ANU Architecture Model Making Workshop Usage Regulations

30 March 2026 11 min read

The Model Making Workshop under the Architecture program at the Australian National University (ANU) is a core practical facility for students of the Bachelor of Design and the Master of Architecture. According to the ANU 2024 Campus Facilities Safety Manual, the workshop is located in the west wing of the Peter Karmel Building and is equipped with 37 machines in total — laser cutters, 3D printers, CNC milling machines and woodworking equipment — with more than 8,200 visits recorded each year [ANU 2024, Campus Facilities Safety Manual]. With ANU’s Architecture and Built Environment discipline ranked 51st in the world in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject [QS 2025, QS World University Rankings by Subject], the workshop’s usage regulations have become essential information for new and transfer students. This article systematically sets out the workshop’s access procedures, equipment booking rules, materials management policies and safety standards; all data comes from official ANU documents and the 2023–2025 revised editions of the student handbook.

Access Requirements and Safety Training

Workshop access is open only to students enrolled in architecture- and design-related courses. Under the ANU 2023 Workshop Use Agreement, students must complete two prerequisite steps: finish the Work Health and Safety (WHS) online module (about 45 minutes) and score above 85 on the test; then attend one on-site hands-on safety training session (2 hours) covering emergency stop procedures, fire extinguisher locations and dust protection standards. Only after passing both components can students receive access card authorisation.

Validity of Training Certificates

Safety training certificates are valid for 12 months. Once a certificate expires, students must redo the WHS online module but do not need to repeat the hands-on training. 2024 data shows that about 12% of students had their workshop access suspended because of an expired certificate [ANU 2024, Student Services Annual Report].

Visitors and Cross-Department Use

Students from outside the architecture program who need to use the workshop must be accompanied by an architecture student holding valid authorisation and must complete the Visitor Registration Form before entering. Cross-department projects (such as courses run jointly with the engineering school) require a written application to the workshop supervisor at least 5 working days in advance; specific time slots can only be arranged after approval.

Equipment Booking and Operating Hours

Equipment booking is handled through the ANU Facilities Management System (FMS). Laser cutters and 3D printers are booked by time slot, with a maximum of 2 hours per booking; CNC milling machines and woodworking equipment are first come, first served, but users must register their name and estimated usage time on the electronic whiteboard at the entrance. The workshop is open Monday to Friday 09:00–20:00 and Saturday 10:00–17:00, and is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Cancellations and No-Shows

Cancellations must be made at least 1 hour before the scheduled start time; otherwise the booking is recorded as a “No-show”. Students who accumulate 3 no-show records will have their booking privileges suspended for 14 days. 2024 FMS data shows an average of about 45 no-shows per month, with Monday mornings accounting for the largest share (28%).

Managing Peak Periods

Weeks 6 to 10 of each semester (mid-term project deadlines) are the peak usage period. During this time the workshop enforces a “booking cap”: each student may book the laser cutter at most 3 times and the 3D printer at most 4 times per week. Applications exceeding the cap require an Urgent Use Statement signed and confirmed by the course lecturer.

Materials Use and Storage Policy

Materials management is central to the workshop’s operation. The workshop only supplies basic consumables (such as acrylic sheet, MDF board and PLA filament); materials students bring themselves must be on the Approved Materials List (AML). Unapproved foam plastics (such as EPS polystyrene), chlorine-containing polymers (such as PVC) and any flammable liquids are prohibited. A 2023 incident in which unapproved material triggered the laser cutter’s smoke alarm prompted ANU to revise the AML, adding 12 new prohibited materials [ANU 2024, Workshop Incident Log].

Material Storage Rules

Each student is allocated a numbered locker (40 cm × 30 cm × 20 cm) in the workshop, for unmachined materials only. Finished work must be collected within 7 days after the project deadline; pieces left beyond that are cleared out. In the 2024 clear-out, more than 200 overdue pieces were processed, of which about 15% were claimed and recovered by students.

Fees and Billing

Standard consumables supplied by the workshop are charged at cost and deducted from the student’s ANU ID Card. Acrylic sheet (3 mm thick) costs A$2.50 per A4 sheet, and PLA filament costs A$0.08 per gram. A detailed breakdown of charges is available in the FMS; unpaid balances at the end of each semester will result in workshop access being frozen.

