Modern Facilities
Our courses focus on studio-based learning - that's where your ideas come to life. This is why we have well-equipped, dedicated studios with everything you'll need to support your work. We also provide great workshops and the latest equipment to support and enhance your learning experience. We have recently expanded and upgraded our 3D workshops, enabling you to work alongside and be inspired by students from other creative disciplines.
Our specialist support and technical staff will help you get the most from our facilities. In the first year, for example, there are introductory sessions, giving you the skills you need to use all our workshops.
3D Materials Workshop
Our large, open-access 3D materials workshop has been the focus of significant investment over the past year, and now features state-of-the art equipment and an interdisciplinary construction area. The workshop enables you to work with a broad range of materials including wood, metal, stone, plastic, plaster, bio-resins, wax and ceramics. You will explore traditional methods of making, such as woodwork and metalwork, before progressing onto using the latest computer-aided 2D and 3D modeling equipment and programmes.
Workshop facilities include:
- woodwork and metalwork machinery;
- welding bay;
- veneering, laminating and mould-making equipment;
- stone cutting machinery;
- bronze and wax casting equipment;
- ceramic kilns and ovens;
- CNC lathe (computer-aided hard materials cutting machine);
- two 3-axis CNC routers (computer-aided wood cutting machine);
- two 4-axis CNC routers;
- rapid prototyper (computer-aided sculpting machine);
- 3D scanner;
- laser cutter.
Filming Environment & Animation Suite
Our filming environment and animation suite house the latest technology, including:
- 100m sq filming space with 14m infinity cove and 8m professional film blue screen;
- three Panasonic HVX200 Hi Definition cameras;
- Kino Flow lighting system controlled by a 64-channel DMX desk;
- Stanton Jimi Jib with a remote head and 4m reach;
- post-production suite containing 10 Macintosh computers with 20 terrabytes of storage hosting the latest editing software;
- animation suite containing four rostrum cameras running professional stop motion capture systems as used by Aardman Animation (the Oscar-winning makers of Wallace and Gromit), Diva light setup by Kino Flow, light boxes and additional animator-friendly equipment;
- sound recording suite, perfect for interviews, voice over and recording music.
Digital Media Workshops
We have two newly specified open-access digital media workshop which are home to 132 iMac workstations, providing facilities for 2D and 3D design, audio and video production, and small and large format printing. Each workstation runs Windows XP and Macintosh OS X, offering the latest design software including Adobe CS3 Design Premium and Apple Final Cut Studio 2.
Photography Suite
Our professional-level photography suite has two new digital darkrooms featuring:
- high-end workstations with calibrated monitors;
- quality input and output devices within a colour managed workflow ensuring colour accuracy;
- hardware including Mac Pro computers, Nec Spectraview Monitors, Imacon and Nikon Film Scanners, A3 Epson Pro Flatbed Scanners, Digital Card Readers and Epson large format printers.
Printmaking
Students working in the Print Making Room.
Architectural Science & Technology Laboratory ('ArchiLab')
ArchiLab is a brand new state-of-the-art teaching, research and consultancy facility designed for carrying out specialised science and technology activities relating to sustainable building design, simulation and implementation. ArchiLab features sophisticated equipment for lighting and acoustic design, as well as equipment for testing insulation levels, airflow, air and surface temperatures and humidity. It also has equipment for model photography and computing facilities for architectural science applications. The specialist nature of these facilities means local architects regularly use them. >LINK TO ARCHILAB SITE
Library
Our dedicated art, design and architecture library holds specialist book and journal collections, as well as a collection of over 200,000 slides and visual references dating back to the 1600s.
Galleries & Museum
We have a foyer gallery, which has a constantly changing exhibition of student work and a professionally run gallery - the Stanley Picker Gallery - which organises an acclaimed programme of international exhibitions and events. For more details see:
www.stanleypickergallery.org
We also have a collection of sculpture, painting and decorative art at Dorich House, a museum run by the University. For more information visit: www.kingston.ac.uk/dorich
Surveying & Planning Facilities
Surveying and Planning students are based at Penrhyn Road campus where they have access to a new, purpose-built learning environment- the Centre for Sustainable Communities Achieved through Integrated Professional Education (C-SCAIPE).
C_SCAPE offers:
- An open learning space with dedicated workstations, WiFi access and internet bar;
- A centre for exchange of ideas in sustainability and the built environment, with an ever-expanding and constantly updated reference library of guides, journals, reports and books;
- Debating chambers, which work as an informal space for lectures, tutorials and workshops;
- Staff who are on hand to provide assistance and informal tutorials on sustainability issues that increasingly form part of the projects, coursework, exams and, ultimately, students' lives.
Useful Links