Dive into our culture of making with industry-aligned labs and facilities. At the UWM School of Architecture & Urban Planning, we provide the spaces and guidance you need to integrate traditional and evolving technologies in the process, production, and documentation of your design projects.
Our building is open 24/7 so you can work on projects when it is convenient for your schedule. And whenever you’re registered for a design studio course, you will be assigned a personal desk space for drawing, model-making and studying that is all yours for the semester.
Fabrication Lab
The Fabrication Lab, formerly called the Rapid Prototyping (RP) Lab, supports research and teaching activities in digital fabrication and physical making across a wide range of materials and processes, enabling you to explore complex forms, precise detailing and innovative techniques.
3D printing, laser cutting, plotting, large format scanning, photography printing, sublimation printing and vinyl cutting are all available in the Fabrication Lab. Training and support are available.
Laser Cutting, 3D Printing and Plotting Requests
Hours
Mon | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Tue | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Wed | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thu | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Fri | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Closed on university holidays
Construction Lab
Students and faculty with all skill levels can access the professionally equipped 4,000-square-foot Construction Lab, including several CNC machines. Our lab provides ample production space, access to power tools and an extensive array of hand tools. Required individual instruction in tool use and safety is provided by staff and assistant technicians.
Hours
Mon-Thu | 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Fri | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Closed on university holidays
Extended Reality (XR) Lab
Through extended reality immersion, you can achieve impressive visual and auditory perception experiences for use in architecture and design projects. Explore this fascinating technology in our XR Lab. We also offer workshops and courses in XR, including a seminar every semester, for you to learn and expand your skills.
Hours
By appointment
School Store
Conveniently located within the Fabrication Lab, our school store is a reliable resource for both everyday items and specialized materials, including drafting tools, model-making materials and studio basics. We source product requests directly from students and faculty, which means our stock is tailored specifically to the unique needs of our school. Plus, we keep our prices lower than retail stores, saving you both time and money throughout the semester.
Hours
Mon | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Tue | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Wed | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thu | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Fri | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Closed on university holidays
Photo Lab
Students, faculty and staff can access the Photo Lab to document their models and graphic work. Our Photo Lab is a fully equipped professional photography studio large enough to handle projects of almost any size. It is also open to students who want to use their own equipment.
Hours
Mon-Sun | Open 24 Hours
Closed on university holidays
Remote Labs
We also offer remote access to labs so you can turn your own device into a high-powered machine whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.
The general remote labs are available to all students, giving you access to all the software that you’ll need to complete your architecture assignments. That includes Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, ArcGIS Pro and more.
The rendering remote labs allow you to offload your rendering jobs to high-end rendering software, including Lumion, Enscape, Twinmotion, Blender and more.
Hours
Available 24 Hours
Additional Facilities
Let us show you around.
Visit the School of Architecture & Urban Planning to gain a deeper understanding of the student experience while touring our studios and labs. Our tour guides are current students who are trained to give you a comprehensive experience. We’re excited to meet you!