Irwin S.

Chanin School of Architecture The Cooper Union

First Year and Transfer Regular Decision Studio Test 2023 for the Advancement
of Science and Art
Instructions

All applicants to the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union are asked to complete the Studio Test. The Studio Test, designed
each year by faculty and students, is a way for the admissions committee to understand how you think visually, creatively, and conceptually. Only transfer
applicants are required to submit a portfolio in addition to the Studio Test components. Additional portfolios from first time college applicants will not
be accepted.

THE STUDIO TEST

The Studio Test contains visual projects, writing projects, and a questionnaire. You have a month to complete the Test. Following the first two
pages of instructions and key, you will find each of the visual project prompts on its own page, accompanied by a blank area outlined by a square
frame. These square frames outline the area for your responses to the visual project prompts. Following those you will find the writing projects and
questionnaire, each accompanied with lined space in which you should type your responses.

The Test is formatted to fit on 11 inch x 14 inch paper. As this is not a standard size paper, we recommend you print the Test at full scale on 11 inch
x 17 inch (standard tabloid) size paper and cut the test down using the dotted lines provided in the PDF. For your reference, when printed at full scale
the square frames for your responses are each 10.5 inches x 10.5 inches.

All media is acceptable for each question unless otherwise specified. This includes, but is not limited to: drawing, painting, modeling, photography,
collage, video, and digital imaging.

There is a two-step submission process: we ask for completed Studio Tests to be submitted both physically and digitally. All work will be reviewed equally
and evaluated separate to technical proficiency with digital media. Instructions for both submission types are outlined in the section below.

TWO-STEP SUBMISSION PROCESS

All completed Studio Tests must be submitted in a two-step process:
• Step 1: Mail or drop off physical submission (must be received by 4 pm EST on Friday, March 3, 2023).
o Your completed Studio Test must fit inside an envelope no larger than 14 inches x 17 inches x 2 inches. Please label the outside of the envelope
clearly with your full name, and print and attach the QR code found in your applicant portal. Drop-off submissions can only be accommodated
Monday to Friday from 9 am–4 pm EST. All submissions should be dropped off or mailed to the following addresses:
Drop off Address: Mailing Address:
The Cooper Union The Cooper Union
The Hub–Office of Admissions Attn: The Hub–Office of Admissions
201 East 6th St. 41 Cooper Square
New York, NY 10003 New York, NY 10003

• Step 2: Upload digital submission (must be received by 11:59 pm EST Friday, February 24, 2023)
o In the Studio Test checklist item on your applicant portal, use the check box to indicate completion of the Studio Test. The correlating works
should be uploaded to the Widget as one PDF file. If you completed your responses using a physical medium, you may choose to represent
your work in the following ways: by scanning in high resolution or by photographing (with any camera you have access to) in any good lighting
scenario that captures your Studio Test details well.

Important note regarding video submissions: If you choose to respond to one or more of the Studio Test visual prompts with a video, please upload those
responses using the “Video Upload Widget” on your applicant portal. (Transfer students only: use the “Portfolio Upload Widget” instead). Clearly label your
video file with the question number and title, and in the corresponding question’s square frame response area in both your physical and digital submission,
please write out that you have included a video (instead of leaving it blank). Refer to the Portfolio Widget for acceptable file types, and limit all videos to
under 5 minutes in length. We are unable to view embedded videos or click hyperlinks when viewing the uploaded PDF submissions.

If you have any questions regarding mailing, or technical issues with the upload of your materials, please contact Assistant Director of Admissions
for Architecture, Maya Krtić, at maya.krtic@cooper.edu.

DEADLINES
• All digital Studio Test materials must be uploaded to your applicant portal no later than 11:59 pm EST on Friday, February 24, 2023.
• All physical Studio Test materials must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than 4 pm EST on Friday, March 3, 2023.
Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture The Cooper Union
First Year and Transfer Regular Decision Studio Test 2023 for the Advancement
of Science and Art
Key to Submission Sheets:
All work is to be submitted on paper that is 11 inches x 14 inches.
Trim along the dotted line in the pdf.

