to The Digital Architecture Lab in 404 The Diana Center is limited to the following individuals: 

• Declared architecture majors 
• Students enrolled in B+C|A studio and workshop courses 
• B+C|A faculty and TAs
• Barnard Visual Arts faculty and students (they own the 5 iMacs at the front labeled “ArtLab”)

Although we have already asked Barnard Public Safety to activate our students' ID cards, if upon your first visit there is any difficulty, please fill out the B+C|A Swipe Access Request Form: 404 and 401, The Diana Center (for Barnard Public Safety). Barnard Public Safety will follow up with you if they have any questions, otherwise it will take them approximately 48 hours to process your request.

DAL RESERVATIONS 

The DAL may be reserved by B+C|A faculty for instructional purposes at any point during the semester. Students that are not enrolled in the class or workshop that has reserved the DAL should move to the back of the room to accommodate the incoming group. Faculty and TAs can email dal.assistants2021@gmail.com to request a new reservation. Existing reservations can be viewed on this calendar.

DAL EQUIPMENT 

• 22 Dell computers
• 1 HP LaserJet Enterprise M806 (B+W)
• 1 HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M750
• 1 HP Color LaserJet Enterprise M855xh
• 1 Projector 
• 1 Logitech Connect
• 1 Document Camera

DAL PRINTERS 

PawPrint is Columbia University’s student and faculty printing system on the Morningside campus. With PawPrint, you can send a document to print from any computer, and print it at any PawPrint print station.To view a list of printer locations or look up your print quota, visit the CUIT website. To report a problem with any of the DAL printers, please call BCIT at 212-854-7172 or email them at help@barnard.edu. 

DAL COMPUTER LOGIN INFORMATION

This information will be shared with you at your DAL Orientation.

DAL SOFTWARE

• Adobe Creative Cloud 2020
• ArcGIS Pro
• Arc GIS 10.7
• QGIS
• Google Earth Pro 
• Microsoft Office 2019
• AutoDesk 2021
• Rhino 6.0
• V-Ray for Rhino 
• MakerWare

DAL POLICIES

While you are using our computer lab, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• Use of the DAL is limited to students in our studio and workshop courses and lab computers are meant to be used in support of architecture studio and workshop assignments only. Please use a personal device to write your papers and conduct personal transactions.  
• Use of the DAL is limited to digital design work only—please leave your model making supplies at your studio desks.
• Unattended computers will automatically log out of a session after 30 minutes of mouse or keyboard inactivity, and all files (saved and unsaved) will be erased upon logout. As such, users should routinely save their work to the cloud or an external hard drive.
• To ensure the efficient use of lab resources, computers that are left unattended for more than 15 minutes should be considered open and available to other students. 
• Please wear a mask properly over your mouth and nose at all times. Eating or drinking is prohibited.
• Please wipe down your workstation at the beginning and end of each session with the sanitizing wipes at the lab entrance.
• Talking is permitted in the lab but we ask that you limit conversations to low levels, with the understanding that others near you are working and may be distracted by your conversation. Please use headphones when listening to audio. 
• Please clean up after yourself! Put your trash or recycling in the proper container before you leave. If you use the paper cutter, please collect and recycle your scraps after you are done.
• BCIT and Student Computing are responsible for monitoring and replenishing the toner and paper in the DAL printers. If you notice that the toner supply is low, please report this directly to BCIT (help@barnard.edu). On weekends, you should report low toner levels to Student Computing (also help@barnard.edu). 

SECURITY 

• Please do not prop the DAL door open or let unauthorized students  into the DAL. If an authorized student’s ID card is not activated for swipe access to the DAL by the end of the course registration period, they should follow up in person with Barnard Public Safety. If a student is issued a new ID card at any point during the semester, they will need to visit Barnard Public Safety in person to have their new card activated. 
• Please do not leave personal items unattended for any length of time. If a personal item goes missing while you are working in the DAL, you should consult with Barnard Public Safety. Likewise, if you find an unattended personal item, please turn it in to Barnard Public Safety for safekeeping. 

TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH A DAL COMPUTER OR PRINTER, CONTACT BCIT

• Barnard College IT (BCIT) is open M-F, 9-5. If you encounter any problems with the DAL computers or printers, please report these problems directly to BCIT by emailing help@barnard.edu or calling 212-854-7172. Please include the monitor number (or printer info) along with a detailed description of the problem. 
• Over the weekend and after hours, please report all problems to Student Computing by emailing help@barnard.edu or calling 212-851-9100. 

TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH THE DAL PROJECTOR, LOGITECH CONNECT, OR DOCUMENT CAMERA, CONTACT BARNARD AV SERVICES

• Barnard AV Services isopen M-F, 9-5. If you encounter any problems with the projector, Logitech Connect, or document camera, please report these problems directly to AV Services by emailing avservices@barnard.edu or calling 212-854-3021.

In Fall 2020, Barnard College Student Computing introduced a virtual computer lab platform, Apporto, that provides students with access to the same academic software that is currently installed in the physical computer labs on campus.

To use Apporto, go to barnard.apporto.com and log in using your Columbia UNI and password. Once you are logged in, look for the BC GPU Virtual Desktop and launch it to view software related to your architecture courses.

Instructions for requesting support:

If you have any issues logging into Apporto with your Columbia UNI credentials, please review these pages regarding resetting your UNI password and contact CUIT directly if you are unable to resolve the problem on your own.

If you can log into Apporto, but experience any issues opening or using the applications, please email BCIT at help@barnard.edu to report the problem. Please include a detailed description of the problem and any relevant screenshots or screen recordings.

The Diana Center Architecture Studio (404, The Diana Center) and The Digital Architecture Lab (401, The Diana Center) are open to faculty, TAs, and architecture students in all of our studio and workshop courses. Only students whose courses regularly meet in 404 Diana are allowed to use the desks in 404 Diana. All other students have been granted swipe access to this space so that they may access room 404A, which is where the DAL Assistants will hold their in person Design Consultations and Laser Cutting Appointments.

Barnard Public Safety has already received a list of faculty, TAs, and students in our approved courses, but if your ID card isn't working yet, please fill out this form: B+C|A Swipe Access Request Form: 404 and 401, The Diana Center (for Barnard Public Safety). In the interim, if you need to access either 401 or 404 Diana, please call Barnard Public Safety and ask them to unlock the door for you: 212-854-3362.

The Lewisohn Hall Architecture Studio (116, Lewisohn Hall) is only open to faculty, TAs, and students in Introduction to Architectural Design & Visual Culture and Advanced Architectural Design I. Columbia Public Safety has already received a list of approved faculty, TAs, and students in these courses, but if for some reason your ID card isn't working yet, please fill out this form: B+C|A Swipe Access Request Form: 116 Lewisohn Hall (for Columbia Public Safety). In the interim, if you need access to the 116 Lewisohn studio, please call Columbia Public Safety and ask them to unlock the door for you: 212-854-2797.

B+C|A Software Tutorials
B+C|A software tutorials will be offered by the DAL Assistants throughout the semester. These tutorials are open to all architecture majors and students who are enrolled in architecture studio and workshop courses. A list of Fall 2021 software tutorials will be posted here and will also be announced by email.

Links the recordings of previous tutorials are available here:

Intro to Rhino, Part 1

Intro to Rhino, Part 2

Intro to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

Rhino: Modeling Amorphous and Organic Forms,

3D Model to 2D Lines: Plans + Section + Axon (Exploded) Drawings

Rhino Advanced Modeling Detail + Intro to Rendering

Intro to Designing a Portfolio

Photoshop Collages (Using Only Found Images)

Intermediate-Advanced Plan + Section + Axon (Exploded) Drawings

Intermediate Rhino: Modeling Amorphous and Organic Forms

Advanced Rhino Modeling Detail + V-Ray Rendering to PS

Intermediate Rhino to Illustrator pipeline + Photoshop + Documentation

Advanced Photoshop Collages I

Advanced Rhino Modeling + Visual Representation

Advanced Photoshop Collages II

Advanced Illustrator Drawing + Visual Representation

Additionally, here are some places that offer software tutorials that may be relevant to your coursework:

LinkedIn Learning
In addition to the B+C|A tutorials, all Columbia University students have access to the entire LinkedIn Learning library of instructional videos.

Barnard Instructional Media and Technology Services (IMATS) Tutorials + Workshops
Barnard IMATS also offers a variety of online tutorials.

Barnard Empirical Reasoning Center
The Empirical Reasoning Center offers a variety of online tutorials and workshops that may be useful for architecture students.

B+C|A DAL Assistants
Architecture students are encouraged to book 1-1 consultations with our DAL Assistants, Zak and Hyosil.

