Architecture programs for high school students offer an early, immersive introduction to the field by helping students develop essential design, drafting, and modeling skills while also exposing them to professional architectural practices, industry-standard tools, and real studio workflows. These programs often include mentorship from instructors or practicing architects, giving students guidance on refining ideas, receiving critiques, and building competitive portfolios for future college applications. They help students understand how architects think, collaborate, and communicate visually, laying a strong foundation for further study.
Why choose New York City for a program?
When narrowing their focus to New York City, students gain access to a wide range of programs that blend hands-on learning with the urban, cultural, and architectural perspectives unique to the city. NYC serves as a living laboratory, allowing students to observe diverse building styles, analyze city planning in real time, and draw inspiration from one of the world’s most influential built environments.
This proximity offers in-state students meaningful advantages: convenient access to professional networks, exposure to local firms and educators, and opportunities to study architecture within a city known for innovation and design leadership. Programs such as Cornell University’s and NYU SPS High School Academy’s Intro to Architecture courses embody these strengths by combining studio-based instruction, portfolio development, and direct engagement with the city’s architectural landscape.
Here are 15 architecture programs in New York City for high school students. For more information on architecture programs for high school students in New York City, you can also refer to other great posts on Horizon’s blog.
15 Architecture Programs for High School Students in New York City
1. Center for Architecture: Architectural Design Studio
Location: Center for Architecture, New York, NY
Cost: $1,750 (2-week program)
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: Multiple programs from July to August
Eligibility: Rising Grades 10–12; all levels of art/architecture experience welcome
This two-week studio is structured for high school students looking to explore architecture or build their design portfolio. You will participate in an immersive program that mirrors a first-year college architectural studio, guided by professionals in the field. Sessions focus on site analysis, building studies, and independent project work, helping you develop tangible design and model-making skills.
Work is primarily hands-on, with tools and sketchbooks provided for use on-site. Instruction is designed to support you in generating portfolio-quality work and includes critique and feedback from experienced educators. Classes run full days at the Center for Architecture in NYC. No prior experience in architecture is required. If you plan to apply in the future, application materials will be available each spring for the following summer.
2. Cornell University Summer College: Introduction to Architecture
Location: Cornell University, New York, NY
Cost: $1,840 per credit. See tuition breakdown here
Application Deadline: Typically in May
Dates: June 22 – August 2 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising Grades 9–12
This program provides you with an immersive introduction to college-level architecture in the heart of Manhattan. Under the guidance of Columbia faculty and practitioners, you work closely with peers on design challenges and explore architectural drawing, digital modeling, and site analysis. Hands-on projects form a significant part of the curriculum, and you present your work in final reviews typical of architecture programs.
Sessions include field visits in New York City and lectures on architectural theory and practice. You gain exposure to a rigorous studio environment and earn a certificate upon completion. The program aims to strengthen both creative and technical skills relevant to future study in architecture.
3. NYU SPS High School Academy: Introduction to Architecture
Location: NYU School of Professional Studies, Washington Square, New York, NY
Cost: $850 + $50 application fee
Application Deadline: Spring – not mentioned; Fall – October 10 (tentatively)
Dates: Spring – February 28 – March 21; Fall – October 25 – November 22 (tentatively)
Eligibility: High school students
NYU’s workshop introduces you to the fundamentals of architectural design. The course includes lectures, drawing exercises, and critical reviews to guide your understanding of how buildings are created and evaluated. You explore concepts such as spatial relationships and how architecture responds to various practical requirements.
Coursework is designed to develop your drawing and visualization skills. The program is suitable for students starting their exploration of architecture, as well as for those seeking to reinforce their studio skills. Classes are held on campus on Saturdays.
4. City Tech College Now: Architecture Summer Program
Location: New York City College of Technology (CUNY), Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: June 30 – July 31
Eligibility: NYC public high school students entering Grades 10–12
This program covers freehand drawing, architectural drafting, and model making. You receive instruction in graphic standards, spatial composition, and representation techniques, and develop written and visual work about the built environment.
