APLA is committed to providing advanced educational facilities and experiences for students in preparation for professional life. To provide the level of digital input technologies that professional education demands, students are required to purchase a laptop computer along with a suite of software that coordinates with both studio and classroom instruction upon entry to the second year of the Architecture program. Students entering the Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design-Build programs are required to have a laptop along with a suite of software that coordinates with both studio and classroom instruction upon entering the program.

 

Attached is a list of hardware and mainstream software that is required. It is not expected that the required software will be the only software that you will use during your course of study—students’ interests may dictate that they use and acquire tools and software outside of the mainstream.

 

The school is primarily a Windows environment, but most other Operating Systems, such as Linux and Mac OS X, are welcome and will be treated the same as Windows-based computers. Macintosh computers are compatible with CADC’s Windows environment with only a few minor incompatibility problems. With the new Intel Dual Core processors, students can set their Macintosh to boot both as a Mac as well as a PC—the added purchase of the Windows operating system is required to do so. Access to network resources like network shares will be available to all common operating systems. However, certain mainstream applications are only available for the Windows operating system.

 

APLA maintains two computer labs that serve as instructional spaces. The lab computers are also used for specialty software (simulation software, and rendering programs). Additionally, the school will loan specialty software via the use of a virtual machine (VMware) that will be loaded onto a student’s laptop for the duration of the course requiring its use.

 

Studios are equipped with one desktop computer with scanner, laser printer, and wireless network connectivity. Additional print stations are located throughout the building near studios. The Library of Architecture Design and Construction (LADC) houses a large format scanner and loans digital cameras. The shop is equipped with three laser cutters, one cnc router, and dedicated computers for running the equipment.

· Digital camera
While the school has digital cameras that can be loaned, a good digital camera will be of value for documenting your work, as well as for use during international studies. At a minimum, the camera should have macro capability, good optical zoom, and ability to capture video.

· Cable lock 
Laptops have a lock slot that allows them to be secured to objects such as a table or desk).

· Backup system and routine for your files
A large-format external media device (500 GB external hard drive, or larger) is important.

· Portable flash drive (4 GB)

· Extended warranty
Although not required, it is highly recommended to purchase along with the laptop

When selecting the hardware specifications for a laptop, consider that the minimum hardware specs (outlined below) should get an APLA student two to three years of reliable service. We have found that students either get the minimum specs and plan to replace it after three years (at which point a new computer at the same price range is certain to have a significantly more robust specs) or they opt for a top end specs that can serve for the duration of their study.

 

 

Minimum hardware specs for a PC with which you should be able to get two to three years of reliable service might include the following:

· Intel or AMD dual core processor
with a clock speed of 2.0 GHz or higher

· 6GB of RAM

· 512MB video card
More is better. Graphics acceleration is important in many of the modeling/rendering/image manipulation software that our profession demands.

· 15 in. monitor

· 250GB Hard Drive
Get one as large as you can afford.

· Wireless card
All of the University HotSpots incorporate the “N” Standard, including Dudley Hall.

· DVD Burner

 

 

Minimum hardware specs for an Apple with which you should be able to get two to three years of reliable service might include the following:

· MacBook Pro Intel Dual Core Processor 
with a clock speed of 2.0GHz

· 4GB of RAM

· 512MB video card
More is better. Graphics acceleration is important in many of the modeling/rendering/image manipulation software that our profession demands.

· 15 in. monitor

· 250GB hard drive
Get one as large as you can afford.

· Airport for Wireless Connectivity

· DVD Burner

As with hardware, the School will encourage software paradigms that reflect those used in practice. It is expected that you have software for each of the categories below installed on your laptop. Program Specific Course Syllabi will detail software requirements for the course.

 

The software indicated in bold text is an industry standard and represents software you are likely to use in practice, italicized software is comparable to the industry standard. Some is freeware (with limited support) and is included for reference.

Additionally, it is recommended that you install antivirus software on your laptop—the university provides all Auburn students free antivirus software.

 

 

· Office Suite

• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  
• iWork (pages, numbers, keynote)
  
• Open Office
  

· Conceptual Modeling

• Google SketchUp pro
  
• Rhino
  
• 3D Studio Max
  
• Blender
  

· Modeling and Documentation

• Autodesk AutoCAD
  
• Microstation
  
• VectorWorks
  

· Building Information Modeling

• Autodesk Revit
  
• Archicad
  
• Bentley Architecture V8i
  

· Analysis

• Autodesk Ecotect
  
• Autodesk Vasari
  
• IES
  

· Raster Image Manipulation

• Adobe Photoshop CS5
  
• Fireworks
  
• GiMP
  

· Electronic Publishing/Graphics

• Adobe Illustrator CS5
  
• Adobe InDesign CS5
  
• Adobe Acrobat Professional
  
• Freehand
  

As with hardware, the School will encourage software paradigms that reflect those used in practice. It is expected that you have software for each of the categories below installed on your Laptop. Program Specific Course Syllabi will detail software requirements for the course.

 

The software indicated in bold text is an industry standard and represents software you are likely to use in practice, italicized software is comparable to the industry standard. Some is freeware (with limited support) and is included for reference.

Additionally, it is recommended that you install antivirus software on your laptop—the university provides all Auburn students free antivirus software.

 

 

· Office Suite

• Microsoft Office (word, excel, power point)
  
• iWork(pages, numbers, keynote)
  
• Open Office

· Conceptual Modeling

• Google SketchUp pro
  
• Rhino
  
• Maya
  
• Blender

· Geographic Information and Mapping

• ArcGIS (free to students)

· Modeling and Documentation

• Autodesk AutoCAD
  
• Microstation
  
• VectorWorks
  

· Raster Image Manipulation

• Adobe Photoshop CS5
  
• Fireworks
  
• GiMP
  

· Electronic Publishing/Graphics

• Adobe Illustrator CS5
  
• Adobe InDesign CS5
  
• Adobe Acrobat Professional
  
• Freehand
  

· Video Editing

• Adobe Premier
  
• Final Cut
  
• Imovie
  
• Corell Video Studio
  

PLANNING Software Requirements:

As with Hardware, the School will encourage Software Paradigms that reflect those used in practice. It is expected that you have software for each of the categories below installed on your Laptop. Program Specific Course Syllabi will detail software requirements for the course.    

The software indicated in bold text is an industry standard and represents software you are likely to use in practice, italicized software is comparable to the industry standard some is freeware (with limited support) and is included for reference.

 Additionally, it is recommended that you install antivirus software on your laptop – the university provides all AU students free antivirus software. 

Using the AU Bookstore or an online vendor students can get top-shelf software from each category for around $400. ArcGIS is available for free at Auburn University libraries, Adobe Design Standard Suite $199, and SketchUp pro $50 (yearly renewal).

 · Geographic Information and Mapping

 · Analysis

• Excel
  
• SAS
  
• SPSS 

· Raster Image Manipulation

• Adobe Photoshop CS5
  
• Fireworks
  
• Inkpad
  
• GiMP 

· Electronic Publishing/Graphics

• Adobe Acrobat Professional
  
• Adobe Illustrator CS5
  
• Adobe InDesign CS5
  
• Freehand​