Freshmen architecture students gain extensive shop experience

From the design of jigs to the use of routers and everything in-between, these students are getting it all.

Freshmen architecture students are using the workshop at full capacity.

by Matt Hume

Matt Hume is clinical associate professor of architecture; he directs freshman studio with architecture faculty member Karen Tashjian

Published April 18, 2018 This content is archived.

At the beginning of the year these young architecture students approached the workshop timidly, with little to no experience in working with their hands. Now they move through the shop with confidence and demonstrate a strong understanding of the tools and how to use them precisely and safely.

One of the primary goals of the design-build studio is to get the students working with their hands and understand materiality, craft and detail. We are happy to see that the students are now demonstrating this with confidence. Every day we come to the studio and the energy pulses with the beat of music playing and students engaging with each other on the design and construction of their creative work. At this moment in time we are roughly half way through the construction of these projects. Next week they will delivered and installed at ArtPark in Lewiston, NY. For now, we simply enjoy watching these students engage the work with a level of passion that exceeds most design studios.

During the last class I asked the students why they seem so happy and energetic. They simply responded "Because we are building at full scale!"