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2026 Summer Architecture Programs

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Are you interested in studying architecture and design? Looking for a summer program that’s perfect for you? We’ve got you covered! The Study Architecture Summer Program Directory includes a comprehensive list of unique programs located across the United States and abroad. From week-long design camps to pre-college intensives, this resource has something for everyone. 

We encourage you to visit the websites listed below for additional information on individual programs. 

Hoping to promote your summer program on this list? Email studyarchitecturedotcom@gmail.com!

North America

NORTHEAST

University of Toronto – Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA 

Daniels Design Discovery Program

There are multiple dates between July and August 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

Boston Architectural College – Boston, MA
BAC Summer Academy
July 6 – July 31, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks) 

Urban Design and Planning Pre-College Fellowship 

June 29 – August 7, 2026 – High School (5 Weeks)

Boston Society of Architects – Boston, MA

Arch/Design High School Internships
July 6 – August 14, 2026 – High School (5 Weeks)

Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston, MA

ImpactLab
Session I: July 5 – 17, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

Session II:  July 19 – 31, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

Both Sessions: July 5 – 31, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

Harvard University – Cambridge, MA 

Harvard GSD Design Discovery (Online)
June 8 – 26, 2025 – College, Post-Grad, Professional (3 Weeks)

Maryland Institute College of Art – Baltimore, MD

Pre-College Summer Intensive

Two-Week Program

Session I: July 13 – 24, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)
Session II: July 27 – August 7, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

Four-Week Program

July 12 – August 7, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

University of Maryland – College Park, MD
Terp Young Scholars (Online and In-Person)
July 13 – 31, 2026 – High School (3 Weeks)

Phillips Exeter Academy – Exeter, NH
Summer Program

July 6 – August 6, 2026 – Middle School and High School (5 Weeks)

New Jersey Institute of Technology – Newark, NJ

Career Exploration Summer Programs
July 20 – 31, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

August 3 – 7, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

August 10 – 14, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Barnard College – New York, NY
Barnard Pre-College Programs

Session I: June 29 – July 17, 2026 – High School (3 Weeks)
Session II: July 20 – August 7, 2026 – High School (3 Weeks)

Columbia University – New York, NY 

Columbia GSAPP Summer Intro Program  

July 6 – August 7, 2026 – College and Post-Grad 

Cooper Union – New York, NY
Introduction to Architecture for High School Students  (Online)

July 6 – August 7, 2026 – High School (5 Weeks)

Introduction to Architecture for College Students  (Online)

July 6 – July 31, 2026 – College (4 Weeks)

Cornell University – New York, NY

City Visionaries – Cornell Tech Campus

July 6 – August 7, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

Pratt Institute – Brooklyn, NY
Summer PreCollege (Online and In-Person)
In-Person Session: July 6 – 31, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

Online Session: June 22 – July 2, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

University at Buffalo – Buffalo, NY

Model City Builders Summer High School Career Exploration

July 13 – August 7, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

‘T’ Space Rhinebeck – Rhinebeck, NY
‘T’ Space Architecture Residency (Online and In-Person)
In-Person Session: August 3 – 7, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Online Session: July 5 – July 28, 2025 — High School (3 Weeks)

Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY
Summer College (Online and In-Person)

There are multiple dates between July and August 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History with Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture – Pittsburgh, PA

Summer Camps
Multiple dates between June and August 2026 are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

Chestnut Hill College – Philadelphia, PA

Global Solutions Lab  (Online and In-Person)
June 15 – 25, 2026 – High School, College, Post-Grad, Professional (2 Weeks)

Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA
Summer Residential & Commuter Program
July 5 – 18, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks) 

Temple University – Philadelphia, PA 

Pre-College Programs
There are multiple dates between June and July 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

Fallingwater – Mill Run, PA

Virtual Summer Camps (Online)
Session I: June 22 – 26, 2026 – High School (1 Week)
Session II: August 3 – 7, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Marywood University — Scranton, PA
Design Your Future Summer Overnight Camp
June 20 – 27, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

The Pennsylvania State University – State College, PA

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Summer Camp

Session I: July 12 – 16, 2026  – High School (1 Week)

Session II: July 19 – 23, 2026  – High School (1 Week)

Rhode Island School of Design – Providence, RI
Pre-Collegiate Program

In-Person Session: June 27 – August 1, 2026 – High School (5 Weeks)

Online Session: June 22 – July 30, 2026 – High School (5 Weeks)

Roger Williams University – Bristol, RI
Summer Academy 

July 5 – August 1, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

Norwich University – Northfield, VT

Summer Design Academy
June 21 – 26, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

The Catholic University of America Experiences in Architecture – Washington, DC
Summer High School Program (EiA)
July 6 – 17, 2026 – High School and Incoming First-Year College Students (2 Weeks)

 

SOUTHEAST

Auburn University – Auburn, AL

Architecture Camp
Session I: June 1 – 5, 2026 — High School (1 Week)

Session II: June 15 – 19, 2026 — High School (1 Week)

Session III: July 13 – 17, 2026 — High School (1 Week)

University of Miami – Miami, FL
Pre-College Summer Scholars

June 27 – July 17, 2026 — High School (3 Weeks) 

Georgia Institute of Technology – Atlanta, GA
Pre-College Summer Program
Session I: June 14 – 26, 2026– High School (2 Weeks)
Session II: July 5 – 17, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

Savannah College of Arts & Design – Atlanta and Savannah, GA 
SCAD Rising Star
June 28 – July 24, 2026 – Rising High School Seniors (4 Weeks)

Kennesaw State University – Marietta, GA

Architecture Summer Academy

July 6 – July 17, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, LA
Architecture Camp
May 31 – June 5, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
Explorations in Architecture and Design

There are multiple dates between June and July 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

Mississippi State University – Starkville, MS
Architecture Summer Camp: Design Discovery
June 7 – 13, 2026 – High School & Incoming College Freshmen (1 Week)

University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
SoA Summer Design Academy 

June 14 – 20, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

North Carolina State University – Raleigh, NC
NC State Design Camp

There are multiple dates between June and July 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (Middle School & High School)

Clemson University – Clemson, SC 

Summer Scholars
Session I: June 21 – June 26, 2026 — High School (1 Week)

Session II: July 19 – July 24, 2026 — High School (1 Week)

