Facilities and Services

Studio space.

The studio and workshop for the architecture program are housed in the same building, about five minutes from the administrative office and the student dormitory. In total, there are four spacious and well-lit studio rooms. These studios have drafting tables, model-making tools, and storage space, providing an ideal environment for studio-based learning. For architecture students, there are four studios for each batch of students, with sizes ranging from 98 m² to 147 m². The studio size for 2^nd and 3rd-year students is 98 m², and for 4^th and 5th-year students, the studio size is 147 m². The studio-based learning is student-centered, and physical space is used to enhance learning and achieve instructional objectives. In the studio, instructors give students a challenge or problem, and they work individually or in teams to solve it. In addition to that, the space provided in the workshop building for the architecture program also houses additional spaces like a gallery, staff offices, jury, and exhibition areas.

Figure: Studio and Workshop facility layout

Classroom and Workshop Resources

Alongside our studios, our architecture program has three supplementary classrooms. Each classroom features LCDs and projectors, enabling instructors to share information and engage in interactive student discussions. Armchairs furnish the entire room, providing a comfortable learning environment. The classrooms have a generous area of 97 square meters each. While these additional classrooms are not a permanent fixture, they are assigned and reorganized annually by the Institute’s registrar’s office, reflecting the total number of students enrolled in the current academic year. The location of these classrooms may change yearly, but the architecture program consistently receives its classrooms in either the Rama or the Varnero building.

The architecture program must also furnish three workshop spaces for woodwork, metalwork, and masonry practice. Their sizes are 254 m² each. Currently, the students undertake workshop classes at the nearby Jimma Polytechnic College. The labs and workshops used by the architecture program at Jimma Polytechnic College are equipped with various tools and equipment, including concrete mixers, shovels, measuring facilities, harmers, and woodworking machines, to support hands-on learning and experimentation.

Other facilities, such as conference and seminar rooms, are available in the Institute and can be used by the architecture program for lectures, galleries, and exhibitions.

Figure: Typical building layouts of the Varnero and Rama buildings

 

Computer Labs and Computer Resources

The architecture program has one (1) computer lab size of 97 m² and has forty (40) computers. This lab is used for practicing and demonstrating architectural software and design skills. Students have full access to the computer lab at any working hour and can access it on weekends and holidays as necessary. However, students are also encouraged to use their laptops wherever convenient. The architectural software enables students to develop their skills in designing architectural work using different software. This lab is also available for individual student research and can be used as a general-purpose teaching computer lab classroom. The computers are Dell Core i3, and the plan is to increase the capacity of these computers. The institute library also provides access to one hundred (100) computers accessible to architecture program students for individual student research and access to the internet and digital resources.

Figure : Computer laboratory Layout (Varnero Building)

 

Computer Hardware, Software, and Network Resources

The computer lab has software such as SketchUp, AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, ArchiCAD, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. In the future, the plan is to purchase additional software such as 3D Max, Blender, Adobe InDesign, Adobe After Effects, Lumion, V-Ray, Twin Motion, and Rhino. The summary of the architecture program’s computer resources is listed below.

Table: Computer resource

No.	Location	Number	Model/Configuration
1.	Admin office	2	Dell corei7 and Hp corei7
2.	Instructors’ office	2	Dell corei3 and Hp corei3
3.	Computer lab	40	Dell corei3
4.	Output Plotters	2	HP DesignJet T795/T520 printer
	Output printers	1	HP color LaserJet enterprise M750
5.	Lab Assistant Office	1	Dell corei3
6.	Library	100	Hp corei7
Total Computer		147

Faculty Space

The program coordinator’s office is in the administration building, a five-minute walk from the studio, as indicated in the figure below.

Figure: Administration Building Architecture program coordinator office layout

Four offices for the architecture program instructors and laboratory assistants are located within the same building that houses the studio. This facilitates easy communication between students and faculty. There is one other office for the architecture program in the Varnero building at the Institute. Each faculty member has a private or shared office with the necessary resources for course preparation, research, and student advising.

Table: Description of the office space for the Architecture program

No.	Office Type	Purpose of office	Location	No of office	No of user	Total area (m2)
1	Program coordinator office	Sit for the program coordinator	Admin building	1	1	17
2	Instructors’ office	Work and preparation space of instructors	Varnero building	1	3	27
3	Instructors’ office	Work and preparation space of instructors	Workshop building	1	2	12.6
4	Instructors’ office	Work and preparation space of instructors	Workshop building	1	4	28
5	Instructors’ office	Work and preparation space of instructors	Workshop building	1	4	24
6	Lab Assistant Office	Work and preparation space of instructors	Workshop building	1	3	12.6

Library

JiT has a single central library that services the entire campus. More than 100 architectural texts are available to students in hardcopy there. Students also have e-library access 24 hours with than 185 books in softcopy. The architecture program will establish its own independent digital library shortly. With 24-hour access for students, the digital library will include collections of books, documentaries, magazines, journals, photos, and student work.