The most important facility in the planning program is a large student area affectionately known as the "drafting room." No drafting actually takes place in this room; rather, it is filled with drafting tables that serve as student desks. Worktables and a lounge area encourage students to work together on team projects, class assignments, and field problems. This room is a true asset to the program and greatly enhances the educational, professional, and social environment for graduate students in urban and regional planning.
A University-operated computer cluster is an essential part of the planning program facilities. The facility was established to promote computer-based instruction in planning and other academic units. Students are expected to become proficient at using these computers (both PCs and Macs) and a variety of word processing, graphics, spreadsheet, and modeling software packages.
The planning program also maintains high-end PCs dedicated to computer-intensive GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and transportation modeling applications. These computers are networked to laser and color printers.
The planning program maintains a library designed to support the education and research missions of the program. The library houses a growing collection of reports, monographs, and journals in numerous areas of specialization, and it also serves as a reading room.