University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
Summer Design Camp 

July 12 – 18, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Virginia Tech School of Architecture & Design – Blacksburg, VA
Explore Architecture Program (Online and In-Person)

In-Person Session: June 21 – 27, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Virtual Session: July 14 – 19, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

 

EAST CENTRAL

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
ArcStart
July 12 – 31, 2026 – High School (3 Weeks)

Lawrence Technological University – Detroit, MI
High School Summer Programs
There are multiple dates throughout July 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

Ball State University – Muncie, IN

Architecture + Planning Camp @CAP: INDY

June 22 – 26, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

DesignWorks Academy
July 12 – 24, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN
Career Discovery
Career Discovery I: June 21 – July 3, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

Advanced Career Discovery: July 7 – July 16, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

The Center for Architecture & Design – Columbus, OH
High School Design Studio
June 1 – 12, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

 

WEST CENTRAL 

University of Colorado Denver – Denver, CO
Architecture in the City

Day Camp: June 8 – 12, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Overnight Camp: June 20 – 27, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Chicago Architecture Center – Chicago, IL

Teen Fellows

June 22, 2026 – May 8, 2027 – High School (15 Month Fellowship)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago – Chicago, IL
Early College Program Summer Institute
There are multiple dates between June and July 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

University of Illinois at Chicago – Chicago, IL
HiArch Summer High School Architecture Program
Week 1: July 20 – 24, 2026 – High School (1 Week)
Week 2: July 27 – 31, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

YArch Summer Architecture Program
July 6 – 31, 2026 – College, Postgrad (4 Weeks)

Illinois Institute of Technology – Chicago, IL
Experiment in Architecture Workshop

July 6 – 17, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

Judson University – Elgin, IL
Architecture and Interior Design Discovery Camp
July 12 – 17, 2026  – High School (1 Week)

University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS
Design Camp
May 31 – June 6, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts – St. Louis, MO
The Architecture Discovery Program (ADP)
July 12 – 25, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
Career Explorations Workshop

June 7 – June 12, 2026 –  High School (1 Week)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WI
Virtual Architecture Summer Camp Academy (Online)

July 26 – August 1, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

 

SOUTHWEST

University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, AR
Design Camp
There are multiple dates throughout June 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (Elementary, Middle & High School)

University of Houston and Rice University- Houston, TX
Wonderworks Pre-College Summer Program

June 15 – July 17, 2026 – High School (5 Weeks)

Texas A&M University – College Station, TX
Camp ARCH
July 6 – 11, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

University of Texas San Antonio – San Antonio, TX
Summer Career Academy in Architecture & Interior Design
June 1 – 12, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks) 

WEST

Girls Garage – Berkeley, CA
Young Women’s Design and Building Institute

Session I: June 15 – July 19, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Session II: June 22 – 26, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

Builder Bootcamp

Session I: July 6 – July 10, 2026 – Middle School (1 Week)

Session II: July 13 – July 17, 2026 – Middle School (1 Week)

UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design – Berkeley, CA

embARC Summer Design Academy

July 6 – 31, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

DISC: Design + Innovation for Sustainable Cities
July 6 – August 7, 2026 – College (4 Weeks)

Summer Institute

July 6 – August 14, 2026 – College, Professionals (6 Weeks)

California Polytechnic State University – SLO – San Luis Obispo, CA
CAED/Architecture Summer Career Workshop
June 28 – July 24, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

Southern California Institute of Architecture – Los Angeles, CA
Making+Meaning
June 29 – July 24, 2026 – College, PostGrad, Professionals (4 Weeks)

Design Immersion Days
June 15 – July 10, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

University of California, Los Angeles – Los Angeles, CA
JumpStart
June 22 – July 17, 2026 – High School Graduates (4 Weeks)

TeenArch Studio (Online and In-Person)

June 22 – July 10, 2026 – High School (3 Weeks)

University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
High School Program: Exploration of Architecture
June 22 – July 17, 2026 – High School (4 Weeks)

Academy of Art University – San Francisco, CA

Pre-College Classes (FREE)

June 15 – June 25, 2026 – High School (2 Weeks)

University of Idaho – Moscow, ID
Summer Design Days 

June 24 – 27, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

University of Washington – Seattle, WA
Summer 2026 Courses
There are multiple dates between June and August 2026 available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

 

INTERNATIONAL

CIAO!  Center for Introduction to Architecture Overseas – Pontano, Italy
https://ciaocfsu.org
July 4 – 25, 2026 – High School (3 Weeks)

CIEE High School Summer Abroad

Summer Architecture Programs

There are multiple programs available throughout Summer 2026 in various locations, including Paris, Rome, Athens, and multi-city opportunities.

Porto Academy Visiting Spain – Barcelona, Spain
Summer School Program
July 20 – 27, 2026 – College and Professional (1 Week)

The Architectural Association (AA) – The United Kingdom
Visiting School

Multiple programs are available throughout 2026. Please visit the website to see dates and learn more. 

Temple University Japan High School Summer Program – Tokyo, Japan

TUJ High School Summer Program

July 29 – August 6, 2026 – High School (1 Week)

 

 

2025 Summer Architecture Programs

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Are you interested in studying architecture and looking for a summer opportunity? Listed below are over 100 unique programs located across the United States and internationally. These programs range from pre-college sessions to summer design camps. Browse the list below to find a summer program that is the right fit for you. 

We encourage you to visit the websites linked below to verify the most recent details, as some programs may continue to be updated since the posting of this article. 

Hoping to promote your summer program on this list? Email info@acsa-arch.org!