The course is geared towards strengthening your foundation in architectural design and skills relevant to portfolio building. Workshops may also address local NYC architectural heritage and contemporary design issues. The program usually accommodates both beginners and those with more advanced interests in the field.
5. Center for Architecture: Teen Workshops (Weekend, Fall-Spring)
Location: Center for Architecture, New York, NY
Cost: $130 per workshop
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served
Dates: Various Saturdays and Sundays, ongoing during the academic year
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Weekend teen workshops offer opportunities to explore architectural drawing, model making, and urban analysis. Each session focuses on a different area of design, such as plan/elevation drawing or model construction.
You are encouraged to attend sessions that align with your interests or skill level, building towards a richer understanding of both the technical and conceptual aspects of architecture. Workshops integrate in-studio instruction with on-site sketching in New York City. These are suitable for beginners or students working on portfolios for college applications.
6. NYSID: Summer Pre-College — On-site Residential and Commuter
Location: New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY
Cost: Residential students: $5,898; Commuter students: $3,298; Commuter-class only students: $2,398; Scholarships available for tuition assistance
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: July 5 – 17; July 19 – 31
Eligibility: Must have completed 9th grade before program start
This two-week program at NYSID offers a comprehensive introduction to interior design, combining hands-on studio work with field visits and tours in New York City. You will participate in immersive projects that focus on foundational skills such as space planning, color, and materials, all guided by professional designers. The experience includes visits to showrooms and museums, as well as private studio tours, providing real-world insights into the design industry.
The program is designed for high school students with an interest in interior design, regardless of prior experience, and aims to foster creative confidence and technical skills. You will also engage in a portfolio workshop to help you prepare for college applications and future study. The on-site experience is structured to deepen your understanding of design processes and careers, exposing you to New York’s dynamic architectural and interior design landscape.
7. Architecture Summer Career Lab | The City College of New York
Location: City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost: $2500
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: July 7 – August 1 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Grades 9–12, NYC students preferred
This career lab introduces you to architectural practice, foundational theory, and the process of design making. You will attend lectures focused on architectural basics, participate in workshops on drawing and model-making, and engage in one-on-one critiques.
Field trips and on-site work around NYC neighborhoods are part of the learning experience, along with presentations from award-winning architects and office tours. The program helps you deepen your understanding of architecture while gaining insight into the profession’s variety of roles and practices.
8. Teen Workshop: Architectural Sketching (Grades 9–12) | Center for Architecture
Location: Center for Architecture, New York, NY
Cost: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Scholarship Application – September 6
Dates: September 27 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
This workshop focuses on freehand architectural sketching skills, including basic techniques such as one- and two-point perspective drawing and the shading/rendering of different materials. Instruction includes in-studio lessons as well as observational sketching sessions outdoors at designated New York City architectural sites.
You are encouraged to bring your own materials, though supplies are provided. This series provides a practical introduction to architectural visualization and observational skills useful in portfolio development.
9. Steinberg Hart: High School Architecture Workshops
Location: Steinberg Hart Architecture Firm Offices, New York, NY
Cost: Unspecified (program may include free sessions or small fees)
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: Various sessions throughout the year, including summer; schedule varies
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Steinberg Hart offers architecture workshops that immerse you in the professional design environment of an active architecture firm. You will collaborate with architects and designers on a small design project, learning about architectural processes from concept through completion.
The workshop includes studio time, site visits, and discussions about career paths in architecture. You have the opportunity to create a portfolio-worthy project while gaining firsthand experience and mentorship from practicing professionals. Breakfast or lunch and guided walking tours of local architecture are typically included.
