Archinect's featured list of summer architecture programs continues with Part II, where we focus on opportunities for recent high school graduates and adults. 

Echoing a similar message as provided in Part I, these courses and workshops offer recent high school graduates and adults (at any age range), even without prior design experience, access to the fundamentals of an architectural education. Our list also includes programs for those with existing backgrounds adjacent to architecture looking to explore specific topics with a design emphasis. 

As proven in our Working Out of the Box series, an education in architecture can be invaluable in various pursuits. Regardless of where you are in your architecture journey, there are many programs that allow those with non-architecture degrees a way into a new discipline.

*Programs below are listed by their start date.

STUDIO FIRST
Institution: Carleton University (Ottawa, ON)
Type: Virtual
Dates: May 16 – June 21; July 4 – August 9

Details: "STUDIO FIRST is an intensive five-week studio in architectural design for students from a wide range of backgrounds who are considering graduate studies in architecture, urban design, or landscape architecture. Did you know that a Master of Architecture professional degree is available to students with an honours undergraduate major in any field? STUDIO FIRST provides a post-baccalaureate “bridge” from an undergraduate degree in any field toward entrance into a three-year accredited professional degree program in architecture. Architecture is well-suited to people from diverse disciplines, from visual arts and engineering to geography and the humanities. The Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism’s STUDIO FIRST program will allow students to immerse themselves in studio culture and determine whether architecture is the right path to follow. STUDIO FIRST is the first and only program of its kind in Canada." Learn more here.

Summer Studio in Classical Architecture
Institution: Institute of Classical Architecture & Art
Type: In-Person
Dates: June 12–July 8

Details: "The ICAA Summer Studio in Classical Architecture is a four-week immersive program introducing university students and recent graduates to skills, knowledge, and resources essential to the practice and appreciation of classical design. Students build a foundation in classical architectural design through coursework in a variety of areas." Learn more here.

Global Solutions Lab
Organization: EarthGame Inc. (Philadelphia, PA)
Type: Hybrid
Dates: June 18–30

Details: "The 2023 two-week online and in-person Global Solutions Lab is in its 19th year. It is generally focused on making real the above quote of Buckminster Fuller, and specifically, on developing strategic solutions for reaching the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Students and young professionals from around the world* will be coming to the 2023 Lab. They will be briefed by UN experts (from WHO, the UN Development Program, UN Environmental Program, UNESCO, and other UN agencies),** develop comprehensive strategies for dealing with critical global problems and paths for reaching the UN’s SDGs — and then present their work at the UN." Learn more here.

Architecture and Design Summer Programs
Institution: Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
Type: In-Person
Dates: June 20–July 28 (Architecture Program) and June 5 – August 1 (Design Program)

Details: "The Introduction to Architecture Summer Program: This intensive program for undergraduates considering a master's degree in architecture will introduce you to architectural ideas, principles, and methods of exploring architectural problems in a studio setting. In small groups, you'll work in the studio, attend lectures, and develop skills in workshops on representational techniques and portfolio design. The program requires no specialized knowledge beyond a serious interest in architectural design. In 2023, this program will be offered online for pre-college students. College students may enroll in either the online or the in-person, on-campus version of the program. Design studios at the first- through fifth-year level. These highly structured on-campus, in-person design studios offer you an opportunity for a concentrated period of design work." Learn more here.

AA Summer School: Worlding - with, in Company
Institution: Architecture Association (AA School) and Space Saloon
Type: In-Person
Dates: June 26–July 7

Details: "This course is a multi-disciplinary exploration into the methods of creative and scientific field research with the specific aim of demystifying aspects of site, context and landscape. Participants will collectively research, design and build an interactive pavilion that enhances the public’s perception of water, soil, geology, flora and fauna while positively influencing and interacting with these diverse ecologies. Led by the design collective Space Saloon, this 12-day workshop takes place on-site at the Iowa Lakeside Lab, a permanent field research station and summer camp. Together we will engage with the physical and invisible ecologies of Northwest Iowa’s Great Lakes region using a variety of analog and digital tools. We will visit regional natural sites with field researchers, consulting directly with local scientific experts and lab technicians. As a collaborative unit, we will create hands-on explorations with local low-carbon, earthen/plant-based and repurposed materials, culminating in the construction of one final pavilion." Learn more here.

*Additional AA Visiting School Summer Programs are available from May thru August 2023. Click here to learn more.

