Interior Architecture & Design
All incoming sophomore and transfer students in the Interior Architecture & Design program are required to purchase a Windows laptop computer before the start of the fall semester. Incoming freshman students may use an alternative laptop for the first year.
These hardware and software specifications apply only to the 2025-2026 academic year. Updated specifications are posted during the summer for the next academic year.
Students MUST purchase a Windows laptop for Interior Architecture & Design.
- DO NOT purchase an Apple MacBook for Interior Architecture & Design (Apple MacBook’s cannot run the software required for Interior Architecture & Design)
Minimum System Requirements
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Processor: Intel i7, Intel i9, Intel Ultra 7, or Intel Ultra 9
- Memory: 32GB RAM
- Hard drive storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
- Graphics Card: Nvidia RTX 4080, Nvidia RTX 4090 or any other graphics card that has a minimum of 22000 passmarks.
- 4 Years of Support + Accidental Damage Protection
Educational Discounts with Dell
Dell offers educational discounts on purchases through their site. Use the following link to get a 5% off coupon, as well as to shop for Engineering & Architecture laptops from Dell. www.dell.com/mpp/student
Recommended Dell Laptops
The recommended models are shown only for our students’ convenience. There are additional options available and students can shop anywhere they like. La Roche University receives no incentive from Dell if students choose to buy from them.
The following are two options for models and hardware specifications through Dell. Option 1 is configured to meet the expected minimum hardware requirements of the software used in the program by the student’s senior year. Option 2 is configured to meet the recommended hardware requirements of the software used in the program by the student’s senior year. Note: Option 2 will perform better and provide better user experience with the software used in the program over the years. Option 1 is provided to be a cost-saving solution by meeting the minimum requirements.
- Option 1: Alienware 16 Area-51
- Processor: Intel® Core Ultra 7 processor 255HX
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060
- Memory: 32GB, 2x16GB, DDR5, 6400MT/s
- Storage: 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD
- Recommended Add-ons:
- Premium Support + Accidental Damage, 4 Years - $1,119.00
- Total Retail Price with Add-ons (Before Tax): $3,068.99
Check for most up to date educational pricing.
- Option 2: Alienware 16 Area-51
- Processor: Intel® Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080
- Memory: 32GB, 2x16GB, DDR5, 6400MT/s
- Storage: 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD
- Recommended Add-ons:
- Premium Support Plus + Accidental Damage, 4 Years - $1,119.00
- Total Retail Price with Add-ons (Before Tax): $3,968.99
Check for most up to date educational pricing.
Software Requirements
- Microsoft Office 365 (Available to students at no charge. An email is sent to eligible students at their La Roche University email address with information for downloading the software.)
- Adobe Creative Cloud Student Edition: Educational pricing - Available for $19.00/month or $239.88 per year (this is complete access to the full Adobe Software Packages and 20 GB of online memory). Full details and purchases can be made here: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html.
Note: the pricing above is first-year introductory pricing only. - Antivirus software as approved by La Roche (must be kept up-to-date)
- Your professor will instruct you in downloading the other necessary software for the program.
Printer (Not Required)
The La Roche Design Division has high-quality, large format printing facilities for design students and their final outputs.
For More Information
Michelle L. Kirkpatrick
Interior Architecture & Design Chair Assistant Professor, Interior Architecture & Design
michelle.kirkpatrick@laroche.edu
La Roche University
412.536.1309 (office)
designatlaroche.com