Creative Spaces

Studios

Photo Credit: Danica Masiglat
Photo Credit: Jacqueline Love
Photo Credit: Nicolas Losi
Photo Credit: Kari Kleinmann
Photo Credit: Kari Kleinmann

The Spitzer School of Architecture houses thirty-one studios. Studio spaces boast natural light, double-height ceilings, and ample pin-up space. Each studio unit consists of twelve to fifteen students who share the large and expansive space. Each student is assigned a workstation including a wood-topped table, work chair, wireless network access, and a locked storage area.

Students have access to secure studios during building operating hours. Check building hours here.

Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Lab
The ABC Lab explores new methods of structural form-finding used to design efficient structures on small and large scales. We investigate natural resources to provide building solutions that result in low carbon emission and reduced environmental impact.
Robotics Lab
The Robotics Lab is the Spitzer School of Architecture’s gateway to the future—an immersive space where students and faculty design, prototype, and experiment with emerging technologies reshaping how we design, build, and maintain the built environment. A dynamic learning ecosystem, the lab demystifies robotics and automation, empowering users to work hands-on from day one: testing ideas, refining workflows, and developing the technical fluency demanded by today’s design, construction, and environmental professions. The lab also expands faculty research capacity, opening the door to more ambitious and experimental work, and to collaboration with industry partners to test ideas that can change how the industry builds. Hours: The Robotics Lab is available for tours when the robots are not in active use. For questions and inquiries, email: Elijah Williams Technical Director Robotics and Digital Fabrication Labs ewilliams1@ccny.cuny.edu Faculty Research Proposals: Please submit all inquiries here: Robotics Lab Faculty Inquiry Form About the Facilities: Thanks to a $6.1M investment from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, this newly opened lab is one of the most advanced in any architecture program in the United States. The Robotics Lab provides immersive training with professional-grade tools, enabling students to prototype faster, work more safely, and design with unprecedented accuracy and imagination. It includes: • Three connected workspaces • Dedicated training area • Four compact robots, two of which are fully collaborative • 16-foot-high research bay with two advanced robotic arms, including one on a track • Robotic attachments for extrusion, milling, gripping, and vision-based fabrication. • Supporting equipment for digital fabrication, scanning, computation, and documentation At Spitzer, robotics is viewed as a design tool, not just a conventional fabrication device. Robots are approached as broadly applicable general-purpose motion devices. The number, scope, and elaboration of functions, processes, and tasks each arm can carry out are nearly endless. One determinant of this flexibility, and a source of great potential, is the physical interface a robotic arm presents to the world — the tools or effectors that, when attached to the end of the arm, allow work to be carried out. The movable end of the arm — the “wrist” — is “open” and flexible and to which can be attached an unlimited number and variety of tools, objects, and small systems. Possibilities include all manner of drawing instruments, scribing tools, light sources, image capture devices, grippers, virtually any hand or power tool, extruders, grinders, and milling equipment. Harnessing robots’ precise programmed motion control, connection to robotic arms of cameras, video screens, and other visual production devices opens an entire realm of possibilities for architectural conceptualization, representation, documentation, expression, and even entertainment. The lab utilizes several software tools including HAL, Robots GH plug-in, and Mimic. These interface with familiar design applications such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and Maya, providing a bridge to Robot Studio, an industrial-grade comprehensive robot control and simulation suite. The lab also has available advanced 3-D printers and a host of tools to serve students and faculty working in the Spitzer Robotics Lab.
I-Bean Café
The iBean Café, the Spitzer School of Architecture’s in-house coffee shop, is located on the second floor.
Digital Fabrication
The Spitzer School of Architecture Digital Fabrication Lab has 10 Bambu Labs 3-D printers and four large-bed laser cutters, which are made available for use by CCNY SSA Students.
Architecture Library
Architecture Library Resource Updates
Fabrication Shop
Located in a large dedicated space on the concourse level of the Spitzer School, the model shop is fully equipped with a wide variety of hand and power.
Digital Media Labs and Printing
The school’s digital media resources are many and varied. Based primarily on ‘win-tel’ technology, two labs, open extended hours, are equipped with advanced workstations, large-format plotters and scanners, a variety of printers, and other equipment for open student and faculty use. One lab and another dedicated instructional space are also available for teaching, each with eighteen advanced workstations, digital projection, audio capability, and other a/v equipment. Available software includes AutoCAD, Revit, 3DS Max, Rhino, all Adobe products, Microsoft Office, and a variety of other applications. Plotters and public-access workstations are available in many studios along with building-wide wireless access and other facilities for portable (laptop) computing in all spaces. Supporting these resources are a group of servers with extensive storage capacity, along with other capabilities including advanced print serving, applications distribution, and license management. In addition to the labs and model shop facilities, many studios are equipped with plotters, workstations, and printers. Wireless access is available throughout the entire SSA building, along with wired access in numerous locations, including studios, classrooms, and offices.

Creative Spaces

Studios

Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Lab

Robotics Lab

I-Bean Café

Digital Fabrication

Architecture Library

Fabrication Shop

Digital Media Labs and Printing