Spring 2021 Lab Info

Against the backdrop of COVID-19, we must embrace a multilayered safety and health plan that will help keep each other safe. It will call for flexibility in response to changing developments, as well as in our teaching and learning to accommodate the challenges our students and faculty will face. Please refer regularly to this site, as it will be frequently updated with important new information as developments in NYU's planning occur. 

A number of policies and procedures have been put in place in order to provide safe access to lab, studio, and equipment rental facilities in the wake of COVID-19.

Lab Hours

Appointments are required for most studio and lab access.

Summary

Lab hours, equipment rental policies, and facility access will all be different than in a standard semester. Due to the pandemic, policies and procedures are subject to change at any time and without notice. Masks are required in the building at all times with few exceptions. This includes all participants in studio photo shoots.

The Official Lab Manual contains a full listing of all policies and procedures this semester.

You may call the Equipment Cage at 212-998-1925 to reach the current staff member on duty during open hours.

Students must check in with a staff member on duty at the Cage before using digital labs or studios.

For safety reasons, all "wet" lab facilities for analog imagemaking will be closed this semester. We will do our best to support students who wish to utilize an analog workflow by offering long-term rentals of film processing equipment and short-term rentals of flatbed film scanners. There will be no access to rooms 809, 811, Beginning Darkroom, Print Finishing, or Advanced Darkroom.

Most equipment rentals will require advance reservations and pickup appointments. Further information TBA.

Studios

Appointments are required for studio access.

Studio 828 (Cyclorama) will be restricted to students who are currently enrolled in, or who have successfully completed a Lighting course. Studios 804 and 814, and multipurpose room 815 will be available to any DPI student who is on campus. 

Equipment Rentals

The Cage will operate at a limited capacity observing strict protocols for disinfection of equipment and social distancing. Reservations for equipment pickups need to be made at least 1 business day in advance of your desired pickup time. 

Unlike other semesters, the Cage will generally not be able to accomodate walk-ins at the equipment window. You should plan to reserve equipment ahead of time so that it can be prepared for you to pick up when you need it. Please contact Caleb Savage (caleb.savage@nyu.edu) to make reservations for equipment.

Enhanced flexibility with due dates will be offered this semester. High-demand equipment will generally be due three days after checkout; equipment which is not typically in high demand can be checked out for longer periods with approval from the technical staff. Items like film developing tanks and reels, basic 35mm cameras, basic digital cameras, basic continuous light sources may be checked out for up to 4 weeks with approval from the technical staff.