Master in Design Studies (MDesS)
Technology
Area Coordinator: Kostas Terzidis, Associate Professor of Architecture
This study area positions technology as fundamental to design inquiry. Studies offered in this broad area include those directed towards design computation as well as those more directly relating to an understanding of the specific properties and characteristics of the new materials and innovative systems that make up the future fabrics of next-generation buildings and landscapes. Of particular interest in this area are the study of design, simulation, manufacturing and digital fabrication technologies and their related implementation procedures, processes and tools. Courses open to MDesS students occur within the broad context of technology initiatives offered at the GSD as a whole. An exceptionally well equipped digital fabrication lab with a state-of the art robotic facility is available to students. The emphasis in the program is on how innovation results when developments in computation, materials, as well as fabrication intersect and interact with one another. The interdisciplinary challenge of designing responsive environments is currently of particular interest at the GSD.
Design Computation covers programming, algorithm design and scripting techniques, kinetic design, database design, parametric modeling and dimensionally-driven modeling, interactive environments and other computational approaches to design.
Advanced Materials and Systems courses study smart materials and environments, high performance materials and advanced structural materials and systems.
Digital Design and Manufacturing—a historic strength of the GSD—leverages technology transfer in the investigation of digital design of architectural components and products. The GSD offers students exceptionally well-equipped workshop space for this area of study. A recent interest in this concentration area are construction automation and robotic fabrication. Of increasing relevance in this topical area is the relation of digital fabrication to Building Information Modeling.
Required Courses:
GSD 2404: Superficial Spaces / Formalism Now OR GSD 2310 Sculpting in Motion
GSD 6212 Sustainability for Planning and Design
6317 CAD/CAM
6331 Building Information Models
9304 Independent Thesis
Typical electives are listed under the specific areas of technology.
Related Faculty
Martin Bechthold, Professor of Architectural Technology
Paul Cote, Lecturer in Landscape Architecture
Ken Kao, Lecturer in Architecture
Stephen Ervin, Lecturer in Landscape Architecture
Mark Mulligan, Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture
Allen Sayegh, Lecturer in Architecture
Daniel L. Schodek, Kumagai Research Professor of Architectural Technology, Emeritus
Michael Schroeder, Lecturer in Architecture
Thomas Schroepfer, Assistant Professor of Architecture
Matthias Schuler, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Technology
Kostas Terzidis, Associate Professor of Architecture
Student Profiles
Alumnus: Alex Hirsig
Alumnus: August de los Reyes