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Introduction to Architecture Online: Hardware Specifications and Software Installation Instructions

Cooper Union E-Mail

Students in the program will receive a temporary Cooper Union email address after you register for the Summer Program. Please use this email to communicate with your instructor and TAs for the duration of the program. It is also recommended that you use Cooper email when purchasing or downloading free software.

Hardware Specifications

Most software used in the School of Architecture Summer Program can run on either Mac or Windows Operating Systems. However, Rhino 8 for Windows has far wider plugin support than Rhino 8 for Mac and is therefore the preferred operating system of most faculty and students. Windows 10 can be run on Apple laptops with the right specifications.

Apple Laptop Specifications
  Minimum Specifications Recommended Specifications
Operating System Mac OS 10.15.7 (Catalina) Mac OS 12.x (Monterey), or 13.x (Ventura)
Processor Intel Core i5 Apple M1 or M2
Memory 8 GB of RAM 16GB RAM or higher
GPU 2GB of GPU VRAM Apple M1 or M2 7-core GPU or higher
Storage 256GB SSD  512GB SSD or higher

Monitor Resolution

 

 1280 x 800 Apple Retina or Liquid Retina Display
Windows Laptop Specifications
  Minimum Specifications Recommended Specifications
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) version 1803 or later
Processor Intel Core i5 CPU or AMD Ryzen 5 3000 series Intel Core i7 (or greater) CPU or AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 4000 series
Memory 8 GB of RAM 16 or 32+ GB RAM
GPU 2GB of GPU VRAM 4+ GB of GPU VRAM
Storage 256 GB SSD 512+ GB SSD

Monitor Resolution

 

 1366 x 768 1920 x 1080 or greater

Required Accessories

  • Webcam or on-board camera
  • Headphones/Mic
  • Multi-button Mouse with scroll wheel

Software Offerings and Requisites

  • MS Office 365 (A1 License): provided with a Cooper Union Email address and MS Teams; students are recommended to download and set up this account first at start of the course). [Download Here]
  • Adobe Creative Cloud License: The Cooper Union will provide full access to Adobe Creative Cloud applications for the duration of the School of Architecture Summer Programs. You will be sent login, download, and installation instructions shortly before the start of the program.  Access will expire immediately following Final Reviews.
  • Rhino: 90 Day Trial; see installation instructions below. For Windows users [download here]. For Mac users [download here]. You will not be licensing the software through Cooper's Zoo server, instead you will be installing the Rhino 8 Evaluation, a 90-day trial license. 
  • Zoom: Free student license. [Download Here]
  • Cura: Free software for 3-D printing. [Download Here]

Basic Software Tutorials

Students are advised to become familiar with the following platforms to prepare for class instruction and interaction:

How to Install the Software

TEAMS

  1. Browse to https://portal.office.com and sign in with your Cooper Email and O365 password.
  2. In O365 menu, click Microsoft Teams. 
  3. A screen will prompt you to download the Teams app. Click on the "Download App" option.  
  4. Once downloaded, click on the installer file and follow installation instructions. 

ZOOM

  1. Browse to https://zoom.us.
  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Download" in the web page's footer. 
  3. On the Download Center page, click "Download" under the "Zoom Client for Meetings" section. 
  4. The Zoom app will then begin downloading. 
  5. Once downloaded, click on the installer file and follow installation instructions. 

RHINO

  1. Follow the appropriate download link depending on whether you are using a Mac [download Rhino 8 Evaluation for Mac] or a PC [download Rhino 8 Evaluation for Windows].
    • For clarification: You will not be licensing the software through Cooper Union's Zoo server. Please follow the links to download the evaluation version of Rhino 8. 
  2. Enter your Cooper Union email address and press "next".
  3. After you enter your email, you will a window informing you that your download and license has been sent. 
  4. Check your email for a download link and license key. Check your Spam and Junk folders if you do not see the email from McNeel for Rhino. 
  5. Press "download".
    • On a Mac: find the DMG installer in your browser's "Downloads" folder and double-click the installer icon. This will require your local Administrator password. 
    • On a PC: find the installer in the "Downloads" folder and run it.
  6. Open Rhino and, once open, it will prompt an update, if needed.

ADOBE Creative Cloud

Subscription Information: The Cooper Union will provide full access to Adobe Creative Cloud applications for the duration of the School of Architecture Summer Programs. You will be sent login, download, and installation instructions shortly before the start of the program.  Access will expire immediately following Final Reviews.

Installation Instructions: 

  1. Students will be sent an email from Adobe to activate your account and create password. 
  2. Sign in to creativecloud.adobe.com/apps with the Adobe ID provided to you by The Cooper Union IT Department.
  3. Download the Adobe Apps needed (Photoshop and Illustrator). 

*Summer Program students' Adobe subscriptions will be cancelled by The Cooper Union at the end of the program.

Optional 3-D Printer and Filament

For students who are interested in purchasing a relatively affordable 3-D printer for physical model fabrication, this is an option. The aforementioned 3-D printer utilizes PLA filament which can be purchased here. White or black filament colors are recommended.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.