Sign up using the link below:

https://dalassistantdesignconsultations.youcanbook.me

The B+C|A laser cutter is operated by The Digital Architecture Lab (DAL) Assistants. Appointments are only open to students in the following courses:

Architectural Design: Systems & Materials
Advanced Architectural Design I
Advanced Architectural Research & Design

Students in the above courses may sign up for a laser cutting appointment using the link below. All other students should instead use the laser cutters at The Barnard Design Center or The Columbia Makerspace.

B+C|A laser cutting appointments: dalassistantlasercuttingappointments.youcanbook.me

Before your appointment:

1. Review the Laser Cutting Policies
2. Download the Laser Template file
3. Refer to the Instructions for Preparing Your Files and Watch the Tutorial Video. 
4. Upload your file to the B+C|A Laser Cutting File Submission Folder at least 30 minutes before your appointment. 

All students must watch the required tutorial video.

Maintain A Digital Archive of Your Work
Architecture students are strongly encouraged to regularly document their design work and maintain a digital archive.

Model Photography Stations in 404 Diana and 116 Lewisohn
Both of the architecture studios have designated areas for photographing architectural models. Drop cloths and lighting equipment are available at these stations but students are expected to provide their own cameras.

Borrow a Camera from Barnard Instructional Media & Technology Services (IMATS)
Barnard IMATS maintains an inventory of media equipment available for rental, including digital video cameras, digital still cameras, lighting equipment, audio recorders, headphones, miscellaneous cables, etc. To borrow equipment through IMATS, visit their website.

Scan Your Drawings at a Columbia University Library
Self service scanners are available across campus (see here for a list of locations).
 

Book a Consultation with a DAL Assistant  
If you have any questions about designing a portfolio, sign up for a design consultation with one of our DAL Assistants.

Meet with a B+C|A Faculty Advisor
Declared architecture majors are encouraged to meet with their major advisors for feedback on their portfolio drafts.

Watch or Attend a B+C|A Software Tutorial
Live portfolio design tutorials will be offered throughout the semester and recorded tutorials are available on our website.

Places to Print your Portfolio 
If you've already designed a portfolio and would like to print it, here is a spreadsheet with several options for your consideration. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and we do not screen or advocate for any of these printing services.

The Material Reuse Stations in 404 Diana and 116 Lewisohn
We strongly encourage you to actively use our Material Reuse Stations by sourcing your materials from and donating your leftover materials to the Material Reuse Stations in either studio space.

Rheaply AxM at Barnard
As part of Barnard College’s sustainability and climate action agenda, Rheaply AxM has been launched to assist in building a resource sharing network—Rheaply AxM is a free-to-use marketplace that identifies available resources for reuse across different departments on campus. For more information, see here.

Janoff's Office and Art Supplies
Located on Broadway between 111th and 112th Streets, Janoff's is the closet art supply store to campus. Hours and more information are available here.

Blick Art Materials
Blick Art Materials has several locations in downtown Manhattan and one on 125th St and Frederick Douglass Blvd, offering a large choice of art supplies, tools, and materials. Hours, locations, and more information available here.

Canal Plastics Center
Canal Plastics Center offers plastics and fabrication services and sells acrylics in hard to find colors and sizes. They also offer a student discount. More information is available here.
 

The Barnard Speaking Fellows 
Many of our courses will require you to verbally present your design work. The Speaking Fellows are specially trained Barnard students who work with students to help them improve their verbal presentation skills. Please visit their website to learn more.

The Barnard Empirical Reasoning Center
The Empirical Reasoning Center (102 LeFrak) helps students with all kinds of empirical reasoning. They offer a variety of services for students:

• One-on-one assistance during their lab hours with assignments, projects, and theses that require the use of data.

• Online tutorials on the use of certain software packages that are commonly used with data, such as Excel, Stata and SPSS.

• While the ERC primarily focuses on quantitative data and analysis, they can also offer some guidance on qualitatively focused projects.

• Assistance finding data for a class project or senior thesis.

• Assistance formulating a research question for a paper or project.

The Art + Architecture Librarian at the Barnard Library 
The Barnard Library welcomes and encourages students to take advantage of their research consultation services. To request a consultation with any of the librarians, fill out this form. To sign up for an office hours appointment with Meredith Wisner, the architecture librarian, please visit her profile page.

The Barnard Writing Center
Any Columbia University undergraduate student may use the Barnard Writing Center for Barnard courses. Barnard students may also use the Writing Center for Columbia courses, with their instructor's permission.

The Columbia Writing Center
Any undergraduate student enrolled in a Columbia University course may visit the Columbia Writing Center. Barnard College students who are working on projects for courses at Barnard should use the Barnard Writing Center instead.