North America

NORTHEAST

Barnard College – New York, NY
Barnard Pre-College Programs

Session 1: June 29 – July 18, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)
Session 2: July 21 – August 8, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)

Boston Architectural College – Boston, MA
BAC Summer Academy *Online and In-Person*
July 7 – August 1, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks) 

Urban Design and Planning Pre-College Fellowship 

June 30 – August 8, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

Boston Society of Architects – Boston, MA

Arch/Design High School Internships
July 7 – August 15, 2025 – High School (6 Weeks)

Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History with Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture – Pittsburgh, PA

Summer Camps
Multiple dates between June and August 2025 are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

Carleton University – Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA 

Studio First  (Online)
Session I: May 13 – June 17, 2025 – College and Professional (5 Weeks)
Session II: June 24 – July 29, 2025  – College and Professional (5 Weeks)

Imagine Architecture *Online and In-Person*

On-campus:

Session I: July 7-11, 2025

Session II: July 14-18, 2025

Session III: July 21-25, 2025

Online:

July 28 – August 1, 2025

The Catholic University of America Experiences in Architecture – Washington, DC
Summer High School Program (EiA)
July 7 – 18, 2025 – High School and Incoming First-Year College Students (2 Weeks)

Center for Architecture Foundation – New York, NY 

Summer Programs
Summer 2025 Dates TBD – Grades 3-12 (4 Weeks)

Cincinnati Architectural Mentoring Program – Cincinnati, OH

Summer CAMP
July 13 – 19, 2025 – Rising 8th and 9th grade (1 Week)

Columbia University – New York, NY 

Columbia GSAPP Summer 2025 Intro Program  

Summer 2025 Dates TBD – College and Post-Grad 

Scholarship opportunity: https://www.arch.columbia.edu/hilyard-robinson-scholars 

Cooper Union – New York, NY
Introduction to Architecture for High School Students  (Online)

July 7 – August 8, 2025 – High School (5 Weeks)
Introduction to Architecture for College Students  (Online)

July 7 – August 1, 2025 – College (4 Weeks)

Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA
Summer Residential & Commuter Program
July 6 – 19, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks) 

Fallingwater – Mill Run, PA

Virtual Summer Camps (Online)
Session I: June 30 – July 3, 2025 – High School (1 Week)
Session II: August 4 – August 8, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Chestnut Hill College – Philadelphia, PA

Global Solutions Lab  *Online and In-Person*
June 17 – 21, 2025 – High School, College, Post-Grad, Professional (2 Weeks)

Harvard University – Cambridge, MA 

Harvard GSD Design Discovery (Online)
June 9 – 27, 2025 – College, Post-Grad, Professional (3 Weeks)

Maryland Institute College of Art – Baltimore, MD

PreCollege

Two-Week Program

Session I: June 30 – July 11, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)
Session I: July 14 – July 25, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Four-Week Program

June 30 – July 25, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

University of Maryland – College Park, MD
Terp Young Scholars *Online and In-Person*

July 14 – August 1, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Marywood University, School of Architecture (MUSoA)
Design Your Future Architecture + Design Program
June 21 – 28, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

New Jersey Institute of Technology – Newark, NJ

Career Exploration Summer Programs
July 14 – 25, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

July 21 – 25, 2025 – High School (1 Week)
July 14 – 18, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

August 4 – 8, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Norwich University – Northfield, VT

Summer Design Academy
July 6 – 12, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

The Pennsylvania State University – State College, PA

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Summer Camp

July 12 – 16, 2025 – Grades 9 & 10 (1 Week)

Advanced Architecture and Landscape Architecture Summer Camp

July 19 – 23, 2025 – Grade 11-  Incoming College Freshmen (1 Week)

Phillips Exeter Academy – Exeter, NH
Summer Program

July 6 – August 7, 2025 – Middle School and High School (5 Weeks)

Pratt Institute – Brooklyn, NY
Summer PreCollege *Online and In-Person*
In-Person: July 7 – August 1, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

Online: June 23 – July 3, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Troy, NY
Architecture Career Discovery Program *Online and In-Person*

In-Person: July 7 – 16, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Online: July 22 – August 2, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Rhode Island School of Design – Providence, RI
Pre-Collegiate Program

June 28 – August 2, 2025 – High School (5 Weeks)

Roger Williams University – Bristol, RI
Summer Academy 

July 6 – August 2, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY
Summer College *Online and In-Person*

Multiple dates between July and August 2025 are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

‘T’ Space Rhinebeck – Rhinebeck, NY
‘T’ Space Architecture Residency *Online and In-Person*
In-Person: August 4 – 8, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Online: July 5 – 28, 2025 — High School (3 Weeks)

Temple University – Philadelphia, PA 

The Tyler Architecture Institute
Session I: July 7 – 18, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)
Session II: July 21 – August 1, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston, MA

ImpactLab
Session I July 6 – 18, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Session II: July 20 – August 1, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

SOUTHEAST

Auburn University – Auburn, AL

Architecture Camp
Session I: June 2 – June 6, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Session II: June 9 – June 13, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Session III: July 7 – July 11, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Clemson University – Clemson, SC 

Summer Scholars
June 6 – 11, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Georgia Institute of Technology – Atlanta, GA
Pre-College Summer Program
Session I: June 15 – 27, 2025– High School (2 Weeks)
Session II: July 6 – 18, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Kennesaw State University – Marietta, GA

Architecture Summer Academy

July 7 – July 18, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, LA
Architecture Camp
June 1 – 6, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Mississippi State University – Starkville, MS
Architecture Summer Camp: Design Discovery
June 1 – 7, 2025 – High School & Incoming College Freshmen (1 Week)

North Carolina State University – Raleigh, NC
NC State Design Camp

Middle School Day Camps

Session I: July 7 – 11, 2025 – Middle School (1 Week)

Session II: July 14 – 18, 2025 – Middle School (1 Week)

Session III: July 28 – August 1, 2025 – Middle School (1 Week)

Design Fundamentals Day Camp

July 7 – 11, 2025 – Rising 8th and 9th Graders (1 Week)

High School Explorations Day Camp

July 8 – August 1, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

High School Explorations Residential Camp

June 22 – 28, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Design Immersions Residential Program

June 17, July 13 – 19, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Savannah College of Arts & Design – Atlanta and Savannah, GA 
SCAD Rising Star
June 29 – July 25, 2025 – Rising High School Seniors (4 Weeks)

Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
Explorations in Architecture and Design

Multiple dates between June and July 2025 are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

University of Miami – Miami, FL
Pre-College Summer Scholars

June 30 – July 17, 2025 — High School (3 Weeks) 

University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
SoA Summer Design Academy 

June 8 – 14, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
UT Summer Design Camp
July 13 – 19, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Virginia Tech School of Architecture & Design – Blacksburg, VA
VT Explore Architecture Summer Program *Online and In-Person*

In-Person Session: June 15 – 20, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Virtual Session: July 15 – 20, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

EAST CENTRAL

Ball State University – Muncie, IN

Architecture + Planning Camp @CAP: INDY

June 23 – 27, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

DesignWorks Academy
July 6 – 18, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Lawrence Technological University – Detroit, MI
High School Summer Programs
June 23 – 27, 2025 – High School (1 Week)
July 7 – 11, 2025 – High School (1 Week)
July 14 – 18, 2025 – High School (1 Week)
July 21 – July 24, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Miami University – Oxford, OH
Summer Scholars Program
Session I: July 6 – July 11, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Session II: July 13 – July 18, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

The Center for Architecture & Design – Columbus, OH
High School Design Studio
June 2 – 13, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
ArcStart
July 14 – August 1, 2025 – High School & Rising College Freshmen (3 Weeks)

University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN
Career Discovery
June 16 – 28, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

WEST CENTRAL 

Chicago Architecture Center – Chicago, IL

Girls Build!