All media is acceptable for each question unless otherwise specified.

This includes, but is not limited to, drawing, modeling, photography, collage,
and digital imaging.

The square area on each sheet defines the field of operation.

QUESTION 1 · A PLAN CUT OF A COMPOSITION 1

In the space below the image, project the plan looking down at each element of the composition
as cut through the level indicated by the white line.

QUESTION 2.1 · TWO-DIMENSIONAL ORGANIZATION 2.1

Compose a two-dimensional drawing with selections from the following elements:
points, lines, circles; using ONE organizational concept chosen from: intersection,
alignment, fusion, blur, overlap.

QUESTION 2.2 · THREE-DIMENSIONAL ORGANIZATION 2.2

Compose a three-dimensional space from your two-dimensional organization in Question 2.

QUESTION 3 · SPACE FROM TEXT 3

Produce a visual transformation of ONE of the 3 provided texts.

QUESTION 4 · STORYBOARD 4
Imagine a repeated activity and translate it into a spatial sequence using ONE of the following
analog or digital techniques: collage, photography, line drawing, painting, time lapse,
freehand drawing, montage, animation.

QUESTION 5 · MEASUREMENT OF A TERRITORY 5

Develop a system of measuring a territory of your choice. Document your tools and measurements.

QUESTION 6 · ECLIPSE 6
Perform an eclipse.

QUESTION 7 · WRITING PROJECTS

QUESTION 8 · QUESTIONNAIRE
QUESTION 1 · A PLAN CUT OF A COMPOSITION
In the space below the image, project the plan looking down at each element
of the composition as cut through the level indicated by the white line.

Still Life with Peeled Orange and Grapes by Albertus Steenbergen, 19th century
QUESTION 2.1 · TWO-DIMENSIONAL ORGANIZATION
Compose a two-dimensional drawing with selections from the following elements: points, lines, circles,
using ONE organizational concept chosen from:

INTERSECTION ALIGNMENT FUSION BLUR OVERLAP

Name
QUESTION 2.2 · THREE-DIMENSIONAL ORGANIZATION
Compose a three-dimensional space from your two-dimensional organization in Question 2.1.

Name
QUESTION 3 · SPACE FROM TEXT
Produce a visual transformation of ONE of the 3 texts below.
Circle which text you choose.

“Architecture is a game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.” — Le Corbusier

“A line is a dot that went for a walk.” — Paul Klee

“Color is whatever comes out of the material and keeps it what it is.” — Eva Hesse

Name
QUESTION 4 · STORYBOARD
Imagine a repeated activity and translate it into a spatial sequence using ONE of the following analog or digital techniques:

COLLAGE PHOTOGRAPHY LINE DRAWING PAINTING

TIME LAPSE FREEHAND DRAWING MONTAGE ANIMATION

Name
QUESTION 5 · MEASUREMENT OF A TERRITORY
Develop a system of measuring a territory of your choice.
Document your tools and measurements.

Name
QUESTION 6 · ECLIPSE
Perform an eclipse.

Name
 QUESTION 7 · WRITING PROJECTS
All responses should be typed.

1 TRANSITION BOUNDARY PASSAGE MATRIX ORDER GRID

WALL APERTURE COLUMN SQUARE STAIR THRESHOLD

Choose one word and elaborate on its spatial implications in your own experience.

2 Using the vocabulary above, describe the spatial arrangements you see in the drawings below.
Write two sentences below each drawing.

Name
QUESTION 8 · QUESTIONNAIRE
All responses should be typed. Please limit your responses to two-three sentences.

i. What is a book that changed the way you think? How?

ii. What is a film that changed the way you act? How?

iii. What is a work of art that changed the way you see? How?

iv. What is a piece of music that changed the way you listen? How?

v. Why do you want to study architecture at The Cooper Union?

Name