The Alternative EEE Freshers Guide: Departmental Facilities
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Electrical Engineering is housed within a 12-storey tower, which is the second tallest building on campus, second only to the Queen's Tower. And it is full of hidden surprises. Inside is an array of facilities that students can make use of, and knowing some of these might make your life a little bit easier.
Level 6 Library
Small, but perfectly formed, Electrical Engineering's own library has a complete collection of books concerned with the subject. Part of the main South Kensington campus library, it also provides access to a number of information services that are invaluable in doing research. In addition there are a number of study desks when you need that quiet space to yourself. However it gets busy during exam times, so don't rely on getting a spot there.
Foyer & Common Room
In the summer of 2002, the former glory of the level 2 entrance foyer to the department was ripped out to prepare for renovation work. Originally intended to be ready for the new academic year in October, work on the project overran and was completed in January 2003, 4 months late! However we now benefit from an open plan foyer/common room area with a large glass front so people walking past can examine true genius at work - and we can sit back and watch the world go by. The area has been fitted with benches and tables to relax on after a long hard day of lectures, and it is possible to get food and drink from the vending machines and new coffee shop.
Undergraduate Computer Labs
Originally located on level 5, the undergraduate computer labs were allegedly relocated to level 3 to reduce the lift traffic caused by students travelling between the entrance level and the labs. The labs themselves consist of two rooms, one small, one larger. The larger room has Windows NT workstations, offering the everyday software you need to get your work done. The smaller room has SUN workstations for when you need to do some serious design work, and now computers running Linux, although it seems that the majority of students seem to be avoiding these. Be warned though, when deadlines approach there can be a mad rush to get hold of a free computer to do that all-important last minute work, and when you do, you can be guaranteed that the printers will run out of paper and/or ink. A good place to find spare computers is in 1st year labs.
Undergraduate Office
Level 6 is the home of the administrative staff of EEE, and where you'll go if you have an, well err... administrative problem. As Peter Cheung puts it: "It's your one stop shop". It is where coursework is handed in and returned, as well as the location of pigeon holes for members of staff. It is more than likely you'll pay at least a couple of visits here during the course of your degree. Less well known is that you can receive, and for a price, send, faxes in the office. Also, should you ever need to use a hole punch or stapler, you can find them here - just don't try to remove them!
First and Second Year Lab
Decorated in an artistic purple hue is the 1st and 2nd year electronics labs located on level 1. In here you will spend many an morning or afternoon during the first and second years, as you get to grips with a wide range of equipment ranging from digital oscilloscopes and microprocessors to large electrical power machines. Each session usually lasts about 3 hours, by which time you'll have either mastered the objectives of the session, or lost all will to do so.
Level 1 Stores
Deep in level 1 of the building is a hidden gem of the department, namely the stores. From here not only can you order parts you need for your projects, but you can get a number of other things such as transparencies, print credits and photocopying cards to use in the photocopiers in the adjoining room.
Toilets
One thing that the department doesn't lack is toilets. There are toilets on each floor, unless you are female, in which case there are only toilets on the 2nd, 3rd and 6th floors. These toilets have been the subject of controversial emails, and there is much variation in quality. For example, the toilets on the lower teaching levels are in a much poorer state of repair compared to the luxury washroom facilities on level 6. Additionally, should you ever need it for any reason, there is a little known shower facility on level 10.
Lecture Theatres
The lecture theatres are on levels 4 and 5. The main one is Room 408, which can seat about 150 people, and has a reputation for confounding lecturers with the complex lighting and projector controls. With the correct lighting levels, it is possible to create an environment conducive to sleep.
Level 5 Project Lab
If you manage to survive the first two years in the department, and most people do, you will then have access to the level 5 project lab, in theory designated for activities to do with your final year project. It consists of rows of computer workstations, with a separate room for any hardware experiments. Apart from that you can enjoy the company of your fellow final year students in the attached common room, which has facilities such as a sink, kettle, fridge and microwave, as well as IKEA-style easy chairs from where this report was born.
Hard at work in the computing labs
Lifts
Experience has shown that Electrical Engineers are also experts in energy conservation. For this reason the two lifts get a lot of use. One common complaint is that people use the lifts to travel one or two floors slowing the service down so that a lift journey can seem to take a lifetime. Again the department has attempted to alter usage habits with posters, but we appear to be a stubborn bunch.