Session I: June 23 – 27, 2025 – Middle School & High School (1 Week)

Session II: July 7 – 11, 2025 – Middle School & High School (1 Week)

Teen Fellows

June 23, 2025 – May 9, 2026 – High School (15 Month Fellowship)

Teen Saturday Studios 

Session I: June 21, 2025 – High School (1 Day)

Session II: July 19, 2025 – High School (1 Day)

Session III: August 16, 2025 – High School (1 Day)

University of Illinois at Chicago – Chicago, IL
HiArch Summer High School Architecture Program
Week 1: July 21 – 25, 2025 – High School (1 Week)
Week 2: July 28- August 1, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Illinois Institute of Technology – Chicago, IL
Experiment in Architecture Workshop

July 7 – 18, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Judson University – Elgin, IL
Architecture and Interior Design Discovery Camp
July 13 – 18, 2025  – High School (1 Week)

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Discover Architecture Workshop
Dates TBD – High School 

Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts – St. Louis, MO
The Architecture Discovery Program (ADP)
July 13 – 26, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago – Chicago, IL
Early College Program Summer Institute
Multiple dates between June and August 2025 are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

University of Colorado Denver – Denver, CO
Architecture in the City

Day Camp: June 23 – June 27, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

Overnight Camp: July 19 – July 26, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

University of Illinois at Chicago – Chicago, IL
YArch Summer Architecture Program
July 7 – August 1, 2025 – College, Postgrad (4 Weeks)

University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS
Pre-College Design Camp
June 8 – 14, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
Career Explorations in Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture Workshop
June 8 – June 13, 2025 –  High School (1 Week)

University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK
Mini College
Part I: June 2 – 27, 2025 – Elementary & Middle School (2 Weeks)

Part II: July 7 – August 4, 2025 – Elementary & Middle School (4 Weeks)

Horizons

Part I: June 9 – 27, 2025 – Middle School (2 Weeks)

Part II: July 14 – August 1, 2025 –  Middle School (2 Weeks)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WI
Virtual Architecture Summer Camp Academy (Online)

July 20 – 26, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

 

SOUTHWEST

University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, AR
Design Camp
Multiple dates throughout June 2025. are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (Elementary, Middle & High School)

University of Houston and Rice University- Houston, TX
Wonderworks Pre-College Summer Program

June 16 – July 18, 2025 – High School (5 Weeks)

University of New Mexico -Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM
Architecture + Design Summer Academy

Session I: Santa Fe – New Mexico School for the Arts

June 9 – 20, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

June 9 – 27, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)

Session II: Albuquerque

July 7 – July 18, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

July 7 – July 25, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)

University of Texas San Antonio – San Antonio, TX
Summer Career Academy in Architecture & Interior Design  *Online and In-Person*
June 2 – 16, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

Texas A&M University – College Station, TX
Camp ARCH
July 7 – 12, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

 

WEST

Academy of Art University – Pre-College Architecture Program – San Francisco, CA 
The Pre-College Art & Design Experience (PCADE)
June 16 – 25, 2025 – High School (2 Weeks)

California Baptist University – Riverside, CA
CAVAD Summer Academy 2025
July 14 – 18, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

California College of The Arts – San Francisco, CA
Architecture & Interior Design Pre-College Program
July 7 – August 1, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks) 

California Poly State University – SLO – San Luis Obispo, CA
CAED/Architecture Summer Career Workshop
June 22 – July 18, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

Girls Garage – Berkeley, CA
Summer Programs
Multiple dates between June and July 2025 are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (Middle & High School)

SoCal NOMA – East Los Angeles, CA
Summer Camp
July 12, 19, and 26, 2025 – Ages 10 -18 (3 Days)

Southern California Institute of Architecture – Los Angeles, CA
Making+Meaning
June 30 – July 25, 2025 – College, PostGrad, Professionals (4 Weeks)

Design Immersion Days
June 16 – July 11, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design – Berkeley, CA

embARC Summer Design Academy

July 7 – August 1, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

DISC: Design + Innovation for Sustainable Cities
July 7 – August 8, 2025 – College (4 Weeks)

Summer [In]stitute: [IN]ARCH, [IN]CITY, [IN]LAND

July 7 – August 15, 2025 – College, Professionals (6 Weeks)

University of California, Los Angeles – Los Angeles, CA
JumpStart
June 23 – July 18, 2025 – High School Graduates (4 Weeks)

TeenArch Studio *Online and In-Person*

In-Person

Session I: June 29 – July 19, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)

Session II: June 30 – July 18, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)

Online

June 30 – July 18, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)

University of Idaho – Moscow, ID
Summer Design Days
June 25 – 28, 2025 – High School (1 Week)

University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
High School Program: Exploration of Architecture
June 15 – July 12, 2025 – High School (4 Weeks)

University of Washington – Seattle, WA
Summer 2025 Courses
Multiple dates between June and August 2025 are available. Please visit the website to learn more. (High School)

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

The Architectural Association (AA) – The United Kingdom
Visiting School

Multiple programs are available throughout 2025. Please visit the website to see dates and learn more. 

CIAO!  Center for Introduction to Architecture Overseas – Pontano, Italy
https://ciaocfsu.org
July 5 – 26, 2025 – High School (3 Weeks)

Porto Academy Visiting Spain – Barcelona
https://portoacademy.info/event.php?event_id=78
July 14 – 21, 2025 – College and Professional (1 Week)

2024 Summer Architecture Programs

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Are you interested in studying architecture and looking for a summer opportunity? Listed below are over 100 unique programs located across the United States and internationally. These programs range from pre-college sessions to summer design camps. Browse the list below to find a summer program that is the right fit for you. 

