School of Architecture and Design Studio Guidelines

Studio Culture & Introduction

The School of Architecture and Design provides each student with a dedicated, individual studio desk. This privilege necessitates these guidelines in order to ensure the continued collective benefit of this resource for current and future students. Studio culture is an essential component of learning to be a design professional, and it extends beyond the studio space to all learning environments, from classrooms to labs. A healthy studio culture requires mutual respect between students, faculty, staff and community members. Our school strives to foster a vibrant, inquisitive, safe and respectful studio environment. All students are expected to uphold high standards of behavior and academic discipline when working in studios, classrooms, and labs.

Getting Help

Public Safety provides 24-hour police, medical, and security services to the campus community. See Wentworth’s Emergency Response Guide on how to respond to different types of campus emergencies at WIT Public Safety. Please add the following numbers to your contacts:

• Emergency: 617-989-4444 or 911
• Public Safety business line and to request an escort: 617-989-4400

Studio Access

 Students are permitted in the studios only during the following hours:  

• Please note that Facilities and Public Safety are notified of all studio hours and that you must leave the studio at the times specified.
• All doors to designated studio spaces are key/card-access, and only School of Architecture and Design students are permitted to access these spaces.
• DO NOT prop open doors; all card access doors are alarmed, and Public Safety is automatically notified when they are left open.
• DO NOT allow strangers to enter the Annex Building or studio spaces after you.
• Report broken doors to the Public Safety business line at 617-989-4400, Keeran Hariprasad (hariprasadk@wit.edu) or to Nick Andres (andresn@wit.edu)

Studio Monitors

Students who received a financial aid award (Federal Work Study/WIT Works) can apply for a studio monitor position.  Placement is on a first-come, first-served basis for qualified students. Students will be selected to work as studio monitors at the beginning of each term.  

It is the responsibility of studio monitors to support the Studio Guidelines and the Studio Culture Policy.  In the event of a suspicious circumstance or a situation with which a monitor feels uncomfortable, and in all cases of emergency, the monitor should contact the Department of Public Safety immediately at 617-989-4444 or 911.

Studio Etiquette & Decorum

• DO NOT use or remove tools and/or materials from another student’s workspace without permission.
  Individual workspaces should not be marred or in any way defaced. Reasonable effort should be made to maintain tables and desktops in good condition.
• Never leave your laptop or other valuables unattended in studio. Personal belongings should be stored in lockable storage.
• All trash should be placed in either RECYCLING bins or TRASH containers at the end of each day.
• No materials should be permanently attached to walls, desks, ceilings, or other surfaces.
• All materials displayed in studio must be professional in nature and relevant to course work. Non-complying materials will be removed.
• Microwaves are provided in all studio spaces in the following locations:
  • Annex North second floor near the elevator
  • Annex South first floor near the service elevator
  • Annex East first floor in the reception area
• Paper and plastic goods are not provided by the SoAD (i.e. plates and utensils)
• No loud music is permitted in studio spaces. Please wear headphones when listening to music, podcasts, etc.
• Do not alter the layout of studio furniture.
• All workspaces are to be cleared and returned to their original condition at the end of the semester.
• In general, your actions should not impede the work of your peers.

Health & Safety

Health and safety are the responsibility of all, and every effort must be made to always protect and maintain the health and safety of all occupants.

• DO NOT work alone in the studios after hours.  Public Safety provides 24-hour police, medical, and security services to the campus community; consider using Public Safety’s escort service when leaving late at night. (617-989-4400).
• DO NOT prop doors open.
• DO NOT open windows in the building so that the HVAC system can function optimally. Please report any comfort issues to Keeran or Nick so they can be addressed by Facilities.
• DO NOT pour paint or casting materials of any kind into any sinks, drinking fountains, toilets, etc. Disposal of plaster, clay, cement, hazardous materials, or other materials is harmful to plumbing and/or the environment.
• Smoking, vaping, alcohol and controlled substances ARE NOT allowed in the studios, nor anywhere else on campus.
  Open flames of any sort ARE NOT allowed in the studio spaces.
• Personal furnishings (chairs, lights, extension cords, etc.) must meet applicable fire safety standards as well as be UL-listed to comply with fire code regulations. The Department of Public Safety may review these items and their locations for compliance.
• No material shall be hung from light fixtures, ductwork, sprinkler systems, or the ceiling.
• Power tools are not permitted in the studios, except for hand drills and small rotary tools.
• Aerosol paints and adhesives may only be used in the School’s spray booths in Annex North or East. Aerosols are otherwise prohibited in the building, as are all solvents and other combustible liquids.
• Pets are not permitted in studios unless they are service animals.
• The doors into crit rooms should not be covered, or the view into the room blocked. Visibility into these areas is important for safety.
• Dispose of sharp blades in the yellow sharps disposal containers

First Aid Kits

• The School of Architecture and Design provides basic first aid supplies in all studio spaces.
• In all cases of emergencies, contact Public Safety at 617-989-4444 (or call 911 in case of serious injuries);
• Please only take items/quantities required at the moment;
• Do not keep first aid items in your personal space, as some carry expiration dates;
• Inform Keeran Hariprasad (hariprasadk@wit.edu) or Nick Andres (andresn@wit.edu) if contents are short in supply.

Labs

The School of Architecture and Design Labs (SoAD Labs) at Wentworth is a student-centered technological hub dedicated to experimentation, realization, and communication of design ideas. The Labs are an extension of the design studio and are central to our students’ design process and experience at Wentworth. SoAD’s Labs are equipped with an expansive array of tools and technologies – ranging from traditional woodworking and precision metalworking to advanced digital fabrication, emerging XR technologies, and industrial robotics. Students leverage these technologies to produce outcomes ranging from representational models to full-scale working prototypes. This work is facilitated by a team of devoted technical staff who provide expert technical guidance throughout the process.

Learn more about the SoAD Labs and workshops. 

• Training is required for all labs and equipment within the SoAD regardless of prior experience.
• Tools should never leave the labs.

Facilities

Report a Problem

For studio facilities issues, please contact the following:

• During daytime hours, report non-working or unsecured doors to the Public Safety business line at 617-989-4400, Keeran Hariprasad (hariprasadk@wit.edu) or to Nick Andres (andresn@wit.edu)
• During evening/weekend hours, notify a Studio Monitor or contact Facilities directly at 617-989-4555.

Material Reuse Centers

• Each studio maintains a Materials Reuse Center. Please place all usable materials on the wire shelves in each location.

Sustainability

• Place paper, cardboard, and recyclable plastics and glass in marked blue bins. Please check whether materials are recyclable; foam-core, acrylic sheets, and other common model-making materials are not recyclable.

Technology & Printing

Large-format Plotting

The School of Architecture and Design has several high-speed and photo-quality plotters that are available in all studios. The Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons also has plotters available. For setup instructions, plotter locations, and troubleshooting, see the TechSpot knowledge base article on their website.

Scanning and Color Printing

The SoAD has multi-function printers in each studio area that are capable of scanning and color-printing up to 11x17 page size. More information can be found here.

Printer or Plotter Issues

For all issues with printing equipment (out of paper, ink, etc.) please contact TechSpot or go to the TechSpot help desk in Annex Central during business hours.

• DO NOT attempt to repair the printers or plotters
• DO NOT remove paper from printers or plotters for any reason
• Keep all plotter files under 6 ft in length to help prevent plotter jams  

End of Semester Studio Move-Out

At the end of each semester, the School of Architecture and Design will establish the deadline for studio move-out. Facilities staff will promptly remove and discard all materials left behind after the deadline. The School is not responsible for students’ personal belongings in the studio.