Rachel Stopka
Rachel Stopka is a design-builder and educator whose work focuses on collaboration between the fields of design and construction. She earned her MArch from RISD in 2010 and her BS in Mathematics in 2007 from the UMass Dartmouth, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Stopka is a licensed construction supervisor in Massachusetts and a Certified Passive House Consultant. She teaches at RISD and Roger Williams University, and she works with Jack Ryan Architect, LLC in Providence.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
INTAR 2377-01
ADVANCED DRAWING & COMPUTING TECTONICS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on the drawing as it serves to convey different design intentions. As a continuation of the basic drawing coursework in the MDes Summer Program, this course will explore advanced techniques in digital representation. Students successfully completing this course will be able to understand the construction of 3D drawings, develop sophisticated digital layouts with image processing software, create CAD based 2D architectural drawings and 3D models, and develop a 3D visualization of a design. The integration of 2D and 3D data, digital materials, as well as the basics of digital lighting and camera work will also be discussed.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2377-02
ADVANCED DRAWING & COMPUTING TECTONICS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on the drawing as it serves to convey different design intentions. As a continuation of the basic drawing coursework in the MDes Summer Program, this course will explore advanced techniques in digital representation. Students successfully completing this course will be able to understand the construction of 3D drawings, develop sophisticated digital layouts with image processing software, create CAD based 2D architectural drawings and 3D models, and develop a 3D visualization of a design. The integration of 2D and 3D data, digital materials, as well as the basics of digital lighting and camera work will also be discussed.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2377-03
ADVANCED DRAWING & COMPUTING TECTONICS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on the drawing as it serves to convey different design intentions. As a continuation of the basic drawing coursework in the MDes Summer Program, this course will explore advanced techniques in digital representation. Students successfully completing this course will be able to understand the construction of 3D drawings, develop sophisticated digital layouts with image processing software, create CAD based 2D architectural drawings and 3D models, and develop a 3D visualization of a design. The integration of 2D and 3D data, digital materials, as well as the basics of digital lighting and camera work will also be discussed.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
ARCH 2178-04
INTEGRATED BUILDING SYSTEMS
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Conceived as the culmination of the technologies sequence of courses, this course allows students to choose amongst the three instructor's differing approaches to the problem of conceiving technology holistically, in relation to a set of architectural criteria. The conceptual and technical aspects of building systems are considered and emergent environmentally-conscious technologies are emphasized for research and application.
Prerequisite: All required technologies courses.
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | BArch, MArch (3yr), MArch (2yr): Architecture
Summer 2024 Courses
INTAR 2322-01
Introduction to Design Studio I: SPATIAL INVESTIGATION/DRAWING & MAKING
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class will introduce the fundamentals of orthographic drawing through the investigation of an existing object. Working with the object, the student will study and implement the use of plan, section, axonometric and perspective to expose the spatial qualities of the structure. Basic drawing conventions and model making techniques will be introduced. The concept of architectural scale will be explored.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2322-02
Introduction to Design Studio I: SPATIAL INVESTIGATION/DRAWING & MAKING
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class will introduce the fundamentals of orthographic drawing through the investigation of an existing object. Working with the object, the student will study and implement the use of plan, section, axonometric and perspective to expose the spatial qualities of the structure. Basic drawing conventions and model making techniques will be introduced. The concept of architectural scale will be explored.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2322-03
Introduction to Design Studio I: SPATIAL INVESTIGATION/DRAWING & MAKING
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This class will introduce the fundamentals of orthographic drawing through the investigation of an existing object. Working with the object, the student will study and implement the use of plan, section, axonometric and perspective to expose the spatial qualities of the structure. Basic drawing conventions and model making techniques will be introduced. The concept of architectural scale will be explored.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2324-01
Introduction to Design Studio I: EXISTING CONSTRUCT
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Using a local site in Providence, this studio will focus on the fundamentals of documenting an existing structure. These techniques will include, at a minimum, measuring, surveying, photographing, analyzing of materials and construction details, researching databases for relevant, related information and understanding the existing structural and mechanical systems. This information will be organized to create a full architectural documentation set. Documentation will also be explored in model form, building on the skills acquired in Studio Ia. Upon completion of documentation, the students will learn to analyze the existing structure both as an entity and within the adjacent urban context. The studio will also focus on the presentation of such analysis and the possible uses of it in design transformation.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2324-02
Introduction to Design Studio I: EXISTING CONSTRUCT
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Using a local site in Providence, this studio will focus on the fundamentals of documenting an existing structure. These techniques will include, at a minimum, measuring, surveying, photographing, analyzing of materials and construction details, researching databases for relevant, related information and understanding the existing structural and mechanical systems. This information will be organized to create a full architectural documentation set. Documentation will also be explored in model form, building on the skills acquired in Studio Ia. Upon completion of documentation, the students will learn to analyze the existing structure both as an entity and within the adjacent urban context. The studio will also focus on the presentation of such analysis and the possible uses of it in design transformation.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2324-03
Introduction to Design Studio I: EXISTING CONSTRUCT
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Using a local site in Providence, this studio will focus on the fundamentals of documenting an existing structure. These techniques will include, at a minimum, measuring, surveying, photographing, analyzing of materials and construction details, researching databases for relevant, related information and understanding the existing structural and mechanical systems. This information will be organized to create a full architectural documentation set. Documentation will also be explored in model form, building on the skills acquired in Studio Ia. Upon completion of documentation, the students will learn to analyze the existing structure both as an entity and within the adjacent urban context. The studio will also focus on the presentation of such analysis and the possible uses of it in design transformation.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2326-01
Introduction to Design Studio I: TRANSFORMATION & INTERVENTION
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Using an existing site, this studio will introduce the concept of transformation and intervention through a program of new use. The students will propose a design intervention to transform the site for a new program. These interventions will be based on the accommodation of the design program but will also be a response to the analysis completed in Studio Existing Construct. It will require an understanding of the structural system and the issues of egress. The culmination of this studio will result in a design that is conceptually sound and complete in its description as a full architectural proposal in drawings and models. The student will prepare a design proposition including analysis of the existing structure and its inherent existence within the new work.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2326-02
Introduction to Design Studio I: TRANSFORMATION & INTERVENTION
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Using an existing site, this studio will introduce the concept of transformation and intervention through a program of new use. The students will propose a design intervention to transform the site for a new program. These interventions will be based on the accommodation of the design program but will also be a response to the analysis completed in Studio Existing Construct. It will require an understanding of the structural system and the issues of egress. The culmination of this studio will result in a design that is conceptually sound and complete in its description as a full architectural proposal in drawings and models. The student will prepare a design proposition including analysis of the existing structure and its inherent existence within the new work.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies
INTAR 2326-03
Introduction to Design Studio I: TRANSFORMATION & INTERVENTION
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Using an existing site, this studio will introduce the concept of transformation and intervention through a program of new use. The students will propose a design intervention to transform the site for a new program. These interventions will be based on the accommodation of the design program but will also be a response to the analysis completed in Studio Existing Construct. It will require an understanding of the structural system and the issues of egress. The culmination of this studio will result in a design that is conceptually sound and complete in its description as a full architectural proposal in drawings and models. The student will prepare a design proposition including analysis of the existing structure and its inherent existence within the new work.
Students are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Interior Architecture Students.
Major Requirement | MDes Interior Studies