We encourage you to visit the websites linked below to verify the most recent details as programs continue to update since the posting of this article. 

Hoping to promote your summer program on this list? Email info@acsa-arch.org!

UNITED STATES

 

NORTHEAST

 

Barnard College – New York, NY
https://precollege.barnard.edu
Session 1: June 30 – July 19, 2024 – High School (3 Weeks)
Session 2: July 22 – August 10, 2024 – High School (3 Weeks)

Boston Architectural College – Boston, MA – (Online and In-Person)
https://the-bac.edu/academics/summer-academy
July 1 – August 2, 2024 – High School (5 Weeks)

Boston Society of Architects – Boston, MA
https://www.architects.org/programs/k12-arch-design-high-school-internships
July 8 – August 16, 2024 – High School (6 Weeks)

Carnegie Mellon University – Pittsburgh, PA
https://www.cmu.edu/pre-college/academic-programs/architecture.html
June 22 – July 27, 2024  – High School (5 Weeks)

Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History with Carnegie Mellon School of Architecture – Pittsburgh, PA
https://camps.artandnaturalhistory.org/calendar/?week=-1&event_category=0&event_audience=110
Various dates between June and August 2024 are available, please visit the website to learn more. 

The Catholic University of America Experiences in Architecture – Washington, DC
High School Program – Catholic University – Washington DC | CUA
July 7 – 20, 2024 – High School and College (2 Weeks)

Center for Architecture Foundation – New York, NY
https://www.centerforarchitecture.org/k-12/youth-family-programs/summer-programs/
Summer 2024 Dates TBD – Grades 3-12 (4 Weeks)

Cincinnati Architectural Mentoring Program – Cincinnati, OH
https://www.cincyarchcamp.org/summer-camp
July 7 – 13, 2024 – Rising 8th and 9th grade (1 Week)

Columbia University – New York, NY (Online and In-Person)
https://www.arch.columbia.edu/programs/2-intro-to-architecture
July 8 – August 9, 2024 – College and Post-Grad (5 Weeks)

Cooper Union – New York, NY (Online)
Introduction to Architecture for High School Students 

July 8 – August 9, 2024 – High School (5 Weeks)
Introduction to Architecture for College Students 

July 8 – August 2, 2024 – College (4 Weeks)

Cornell University – Ithaca, NY  (Online)
https://sce.cornell.edu/precollege/program/online
Session I: June 3 – 21, 2024 – High School and College (3 Weeks)

Session II: June 24 – July 12, 2024 – High School and College (3 Weeks)

Session III: – August 2, 2024 – High School and College (3 Weeks)

June 24–August 6, 2024 – High School and College (6 Weeks)

Drexel University – Philadelphia, PA (Online and in person)
http://www.drexel.edu/westphal/about/summerHighschoolProgram/Summer_Programs_ARCH/
July 7 – 20, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Fallingwater – Mill Run, PA (Online)
https://fallingwater.org/virtual-summer-camps/
June 17 – 21, 2024 – High School (1 Week)
August 5 – 9, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Global Solutions Lab – Chestnut Hill College – Philadelphia, PA (Online)
http://www.designsciencelab.com
June 17 – 21, 2024 – High School, College, and Post-Grad (2 Weeks)

Harvard University – Cambridge, MA (Online)
https://earlydesigneducation.gsd.harvard.edu/harvard-gsd-design-discovery-virtual/
June 10 – 28, 2024 – College and Post-Grad (3 Weeks)

Maryland Institute College of Art – Baltimore, MD
https://www.mica.edu/non-degree-learning-opportunities/programs-for-youth/programs-for-teens/summer-pre-college-program/
June 30 – July 13, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)
June 30 – July 27, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks)

July 14 – 27, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

University of Maryland – College Park, MD (Online and In-Person)
https://oes.umd.edu/administrative/terp-young-scholars-mentor-opportunities
July 8 – 26, 2024 – High School (3 Weeks)

Marywood University, School of Architecture (MUSoA) – Design Your Future Architecture + Design Program – Dunmore, PA

https://marywood.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1541&p=1 

June 22 – 29, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

New Jersey Institute of Technology – Newark, NJ
http://design.njit.edu/coadprograms/summer.php
July 7 – 12, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

July 7 – 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)
July 14 – 19, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

July 14 – 19, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Norwich University – Summer Design Academy – Northfield, VT
https://www.norwich.edu/academics/non-degree-and-high-school-student-programs/camps-hands-learning-experiences/summer-design-academy
July 7 – 13, 2023 – High School (1 Week)

The Pennsylvania State University – State College, PA
http://architecture-camps.outreach.psu.edu/
July 28 – August 1, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Phillips Exeter Academy – Exeter, NH
http://www.exeter.edu/exeter-summer
July 6 – Aug 8, 2024 – Middle School and High School (5 Weeks)

Pratt Institute – Brooklyn, NY (Online and In-Person)
https://www.pratt.edu/continuing-and-professional-studies/precollege/summer-precollege/
July 8 – August 2, 2024 – High School (3 Weeks)

Prince George’s County Memorial Library System – PG County, MD 

Bladensburg Branch Camp: July 22 – 26, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Fairmount Heights Camp: August 5-9, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Troy, NY (Online and In-Person)
http://summer.rpi.edu/programs

In-Person: July 8 – 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Online: July 22 – August 2, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Rhode Island School of Design – Providence, RI  (In-Person)
http://precollege.risd.edu
Session I: June 22 – July 20, 2024 (4 Weeks)

Session II: July 21 – August 18, 2024 (4 Weeks)

Roger Williams University – Summer Academy – Bristol, RI
http://rwu.edu/academics/schools-colleges/saahp/special-programs/summer-programs/summer-academy
July 7 – August 3, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks)

Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY (Online and In-Person)
https://precollege.syr.edu/programs-courses/
Various dates between July and August 2024 are available, please visit the website to learn more.