Summer [IN]stitute in Environmental Design
Institution: UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design (Berkeley, CA)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 3 – August 11

Details: "An intensive program for anyone who considers applying for a graduate degree program in an environmental design discipline: architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning [...] Each program includes a lecture series, a design or planning studio, and media workshops, while the three in-person programs [IN]ARCH, [IN]LAND and [IN]CITY also conduct site visits. By fulfilling the program requirements, students earn a certificate of completion and graded credit on an official UC Berkeley transcript. All in-person classes are held in Bauer Wurster Hall, CED's home on the UC Berkeley campus. " Learn more here.

Disc: Design + Innovation for Sustainable Cities
Institution: UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design (Berkeley, CA)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 3 – August 4

Details: "Designed for college students interested in learning how to address the urgent issues of climate change, urban health, and social equity through design of the built environment. DISC is an immersive, full-time program on the UC Berkeley campus, stretching over five weeks. The program fosters a multidisciplinary and international learning environment that gives students the tools and expertise necessary to craft innovative design-based solutions." Learn more here.

AA Summer School: London's Belly
Institution: Architectural Association School of Architecture (London, UK)
Type: In-Person and Remote
Dates: July 9–27

Details: "The AA Summer School 2023 explores the urban landscape of food consumption, production, sale, transport and storage within the city of London. During its three-week program in July 2023, units will set out from Bedford Square to investigate the ways in which the city consumes and metabolizes food, energy and togetherness [...] The Summer School program aims to build creative relationships between a diverse group of people who work together to investigate what architecture is, and what it can be – pushing the boundaries of architectural education beyond the established curriculum. We will experiment within the school and out in the city; we will use the AA’s facilities and academic resources; we will party, work, laugh and play. The Summer School enables radical experimentation and freedom – both of which are central to the AA itself." Learn more here.

*Additional AA Visiting School Summer Programs are available from May thru August 2023. Click here to learn more.

JumpStart Program
Institution: UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (Los Angeles, CA)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 5–28

Details: "JumpStart is a 3.5-week summer studio for individuals contemplating careers in architecture, design, and related fields. The program is open to students from all backgrounds and carries six quarters of University of California credit. To participate in JumpStart, students must hold a high school diploma (or equivalent). This year’s program will be delivered in person. Students will be assigned to an instructor for a studio on campus, and will attend Technical Seminars, Theory Seminars, as well as group-work sessions in person." Learn more here.

Be sure to read our 2021 exclusive interview with UCLA's AUD Summer Programs Director Julia Koerner.

Making+Meaning (M+M)
Institution: SCI-Arc (Los Angeles, CA)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 5–28

Details: "Making+Meaning (M+M) is a career exploration and portfolio preparation program. College students, professionals, and students looking to apply to graduate architecture programs may register. The Making+Meaning summer studio program exposes participants to a wide range of techniques within a conceptual design framework, pitting the every day against the unusual to create exploratory content and experiences." Learn more here.

Architecture Immersion Studio
Institution: Pratt Institute
Type: In-Person and Remote
Dates: July 5–August 1

Details: "Pre-Requisite: Completed Bachelor's Degree. This architectural fundamentals course is taught by the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design faculty; and is geared toward professionals and students interested in attending graduate architecture school. Through a series of virtual studio sessions and lectures, the course introduces students to a series of design approaches to conceptualize architectural investigations using the most current techniques, including in visualization. Students typically receive one-to-one technical instruction, such as on digital modeling, drawing representation, and rendering. The work will culminate in a virtual design exhibition with invited Pratt faculty and will be documented in an individually developed portfolio which prepares students to apply for graduate architecture school. Note: Completion of this course does not guarantee admission into Pratt's graduate architecture programs. For information on admission requirements, please visit the Graduate Departmental Requirements page." Learn more here.

Introduction to Architecture Online: Foundation Studies and Portfolio Development for College Students
Institution: The Cooper Union (New York, NY)
Type: Virtual
Dates: July 5–August 2

Details: "Program participants have graduated high school and/or completed at least one year of college and are considering pursuing a professional degree in architecture at the undergraduate or graduate level. Some experience with the study of architecture or art is expected. Students will have the opportunity to develop a portfolio for use in applying to architecture school. Students who attend the program and successfully complete all requirements will receive 4 college credits from The Cooper Union." Learn more here.

YArch Summer Architecture Program
Institution: University of Illinois-Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 5–28

Details: "YArch (pronounced 'why-arc') is a summer architecture program for current undergraduate students, recent graduates, and other adults who have an interest in architecture and design. It is an intensive, non-credit program spanning many facets of architecture study. For those considering a career in architecture, YArch is a way to test the waters before jumping in to graduate study. For those who simply wish to explore a lifelong interest, YArch's challenging curriculum equips participants with new ways of thinking, seeing, and making." Learn more here.