Safe Operation and Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory. Anyone entering the workshop work area must wear safety goggles, closed-toe footwear (such as steel-toe boots) and a hair restraint cap. When operating CNC milling machines or woodworking equipment, hearing protection (provided by the workshop) must also be worn. Students not wearing PPE are asked to leave immediately and receive a “safety violation” record. 2024 safety inspection data shows 87 PPE violations recorded across the year, 62 of them for not wearing goggles [ANU 2024, Campus Safety Annual Report].

Emergency Response Procedures

The workshop is equipped with two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and four emergency stop buttons. In the event of an accident, students should first press the nearest button to stop the equipment, then call ANU Campus Security on (02) 6125 2249. Minor cuts or burns can be treated with the workshop first-aid kit; serious injuries require waiting for professional medical staff. A finger laceration was recorded in 2023 (caused by using the table saw without a push stick), and the student was taken to Canberra Hospital for 3 stitches.

Equipment Cleaning Responsibilities

After each use, students must clean the workbench, remove waste and return tools. After using the laser cutter, residue must be cleared and the machine’s running time recorded. Incomplete cleaning is recorded against the student’s account, and 3 accumulated cleaning violations result in a 1-week suspension of access.

Penalties for Violations and the Appeal Process

Violations fall into three levels: minor (such as failing to register usage time), moderate (such as using unapproved materials) and serious (such as operating high-risk equipment without authorisation). Penalties include written warnings, suspension of access (1–4 weeks) and permanent bans. 2024 data shows 32 moderate violations and 4 serious violations were handled (2 of which involved operating the laser cutter without authorisation to cut metal materials) [ANU 2024, Student Conduct Office Report].

Appeal Process

Students may submit a written appeal to the workshop supervisor within 5 working days of receiving a penalty notice. Appeals must be accompanied by evidence (such as operation records or screenshots of equipment logs). If the supervisor upholds the original decision, students can apply for a further review by ANU Student Affairs. The appeal success rate in 2024 was 18%, with most successful cases involving equipment logs showing system errors that led to mistaken judgements.

Record Keeping

All violation and penalty records are kept in the student’s file until graduation. Repeated serious violations may result in the “Professional Practice” component of course assessment being marked as unsatisfactory.

Cross-Course Project Collaboration

Collaborative projects must follow additional rules. If a project involves multiple courses (such as a joint DESN2001 and ARCH3002 project), the project lead must submit a Cross-Course Workshop Use Plan specifying the equipment usage times, materials list and safety officer for each phase. The plan must be signed by the workshop supervisor and all course lecturers.

Coordinating Time Conflicts

When several course groups apply for the same equipment time slot, the workshop supervisor assigns priority based on the order of submission and the urgency of the projects. In 2024, 15 time conflicts were coordinated, 8 of which were resolved by moving sessions to off-peak periods (such as Monday mornings).

Showcasing and Storing Outcomes

Final models from collaborative projects may be kept in the workshop display area for up to 14 days. While on display, models must be labelled with the project name, course code and the lead’s contact details. Work not collected in time is handled under the standard clear-out process.

FAQ

Q1: What if my safety training certificate has expired?

If your certificate has expired, you need to redo the WHS online module (about 45 minutes) and pass the 85-point test. There is no need to repeat the hands-on training. Reactivating access usually takes 1–2 working days, during which you cannot enter the workshop. 2024 data shows that about 12% of students encountered certificate expiry issues during the semester.

Q2: Can I use my own materials? Do I need to declare them in advance?

Yes, but the materials must be on the Approved Materials List (AML). Materials you bring in must be submitted as samples to the workshop supervisor for review before first use; the review takes 3 working days. Unapproved materials (such as PVC and EPS foam) are prohibited, and using them results in a moderate violation record.

Q3: What if something comes up after I’ve booked equipment?

You can cancel through the FMS up to 1 hour before the scheduled start time without any record being created. If you neither cancel within that hour nor show up, it counts as a “No-show”. After 3 no-shows, booking privileges are suspended for 14 days. 2024 data shows an average of 45 no-shows per month.

References

ANU 2024, Campus Facilities Safety Manual, Australian National University
ANU 2024, Student Services Annual Report, Australian National University
ANU 2024, Workshop Incident Log, Australian National University
ANU 2024, Campus Safety Annual Report, Australian National University
ANU 2024, Student Conduct Office Report, Australian National University
QS 2025, QS World University Rankings by Subject: Architecture and Built Environment