‘T’ Space Summer Architectural Residency – Rhinebeck, NY (Online and In-Person)
https://tspacerhinebeck.org/residency/
July 5 – August 2, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks)

Temple University – Philadelphia, PA
http://tyler.temple.edu/continuing-education-program/architecture-institute
Session I: July 8 – 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)
Session II: July 22 – August 2, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Wentworth Institute of Technology – Boston, MA
https://wit.edu/admissions/pre-college/impact-lab
Session One: July 7 – 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Session Two: July 21 – August 2, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

 

SOUTHEAST

 

Auburn University – Auburn, AL
http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/opce/auburnyouthprograms/architecture.htm
Session I: June 2 – 7, 2024 – High School (1 Week)
Session II: July 7 – 12, 2024 – High School (1 Week)
Session III: July 14 – 19, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Clemson University – Clemson, SC
https://www.clemson.edu/summer/summer-scholars/classes/designing-build-environment.html
June 2 – 7, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Georgia Institute of Technology – Atlanta, GA
https://design.gatech.edu/precollege
Session I: June 16 – 28, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)
Session II: July 7 – 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge, LA
https://design.lsu.edu/programs-and-initiatives/pre-college-camps/architecture-design-workshop/
June 9 – 14, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Mississippi State University – Starkville, MS
https://www.caad.msstate.edu/academics/camps/architecture
June 2 – 8, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

North Carolina State University – Raleigh, NC
https://design.ncsu.edu/designcamp/
July 8 – 12, 2024 – Middle School (1 Week)

July 29 – August 2, 2024 – Middle School (1 Week)

July 29 – August 2, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

June 23 – 29, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

July 14 – 20, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Savannah College of Arts & Design – Atlanta and Savannah, GA 
https://www.scad.edu/academics/pre-college-summer-programs/rising-star
June 16 – July 19, 2024 – High School (5 Weeks)

Tulane University – New Orleans, LA
https://summer.tulane.edu/areas-of-study/architecture
Dates TBD – High School

University of Miami – Miami, FL
http://ssp.dcie.miami.edu/
June 29 – July 19, 2024 – High School (3 Weeks) 

June 29 – July 12, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

University of North Carolina at Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
http://coaa.uncc.edu/academics/school-of-architecture/summer-camp-0
June 9 – 15, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN
http://archdesign.utk.edu/news-events/design-matters-camp/
July 14 – 20, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Virginia Tech School of Architecture & Design – Blacksburg, VA (Online and In-Person)
https://archdesign.caus.vt.edu/special-programs/inside-architecture-design/
Session I: June 16 – 21, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Session II: June 24  – 28, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Virtual Session: July 16 – 21, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

 

EAST CENTRAL

 

 Ball State University – Muncie, IN

https://www.bsu.edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/cap/workshops/apcamp 

 June 24 – 28, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

http://bsu.edu/cap/designworks
July 7 – 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Lawrence Technological University – Detroit, MI
https://www.ltu.edu/summer-camps/
July 8 – 12, 2024 – High School (1 Week)
July 15 – 19, 2024 – High School (1 Week)
July 22 – 26, 2024 – High School (1 Week)
July 29 – August 2, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Miami University – Oxford, OH
http://miamioh.edu/admission/high-school/summer-scholars/
Session 1: July 7 – 12, 2024 (1 Week)
Session 2: July 14 – 19, 2024 (1 Week)

The Center for Architecture & Design – Columbus, OH
https://www.columbuscfad.org/high-school-design-studio/
June 17 – 28, 2024 (2 Weeks)

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
http://www.taubmancollege.umich.edu/architecture/high-school-programs/arcstart
July 8 – 26, 2024. – High School (3 Weeks)

University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, IN
http://architecture.nd.edu/academics/professional-development/career-discovery/
 June 16 – 28, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

 

WEST CENTRAL

 

HiArch – University of Illinois at Chicago – Chicago, IL
https://arch.uic.edu/hiarch
Week 1: July 15 – 19, 2024 – High School (1 Week)
Week 2: July 22 – 26, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Illinois Institute of Technology – Chicago, IL
https://arch.iit.edu/study/eia
July 8 – 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Judson University – Elgin, IL
https://www.judsonu.edu/academics/architecture-department/design-discovery-camp/
July 7 – 12, 2024  – High School (1 Week)

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
https://ceat.okstate.edu/arch/discover-architecture.html
June 26 – 29th, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts – St. Louis, MO
https://samfoxschool.wustl.edu/academics/pre-college-programs/architecture-discovery-program
July 14 – 27, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago – Chicago, IL
http://saic.edu/ecpsi
Various dates between June and July 2024 are available, please visit the website to learn more.

Taliesin Preservation – Wisconsin (Online and In-Person)
https://www.taliesinpreservation.org/events/category/programs/summercamps/
Various dates between June and July 2024 are available, please visit the website to learn more.

University of Colorado Denver – Denver, CO
https://architectureandplanning.ucdenver.edu/architecture/academics/high-school-programs
June 17 – 21, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

University of Illinois at Chicago – Chicago, IL
http://arch.uic.edu/YArch
July 1 – 26, 2024 – College (3 Weeks)

University of Kansas – Lawrence, KS
http://design.ku.edu/designcamp
June 9 – 15, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Lincoln, NE
http://architecture.unl.edu/prospective-student/high-school-workshops
June 9 – 14, 2024 –  High School (1 Week)

University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK
https://pacs.ou.edu/precollegiate/9th-12th-grade/architecture-summer-academy/
TBD – K-12

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Milwaukee, WI
https://uwm.edu/sarup/future-students/architecture-summer-camp/
August 4 – 10, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

 

SOUTHWEST

 

University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, AR
https://fayjones.uark.edu/news-and-events/design-camp.php
Various dates throughout June 2024 are available, please visit the website to learn more. 

