DAISY AMES

It was the first weekend back at Yale and we had class all weekend - learning Revit. While we already had a few tutorials on Revit last year, this year we are expected to integrate MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) systems into our structures. It’s extremely fascinating how already, in these few days, the dialogue around design has changed significantly once the reality of floor plate thicknesses and duct-work has been introduced. 

I was apprehensive about System Integration, but firms are starting to be required to make the leap and communicate better with contractors and other consultants via such programs. It’s really nice to have it included into our curriculum as second years students.

It was my first night working in studio, and I felt my heart racing with excitement for the coming year. Plus, I just came home to a few paintings I worked on over the weekend drying on my kitchen table, and Log 22 on my bed. Feeling very fortunate. 

I was able to opt out of the required theory course for the second year M.Arch I students since architecture theory was my undergraduate major. This opened up another elective for me, which can prove to be a slippery slope because there is a ton of politicking involved in the lottery system at YSOA (not diplomatic at all) and second years are rarely granted priority in the competitive courses. The professors have to know who you are and then rank each applicant based on who they want in their class. Then in conjunction with that ranking, we rank their course, and get matched “by a computer.” I got into both my top two choices which were really competitive. I am in Dean Robert A.M. Stern’s intimate seminar, Parallels of the Modern: The New Tradition, after having to write two essays, and Victor Agran’s small class on Drawing and Architectural Form. I couldn’t be more excited!