CAP SimLab Established

In Autumn of 2003 CAP Associate Dean Michel Mounayar, Chair of the CAP IT Strategic Planning Committee assisted by Joseph Blalock from the department of Landscape Architecture and Stacy Norman department of Architecture prepared a proposal to establish a simulation laboratory at the college of Architecture and Planning.  This new lab is to focus on funded contracts in collaboration with Indiana practitioners and public, or not- for- profit corporations.  The lab will develop opportunities for CAP faculty and students to work in collaboration with practitioners on real-life architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning or historic preservation projects.  The lab will provide its clients a digital proving-grounds to consider thermal, solar, environmental, acoustical, or structural simulations of proposed construction projects.  Typical funded contracts will team CAP faculty and students with lead designers or planners in Indiana firms.  Using limited contracts faculty and student teams will provide design recommendations in support of new construction projects.  The SimLab proposal was reviewed and approved at the university level by Dr. O'neal Smitherman V.P. and Phil Repp Associate V.P. for Information technology. The proposal was funded and the first CAP SimLab was established. 

The space chosen converted an old darkroom facility, which naturally divided the space into two sections.  Tom Frisbie-Fulton, of Facilities Planning and Management, was the lead designer, and was assisted by Project Design Technician Jeff Lodde and Assoc. Dean Mounayar.  The GeoWall, a 3D projection environment, located in the rear room, was designed by Professor Blalock and MLA Grad Student William Smith.   Demolition of the SimLab space took place during the Fall semester of 2004, with construction beginning the following Spring.  In December of 2004, Christopher Helms was hired on as the Information Technology Specialist of CAP, whose duties include the management and technical support of the SimLab facilities.  By the end of the Spring semester 2005, construction was completed on the facilities, and by the end of the Summer, all of the technology was in place for the opening of the brand new 3D Simulation Lab facilities. 

During its inaugural semester, Fall 2005, the facility was incorporated into the classes of Architecture professors Kevin Klinger, Josh Vermillion, Branco Koleravic, Jason Johnson, and Landscape Architecture professor Joe Blalock.