10. Explore Architecture Virtual Session | Virginia Tech School of Architecture
Location: Online and in-person options
Cost: $250 (virtual session tuition)
Application Deadline: May 15 (registration closes then or when full)
Dates: July 14 – 19
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
This week-long virtual program introduces you to architecture and design disciplines through hands-on exercises, program tutorials, group discussions, and critiques. You engage in a design challenge that leverages participants’ diverse locations to examine varied built environments, with short lectures on emerging designers and projects. The session emphasizes intuitive problem-framing, conceptual thinking, and exploration beyond traditional workspaces, led by faculty member Dr. Andrew Gipe-Lazarou.
No prior experience is required, and a computer with internet access is needed. You work through the stages of the design process, both individually and collaboratively, gaining exposure to curricula similar to Virginia Tech’s first-year undergraduate studios. The program fosters skills applicable to architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture.
11. Cooper Union’s Introduction to Architecture Online
Location: Online
Cost: $2,980 (plus $40 application fee; students must purchase their own materials)
Application Deadline: June 1
Dates: July 6 – August 7 (5 weeks)
Eligibility: Current high school students or recent high school graduates (international students are eligible)
This five-week online program guides you through developing an architecture portfolio using daily live classes, critiques, and digital workshops. You’ll work with tools such as Rhino, Photoshop, and hand-drawing to study space, structure, and design. Each day includes lectures and seminars on subjects like geometry and conceptual thinking, followed by structured feedback on your projects. By the end, you’ll complete several pieces of work and receive a digital portfolio and a Certificate of Completion from The Cooper Union.
12. Boston Architectural College Summer Academy
Location: Online
Cost: $2,000 (for-credit); $1,800 (not for credit)
Application Deadline: June 22
Dates: July 6 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12, ages 14+
The online Summer Academy at Boston Architectural College is a five-week studio-style program where you’ll work on real-world design problems. You’ll build models, explore design ideas, and learn how to represent your thinking visually using tools provided in a mailed supply kit. Daily live Zoom sessions include lectures, digital exercises, and feedback from practicing architects. The program ends with a digital pin-up and a portfolio that shows your creative growth and architectural thinking.
13. Fallingwater Virtual Summer Camps
Location: Virtual
Cost: $350 for Drawing by Hand; $350 for Portfolio Prep (includes mailed studio materials)
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Dates: Drawing by Hand: June 22 – 26; Portfolio Prep: August 3 – 7
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12; all skill levels welcome
Fallingwater’s online camps introduce you to architectural ideas through the lens of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. In the Drawing by Hand track, you practice sketching and visual communication through structured exercises. The Portfolio Prep track centers on producing hand-drawn pieces suitable for design-focused applications. Both options provide live Zoom sessions, studio time, and mailed materials. You also spend time developing concepts through sketching, revisions, and individual feedback.
14. Global Solutions Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost: $250 (partial scholarships available)
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity is reached
Dates: June 16 – 20
Eligibility: High school students, college students, and young professionals worldwide
The Global Solutions Lab is a five-day virtual program in which you collaborate with students from different countries to address current global issues. Using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework, you work with tools such as the NewWorld Game platform and AI-supported research to assess information, outline strategies, and prepare project proposals. Each day includes briefings from UN-affiliated professionals, group research, and coordinated project work. The program concludes with a presentation of your proposals to an invited panel.
15. TeenArch Studio
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,300 (includes $2,839 program fee, plus registration and campus fees); fee calculator
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Dates: June 30 – July 18 (3 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 in Spring; must be 15 or older by June 23
TeenArch Studio’s virtual track provides a structured, full-time design studio that reflects the workflow of an introductory architecture program. You move through assignments in drawing, model making, and 3D exploration, beginning with origami-based studies and progressing to digitally developed spatial work.
Live seminars, critiques, and lectures led by UCLA faculty and alumni support your projects and introduce you to current architectural topics. At the end of the program, you present your final project in an online review, receive instructor feedback, and earn three units of UC college credit on a Pass/No Pass basis.
One more option — Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying toHorizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source: BSA logo