Facilities
- Exhibition Spaces
- Classrooms and Studios
- Fabrication Spaces
- Media Labs & Production Suites
- Photography Labs
- Computer Labs
- Screening and Presentation Rooms
- Offices and Student Studios
SME 102 is a flexible and hybrid 1800sqft space that functions as a classroom, collaborative workspace, and production lab for Visual Arts students. Located in the Structural Materials and Engineering (SME) Building, this studio supports a variety of practices including book arts, ICAM projects, printmaking, textiles, and other interdisciplinary work.
Location
Structural Materials and Engineering 102
Access and Safety
Students must complete a shop orientation both online at the facilities instructional support canvas page, and at the shop with a supervised staff member leading the tutorial. Students that request 24 access to the space must fill out a Safety Form from the engineering department. Students enrolled in a class using this facility are provided with a quarterly class code to access this space outside of scheduled class time.
Facilities and Equipment
The room houses a range of specialized equipment. Students can create professional-quality books using the stack cutter and perfect binder. A risograph printer supports layered print production, while a vinyl plotter enables students to produce gallery text, stencils, and experimental designs. Additional resources include sewing machines for textile work, pull-down outlets for make shift electronic and soldering mixed media projects.
Material Fees/Cost
$75 per yearly use
Facilities Instructional Support Canvas Page
Instructional support documents pertaining to equipment, demonstrations, and shop hours that change quarterly, can be found here : (Canvas link)
SME 104 expands the analog production capabilities of the VAF studios with dedicated zones for distinct printmaking and surface finishing techniques. This space supports three primary processes: screen printing, aerosol-based/HPLV applications for fabricated projects, and press-based printing.
Location
Structural Materials Engineering 104
Access and Safety
Students must complete a shop orientation with a supervised staff member leading the tutorial. Students that request 24 access to the space must fill out a Safety Form from the engineering department.
Facilities and Equipment
Material Fees/Cost
$75 per yearly use
Facilities Instructional Support Canvas Page
Instructional support documents pertaining to equipment, demonstrations, and shop hours that change quarterly, can be found here : (Canvas link)
The VAF editing suites are equipped with high-performance Mac Pro workstations and a dedicated PC designed for virtual environment development. These suites support a wide range of media production workflows, featuring industry-standard software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, DaVinci Resolve, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Unity, Blender, and more.
Adjacent to the editing spaces is a Media Transfer Room, outfitted for digitizing and transferring content across legacy and modern formats. Students have access to equipment for Blu-ray, DVD, VHS, MiniDV, and 16mm film transfers, enabling archival work and format conversions.
Location
VAF 232-236
Access and Use policy
MFA and PHD students can Email vis-facilities@ucsd.edu to schedule a walkthrough tutorial with one of the Media technicians on staff.
Equipment and Software
For Software inquiries, access to staff managed equipment checkout systems, and available inventories reach out to vis-facilities@ucsd.edu or visit the instructional support canvas page.
Facilities Instructional Support Canvas Page
Instructional support documents pertaining to media equipment, demonstrations, and editing suite guidelines can be found here : (Canvas link)
This compact yet versatile studio is designed for both digital and analog sound work, offering a professional environment for editing, recording, and experimental sound production. Equipped with sound panels for optimal acoustics, the space features a wide selection of microphones, guitar pedals, and various sound production gear to support diverse creative needs. Ideal for scoring films, recording voice-overs, or capturing live instruments, the studio provides flexible tools for students and artists exploring sound design and audio recording techniques.
Location
Visual Arts Facility, Building 2 Room 219
Access and Use policy
The Visual Arts Facility Screening room is used for MFA Graduate research. Students are required to meet with the Department Media Specialist or Facilities Manager for safety walkthrough, Audio Visual tutorial, and proper space introduction before access can be granted. MFA and PHD students can Email vis-facilities@ucsd.edu to schedule a walkthrough tutorial with one of the Media technicians on staff.
Equipment
Facilities Instructional Support Canvas Page
Instructional support documents pertaining to media equipment, demonstrations, and editing suite guidelines can be found here : (Canvas link)