The School of Architecture is located in Atkinson Hall, bordering the beautiful quadrangle at the heart of LSU’s campus. The School shares facilities in the Design Building and the Art Building. The College of Art + Design includes a compound of four buildings, centered around a courtyard and outdoor sculpture area. An environment that emphasizes active learning and inquiry, the school’s facilities include studio space and workstations for students. You have access to the building and studios after hours.
Studio and Building Access Policy
Because of the amount of work required in architecture and the space needed to complete your studio work, it will be necessary for you to gain access to Atkinson Hall after hours and on weekends when the building is locked. Architecture students can go to 136 Atkinson to get a key to the building that they may keep while they are enrolled in the School of Architecture. A student ID and a small deposit are required. Please note exterior doors to Atkinson Hall are to remain tightly closed at all times. This procedure will help maintain a secure and safe environment for all. Do NOT prop doors open! Occasionally you may also need to make a delivery or pick up a large model in the lot adjacent to Atkinson Hall. The lot is generally closed between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. but a gate card is available from the architecture office in room 136 Atkinson Hall.
Studio and Building Rules
Atkinson Hall is a special place at the University. Most of Atkinson is composed of studio spaces where students may work according to their own schedules. The studio is a different educational environment from the normal University lecture or seminar room. The studio has different educational objectives and employs different learning strategies from those commonly found at the University. It is an environment that emphasizes active learning and inquiry into contemporary societal issues. This section outlines the policies regarding the use and maintenance of the studios in Atkinson Hall. The spirit behind this document seeks to assure the health and safety of all occupants, to build respect for all people in Atkinson Hall, to state priorities the University believes to be important, and to ensure that the educational process remains vital and foremost in the minds of us all.
- University policy prohibits smoking in all studios and classrooms.
- Studio security is the responsibility of the students. The last person to leave the studio should close windows, turn off lights, and leave the key to the studio door under the hasp after locking the door.
- The School of Architecture is not responsible for any personal items or student projects left in the studios. After FINAL project presentations of the semester, all personal belongings should be removed from the studios. Any items remaining after the posted deadline date will be discarded.
- University regulations prohibit bringing bicycles, pets, or alcoholic beverages into the building.
- The use of stereos, radios, or individual sound systems is permitted only with the use of head phones.
- Atkinson Hall is locked at night, on weekends, and holidays. Doors should not be propped open or tampered with to prevent locking after regular building hours. Keys to the building may be obtained from the administrative office. Keys may be renewed at the end of each semester or returned to the office.
- Please report lighting, heating/cooling, door lock/key problems to the office (136 Atkinson Hall). Also report any damage to the building (broken windows, etc.).
- Please keep windows closed. The heating and cooling system is scheduled to be in operation on weekdays and most weekends. If there is a problem with the system after office hours or over the weekend, you should report the problem by dialing 388-3186.
- No power tools or large scale construction projects are permitted in studio. These activities must be scheduled in the shop.
- Studio critics have the authority to establish guidelines for the use of their assigned studio spaces and the conduct of their classes.
Housekeeping
In order to maintain a safe and effective work space the design studios should be kept clean and uncluttered. All persons are responsible for keeping workplaces clean. Custodians are specifically required to undertake certain activities to ensure that the building is clean. Since the custodians are evaluated on how well they do this cleaning work, it is your responsibility to make sure that they can do their work effectively and efficiently.
The faculty have approved the following policies regarding studio housekeeping
- Each studio is to be kept clean and uncluttered by the students who work in it. Large trash cans are provided for the disposal of trash. These cans must be located at places in the studios that can easily be accessed by the custodian. The trash cans will be emptied on a regular basis. The custodian will periodically dust mop the floor of each studio, but this will only take place if the floor is not cluttered with trash.
- Room 102 is to be used for meetings, seminars, and conferences. It is considered to be a classroom, and University policies regarding classroom use are to be followed (i.e. no food or drink permitted). This room may be reserved in advance by checking with the staff in the School of Architecture administrative office (136 Atkinson Hall).
- X-acto blades and razor blades are to be disposed of properly. Under no circumstances are blades to be stuck into tack surfaces.
- No spray paint or spray adhesive is permitted in Atkinson Hall or outside the building.
- No sofas or overstuffed chairs are permitted in any studio.
Safety
The educational mission in Atkinson Hall cannot be carried out in unsafe conditions. State, parish and city laws do not permit such conditions, and neither does common sense. It is, therefore, the responsibility of everyone to ensure that such conditions do not develop, or if they do, that immediate corrective action is initiated.
The following policies should be observed in order to maintain a safe environment
- Highly flammable materials should be avoided as much as possible and should never go unattended. Flammable objects or materials should not be configured in the studio in any way that increases their flammability. Flammable materials should be cleaned up immediately after use and appropriately cared for.
- Quick egress from the studio must always be possible. Nothing should obstruct egress which, in an accident, could well mean the difference between life and death in any building. There should be at least one wide circulation aisle in every studio that is easily accessible to everyone.
- Appliances should be kept to a minimum and always in good electrical condition. When possible, there should not be redundant appliances. Rather, the studio should work together as a team and combine energies into as few appliances as possible.
- Any structures erected inside Atkinson Hall should meet fire and building code requirements including flammability and structural integrity, and they should be removed during the last week of the semester.
Damage
All students, faculty, administrators, and staff must prevent damage to state and personal property. Damage prevention is usually possible when common sense is used.
Here are but a few examples
- Objects should not be taped, tacked, or nailed to plastered surfaces.
- Nothing should be burned in Atkinson Hall.
- Protective surfaces should be utilized when the desk tops are used as cutting boards.
- Spray painting is prohibited in Atkinson Hall.
- All graffiti are strictly prohibited. Defacing Atkinson Hall or its furnishings will be considered vandalism and will be handled according to appropriate University rules and regulations.
NOTE: The School of Architecture and LSU will hold students responsible for damage to studios and furnishings. This includes, but is not limited to, repainting, replacing furnishings, disposal of excessive amounts of materials (i.e. lumber, metal). Consequences may include financial restitution and dismissal from the program or the University.