University of Houston and Rice University- Houston, TX
http://www.wonderworkshouston.org/
June 17 – July 19, 2024 – High School (5 Weeks)

University of New Mexico -Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM
https://saap.unm.edu/academics/adsa.html
June 10 – 22, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

June 10 – 28, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

July 8 – July 19, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

July 8 – July 26, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

University of Texas San Antonio – San Antonio, TX (Online and In-Person)
https://ceid.utsa.edu/architecture-planning/summer-academy/
June 3 – 14, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

Texas A&M University – College Station, TX
https://www.arch.tamu.edu/academics/high-school-outreach/camp-arch/
July 8 – 13, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

 

WEST

 

Academy of Art University – Pre-College Art & Design Experience – San Francisco, CA (Online and In-Person)
https://architecture.academyart.edu/portfolio-item/pre-college-summer-program-in-architecture-2024/
June 17 – 27, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

California Baptist University – Riverside, CA – Summer Day Camp
http://cavad.calbaptist.edu/programs/summer
July 8 – 12, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

California College of The Arts – San Francisco, CA (Online and In-Person)
https://portal.cca.edu/learning/special-programs/pre-college-program/architecture/
June 24 – July 26, 2024 – High School (5 Weeks) (online)

July 8 – August 2, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks) (in person)

California Poly State University – SLO – San Luis Obispo, CA
https://architecture.calpoly.edu/about/summer-career
June 23 – July 19, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks)

Girls Garage – Berkeley, CA – Summer Camp
https://girlsgarage.org/programs/summer/
Various dates between June and July 2024 are available, please visit the website to learn more. 

SoCal NOMA Project Pipeline Summer Camp – East Los Angeles College, CA
https://socalnoma.org/summer-camp/
Summer ‘24 Dates TBD – Ages 10 -18 (4 Weeks)

Southern California Institute of Architecture – Los Angeles, CA
https://sciarc.edu/mm
July 1 – 26, 2024 – College, Professionals (3 Weeks)

Southern California Institute of Architecture – Los Angeles, CA
https://www.sciarc.edu/academics/summer-programs/design-immersion-days
June 17 – 12, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks)

embARC Summer Design Academy – UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design – Berkeley, CA
https://ced.berkeley.edu/academics/summer-programs/embarc-summer-design-academy
July 1 – 26, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks)

DISC: Design + Innovation for Sustainable Cities – UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design – Berkeley, CA
http://ced.berkeley.edu/academics/summer-programs/discovery/
July 1 – August 2, 2024 – College (4 Weeks)

University of California, Los Angeles– JumpStart – Los Angeles, CA
https://www.aud.ucla.edu/academics/summer-programs#jumpstart
June 24 – July 19, 2024 – High School Graduates (4 Weeks)

University of California, Los Angeles– TeenArch Studio – Los Angeles, CA (Online and In-Person) https://www.aud.ucla.edu/academics/summer-programs#teenarch-studio
July 1 – July 19, 2024 – High School (3 Weeks)

University of Idaho – Moscow, ID  (Online and In-Person)
https://www.uidaho.edu/caa/highschool-events/design-days
June 26 – 29, 2024 – High School (1 Week)

University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
https://arch.usc.edu/high-school-program-exploration-of-architecture
June 16 – July 13, 2024 – High School (4 Weeks)

University of Washington – Summer Youth Programs – Seattle, WA
https://www.summer-camp.uw.edu/camps-courses-masters/architectural-studies/
July 1 – 12, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

July 15 – 26, 2024 – High School (2 Weeks)

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

Architectural Association Summer School (Online and In-Person)
https://www.aaschool.ac.uk/academicprogrammes/visitingschool
Various programs are available, please visit the website to see dates and learn more. 

Carleton University – Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA – Studio First  (Online)
https://carleton.ca/architecture/programs/studiofirst/
May 14 – June 18, 2024 – College and Professional (5 Weeks)
June 25 – July 30, 2024  – College and Professional (5 Weeks)

Carleton University – Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA – Imagine Architecture (Online and In-Person)
https://architecture.carleton.ca/non-degree-programs/imagine-architecture
Various dates between July and August 2024 are available, please visit the website to learn more. 

CIAO!  Center for Introduction to Architecture Overseas – Pontano, Italy
https://ciaocfsu.org
July 6 – 27, 2024 – High School (3 Weeks)

IFHP Urban Planning and Design Summer School in Finland 
https://ifhpsummerschool.wordpress.com/
2024 Dates are TBD

Porto Academy Visiting Spain – Barcelona
https://portoacademy.info/event.php?event_id=78
July 15 – 22, 2024 – College and Professional (1 Week)

 

NOMA LA: Project Pipeline Summer Camp

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Summer 2020 has been a unique experience, to say the least. Summer architecture programs, as they once were, have been forced to pivot quickly and plan for a completely virtual experience or cancel altogether. Although COVID-19 has drastically shaped the experience of many summer programs across the country, we did not want to let that stop us from sharing about a few of them. Earlier this fall, we sat down with the Louisiana Project Pipeline Program Coordinator, Bryan Bradshaw, to get his perspective on what makes the camp he coordinates so unique. He started by telling us the origin story of Project Pipeline, before walking us through its transformation under his leadership.

The Project Pipeline Summer Camp is part of a broader community-focused program called Project Pipeline, “a mentorship program established by National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) in 2002 designed to encourage equality within the profession and provide an introduction to young students interested in the world of architecture and design.” The program currently consists of a “summer camp and a workshop series throughout the year, all within the framework of achieving a sustained mentorship program.” The Summer Camp gives rising 8th through 12th graders the opportunity to work with local architects, designers, and community professionals to design a building or block for their community. With a focus on social justice, design justice, urban planning, and architecture, this camp seeks to “empower young people to affect change in their community through design using the city as a classroom.” 

One mentor had this to say about Project Pipeline mentoring program: 

[It] teaches a democratized practice of community-based design in the tradition of the earliest Black architects at Tuskegee and the activist designers of ARCH, the Architects’ Renewal Committee in Harlem. We teach our students that design is political. We build neighborhoods and cities collectively, pushing back against the individualistic culture of ‘starchitecture’ that helps to perpetuate White and male domination in our profession. 

In NOMA Louisiana Project Pipeline, and in other programs around the United States, we teach that merely changing who is represented in positions of power is not enough to transform our built environment. We are changing how we practice. My fellow mentors are not just Black and other people of color; they’re architects, designers, and planners who actively seek to create a more just and equitable world through their work. The students and mentors I’ve met through Project Pipeline have become my mentors, employers, employees, and best friends. They’re the people I learn from and the people I cite; an ever-expanding community seeking justice in, and through, the built environment. Project Pipeline has the power to transform the design professions at every level, for everyone. The state of the world reminds me daily why it’s necessary that we do so.

