Summer's over and for a lot of us, it's time to hit the books. Which ones? If you're working toward a degree in architecture, you'll probably need to buy these Top 5 Essential Reference Books. Watch out: They are pricey. To save money, order your books online.

Critics are having a field day with the decor Democrats gave INVESCO Field at Mile High. To prepare the stadium for the nomination acceptance speech by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, Democrats created a dramatic set that mimicked the look of a Greek temple. A stage was constructed at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of INVESCO Field. Along the rear of the stage, designers constructed neoclassical columns made of plywood.

Sounds a bit Disneyesque, but lavish decoration has become a long established tradition at political conventions for both Democrats and Republicans. Too much? Or inspiring?

When Barack Obama formally accepts his nomination as the Democratic candidate for president, he'll address an enormous audience. Instead of speaking at the Pepsi convention center in Denver, he'll head over to INVESCO Field at Mile High, home stadium of the Denver Broncos. Just how big is the Broncos' stadium? With 1.7 million square feet of space, it has enough seats for 76,125 spectators.

^{Photo: The Denver Broncos' Stadium, INVESCO Field at Mile High, in Denver, Colorado. © Ronald Martinez / Getty Images}

Choosing a college is one of life's biggest decisions, so it's no wonder that the new school rankings published by US News & World Report are causing such a stir. Students want to know which schools are best. But, frankly, I'm relieved to learn that more and more colleges are refusing to participate in US News survey. When it comes to architecture, there are so many better ways to evaluate a school.

One great resource is America's Best Architecture & Design Schools (compare prices) published by DesignIntelligence. This detailed manual has all sorts of charts, graphs, data, and analysis for schools of architecture, landscape architecture, industrial design, and interior design.

Of course, even a book like the DesignIntelligence manual can't tell you which school is best for your own particular needs. Here's how to choose the best school for architecture >

More:

How to Become an Architect

Graduate Programs: Databases & Rankings