Intro to Architecture
Institution: Columbia University (New York, NY)
Type: Hybrid
Dates: July 5–August 28

Details: "Columbia GSAPP’s Summer 2022 Introduction to Architecture program will be held in a hybrid format, allowing students to choose to study in-person or remotely. The Introduction to Architecture program will build on the successes of GSAPP’s online design studios and leadership in visual studies, representation, and technology to create new opportunities for students participating from their home locations. The School’s community of faculty and students remains as strong as ever, and special hybrid lectures offered by faculty, open courses made accessible to all students across the programs, thematic selections of past lectures and conferences from the rich media archive, recommended readings from the publications team, and more." Learn more here.

Design Discovery (DD)
Institution: Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 10–28

Details: "Design Discovery (DD) is a 3-week in-person academic program that takes place at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) in Cambridge, MA and engages an audience of individuals 18 years old to mid-career professionals interested in gaining knowledge within a single, selected design discipline. Participants enroll in either Architecture, Landscape, and Urban Planning + Design. The program explores the potentials of design to impact the built environment and the active conditions it choreographs through the material and scale specific to a particular design discipline. Program participants direct design to contemporary issues with an emphasis on hands-on physical modeling, material capacities, fabrication, and assembly, in complement to the Design Discovery Virtual program’s digital media emphasis. Students are taught by Harvard GSD faculty and masters and doctoral degree program graduates in addition to engagement with a broad and diverse network of design talent, across the three disciplines, invited to serve as guest lecturers and critics." Learn more here.

Architecture Summer Institute
Institution: Florida Atlantic University (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 10–28

Details: "For Summer 2023, the Architecture Summer Institute will be offering three tracks that build upon each other on both the FAU Boca Raton and Ft Lauderdale Campuses. The sessions are scheduled for July 10th-28th. The program will be open to rising sophomores, juniors or seniors in high school, recent high school graduates, and students in their first two years of college. All students with or without a design background are welcome. This program is not for college credit, but students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program. Throughout the program, students will produce a variety of work that can be used as part of a portfolio when applying to colleges. Students will have the opportunity to display and participate in a final critique of their work. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited." Learn more here.

Summer Architecture Career Lab
Institution: City College of New York's Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture (New York, NY)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 10–August 4

Details: "Considering studies and a career in architecture, or just curious about building, design, and construction? Learn to think like an architect at the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture’s 2023 Summer Career Lab in Architecture. The Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York is now seeking applicants for its 2023 Summer Career Lab in Architecture. Building upon the professionally accredited curriculum of New York City’s original, flagship public school of architecture, the Summer Career Lab introduces architectural practice, theory, making, and thinking to those considering a career in the field. Running for four weeks within a state-of-the art facility and taught by Spitzer School faculty, alumni, and graduate students, the Summer Career Lab will be organized around a diverse set of events and exercises." Learn more here.

Architecture Summer Immersion Program
Institution: Portland State University (Portland, OR)
Type: In-Person
Dates: July 24 – August 18

Details: "The Architecture Summer Immersion Program at the Portland State University School of Architecture offers those interested in architecture as a potential career and/or field of study the opportunity to explore the subject in this intensive 4-week experience. Open to those eighteen years of age or older with a high school degree, this program is ideal for anyone considering architecture as a major, has an undergraduate degree in another field and is thinking of applying to a Master of Architecture program, or would just like to learn the foundational skills of architecture and have a unique and enlightening experience." Learn more here.

International Summer Program 2023
Institution: Los Angeles Institute of Architecture and Design - LAIAD (Los Angeles, CA)
Type: Hybrid
Dates: 2-month program from June through August

Details: "The LAIAD Summer Program for international students is a short design, rendering, and portfolio studio that helps international students to improve their design and portfolio skills. The style of teaching is a one-on-one design workshop, supplemented by a weekly collective review and midterm/final guest reviews. Architectural modeling courses focus on improving students’ ability to create 3D models. The software courses include Rhino surface modeling, Grasshopper parametric design, and T-Splines. Students will learn different creative expressions from 3D rendering to 2D drawings as well as the portfolio design skills during the compact summer program." Learn more here.

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It's to be noted that this list is a large sample set of the variety of spring and summer architecture-related programs out there for recent high school graduates and adults. Besides highlighting the programs listed above, we want to acknowledge the dedication of each program's coordinators, instructors, organizers, and volunteers, who dedicate their time to teaching and sharing knowledge. 

Are you promoting your school or organization's summer program on Archinect? Know of a great summer program that's not listed above? Reach out to us.