-Chris Daemmrich, a Project Pipeline Mentor

Responding to the global pandemic, Bradshaw and his team pivoted to host a completely virtual, weeklong camp that drew students from New Orleans and as far as the Carolinas. Students outside of New Orleans were shipped the materials backpack (see image below), while the locals got to meet their mentors from a distance when they came to drop the backpack off on the students’ doorsteps. The camp attendees each received model-making materials, legos, pens and paper, and a workbook guide for the week in the backpacks. The week was filled with daily one-on-one zoom calls with mentors, along with critiques and model-making, concluding with a presentation to peers and mentors. After completion of the camp, they also received a NOMA Louisiana mask, camp certificate and copy of three books: Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism, African American Architects: Embracing Culture and Building Urban Communities, and Dark Space: Architecture, Representation, Black Identity.

Bradshaw and his team assemble material packets for the virtual camp.

Backpacks packed with model-making materials, legos, pens and paper, architecture magazines, and a workbook guide for the week.

 

Typically, the camp focuses on a collective neighborhood that is created by the students’ response to functional needs in their build environment; though the virtual format afforded a new opportunity to have the students think more in-depth about their personal communities. The students were asked to design an ideal “city block” in their area and make a list of functional needs that would specifically enhance the quality of life for their neighbors. The students were then given a prompt to design the space of one of the functional needs on the block. 

Virtual presentation on the assignment made by Bradshaw and his team.

Mentor teams review design ideas and teach about design representation through plan, section, and elevations using Legos.

When the camp was held in person, the students were challenged to design a proposal for a city block, then pass it to another team and that team was allowed to make changes, but only after consulting the original design team. This challenge built communication skills and helped the students better understand their own design decisions and the decisions of others.  

Students partner and collaborate to design a city block.

After they have each completed one round of design iteration, the board is passed to the next team and discussions begin about design changes desired by the next team. Students explain their design intentions to the next team upon which they will build and add their own ideas.

 

Students present their ideas to their mentors.

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To better understand the impact that this camp is having on not only the students but the mentors as well, we asked for a few participants to share their experiences. 

Keren Zempoalteca, High School Senior and First-Year Camp Attendee:

During the week, I learned so much stuff and details I didn’t even know architects have to take into consideration when starting a project, like, the community and their needs, and that amazed me. When doing the projects, I was surprised that they made such an effort to send bags with some materials we would be needing during the week. All the leaders were really involved with every student’s ideas and gave incredible feedback. Even though it was my first and last year in the camp, I feel thankful I experienced this, as it clarified my desire to continue pursuing this major. 

Josephine (Josie) Messina, High School Sophomore and 2nd Year Camp Attendee: 

The 2020 NOMA Louisiana Project Pipeline Camp was a very exciting program that I went to this summer. I had gone to it last summer when it was in person and made many connections with the mentors there helping us. It was a very smooth transition to the virtual format and was planned out very well. The activities that we got to do helped me learn about my community and the way architecture can help improve it. We focused on the need of the people living there and how that shapes where things are and how they function. 

Kiwana T. McClung, First Year Camp Mentor: 

As an Associate Professor and the advisor to the UL Chapter of NOMAS, I mentor several current design students. However, my lack of proximity to New Orleans made it hard for me to participate in past Project Pipeline camps. The camp being virtual this year made it easier for all, giving me a chance to connect with potential design students, while witnessing first-hand the amazing fount of talent we have in the state of Louisiana. The NOMA Louisiana cohort, as well as the campers, made it a profound experience and I am looking forward to participating again next year.

Teva Kaplan, Camp Mentor 2017-2020:

This was my third year as a mentor for Project Pipeline. One of my favorite moments each year is helping the kids explore their own neighborhood through the lens of equitable architecture. It’s so powerful to see them shift from thinking about the material as a material to realizing what that space could actually mean for their neighborhood if their design existed. It usually happens between days two and three. I think that’s the moment when kids realize their own agency and ability to create positive change in places they love. Project Pipeline gives a quick and tactile introduction to foundational architecture skills in a creative and accessible way.

It is clear that this program has fostered a space for creativity, voice, and social justice in the heart of New Orleans. To learn more about this program or find a Project Pipeline program near you, visit their website at http://nomalaprojectpipeline.org/. 

Each year, Study Architecture curates a full list of summer programs (virtual and in-person) from across the country and publishes it here. Check back in the spring of 2021 to see the full list. If you are curious, check out the 2019 and 2020 list. 

MSU Hosts Design Summer Camp in Downtown Jackson

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(via Mississippi State University Newsroom)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State’s College of Architecture, Art and Design is hosting a design camp for students from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi.

Taking place through Friday [June 24], the five-day summer experience in Jackson is helping students in the Greater Jackson community develop their interests in architecture, art, community development, design, engineering, planning, social justice and related professional fields.

Students are gaining knowledge of design tools and media through individual and group workshops focused on design, sketching, photography, graphic design, model building, sculpture and construction, among other skills. Collaboration, leadership and communication skills also are being developed, which will help students increase their self-confidence in these areas, leaders said.

Faculty of MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design—as well as those from the university’s College of Business—are leading students in collaborative and creative activities focused on design education. MSU alumni are leading discussions on design-related career opportunities and providing information about their educational and professional experiences.

CAAD Associate Dean and Professor Greg Hall said the camp is designed to help expose students to the wide variety and scope of educational and career opportunities in design fields ranging from architecture to graphic design and interior design to fashion, as well as related fields such as engineering and construction.

“One of our primary goals is to help students form educational and professional goals that they can continue to develop during their high school education, regardless of their eventual career choice,” Hall said.

In addition to being funded in part by a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, this year’s camp is supported by MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, its School of Architecture and Department of Art, the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and Office of the Registrar.

Lori Neuenfeldt, MSU art instructor and gallery director, and architect Emily Roush-Elliott of the university’s Carl Small Town Center, are serving as camp co-directors.

For additional camp information, contact Hall at 662-325-2509 or ghall@caad.msstate.edu.

Learn more about MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design at www.caad.msstate.edu, facebook.com/CAADatMSU, twitter.com/CAADatMSU and http://tinyurl.com/CAADatMSUYouTube.

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Check out Mississippi State University’s Architecture Program Profile Page on StudyArchitecture.com!

Image: A design camp led by faculty of Mississippi State’s College of Architecture, Art and Design is helping students in the Greater Jackson community explore their interests in architecture, art, community development, design, engineering, planning, social justice and related professional fields. (Photo by Lori Neuenfeldt)