Architecture is one of those fields where it’s hard to know what you’re signing up for until you see the work up close. A summer internship can make that clear quickly. Architecture Summer Internships for High School Students are a fantastic way to get this kind of insight. If you’re in high school and you like design, buildings, or city spaces, internships give you early exposure without turning it into a full-time pre-college program.
Most architecture internships focus on how projects move forward. You might help organize design files, observe how teams review drawings, assist with research, or learn how basic drafting and model-building work. You also get a feel for the work culture, which matters a lot in architecture.
Why should you do an architecture internship?
Internships help you test the field in a way that classes usually cannot. You see how much detail goes into a single design decision and how long the process can take. You also build experience that looks credible on college applications, because it shows you didn’t just say you like architecture, you took the time to explore it in a professional setting.
To help you choose the right fit, we’ve curated a list of 15 architecture summer internships for high school students! If you are interested in architecture programs, you can check these blogs.
15 Architecture Summer Internships for High School Students
1. Miller Hull — Open Studio Internship
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1 position
Dates: July 27 – August 21
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their junior or senior year
Miller Hull’s Open Studio Internship is a four-week, full-time, paid program designed for high school students who have completed 11th or 12th grade and want a structured introduction to architectural practice. During the internship, you work inside a professional studio environment, touring active construction sites, attending project team meetings, and shadowing architects as they collaborate on real projects. You also take part in guided, hands-on design exercises that introduce core architectural thinking and workflow. Over the course of the program, you build a small portfolio of your work and prepare a short final presentation delivered on your last day. While no prior design or software experience is required, familiarity with tools like Revit, AutoCAD, or SketchUp can be helpful.
2. Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED) by Sasaki Foundation
Location: Sasaki office, Boston, MA; site visits to local projects
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June-August (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not specified, but applications open each year in the spring
Eligibility: Current high school students who are residents of Boston or the Metro North region
The Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED) is a paid, six-week internship that introduces high school students to architecture, interior design, urban planning, and landscape architecture through hands-on, studio-based learning. You work alongside professional designers at Sasaki, using real design tools and techniques such as hand sketching, computer drawing, and collaborative design charrettes. The program centers on a group project, allowing you to experience how ideas move from concept to presentation within a professional design environment. Throughout the internship, you gain exposure to office culture, participate in meetings with designers, and build foundational skills that reflect how multidisciplinary design teams operate in practice. By the end of the program, you present your work and leave with a clearer understanding of design careers and pathways.
3. STEMcx Summer Architecture Internships
Location: Baltimore City and surrounding counties
Cost: $15/hr stipend ($2,400 in total)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 8 students
Dates: June 15 – August 9
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors (or graduating seniors) who are U.S. citizens identifying as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, residing in Baltimore City or/surrounding counties
The STEMcx Summer Architecture Internship, offered in partnership with Bmore NOMA, provides high school students with hands-on exposure to architecture through design exercises, firm shadowing, and real-world site visits across Maryland. You build core skills in design thinking, sketching, spatial reasoning, and visual communication while working on collaborative building projects and weekly studio-style activities. The program includes field trips to architectural sites, a full-day design workshop using advanced tools and fabrication methods, and opportunities to engage in community-based work such as volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. You will also receive professional feedback on their designs from local development firms and present their work in a final academic poster presentation.
4. BSA Arch/Design High School Internships
Location: Local Boston architecture firms
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – August 14
Application Deadline: Application opens February 20 with no specified deadline. Check more details here.
Eligibility: Boston Public School high school students
The BSA Architecture/Design High School Internship is a paid, six-week summer program that places Boston Public School students inside local architecture firms for hands-on career exploration. As an intern, you work on real-world architectural projects, test emerging design technologies, and participate in site visits that show how buildings move from concept to construction. You are exposed to multiple phases of architectural practice, including design development, drafting, client meetings, and basic project coordination. The program partners with firms of different sizes and specialties, giving returning interns a fresh perspective on architecture each summer.
5. Architect of the Capitol (AOC)
Location: Capitol campus facilities in Washington, DC
Cost: Paid internships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admissions
Dates: 12 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: November – January
Eligibility: Students of high school, college, trade school, or another qualifying educational institution
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Internship Program offers paid, professional apprenticeship-style experiences for students currently enrolled in high school, college, trade school, or other qualifying institutions. You will work within a federal agency responsible for preserving and operating the historic buildings, grounds, and infrastructure of the U.S. Capitol campus, which serves Congress and the Supreme Court. Depending on placement, you may support architecture, engineering, IT, communications, audiovisual systems, or facilities-related work, gaining exposure to how large-scale public spaces are designed, maintained, and managed. The program emphasizes applying classroom learning in a real-world setting while contributing to the stewardship of nationally significant landmarks.
6. Boston PIC (Private Industry Council) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Boston architecture firms; in-person
Cost: Paid opportunities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective process
Dates: Typically between July and August
Application Deadline: Unspecified
Eligibility: Boston Public Schools high school students
The Boston PIC (Private Industry Council) High School Summer Internship Program connects Boston Public Schools (BPS) students with paid, real-world internships through the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. Each summer, students are placed in employer-paid roles across leading industries, including architecture, technology, health care, and life sciences. For students interested in architecture and design, PIC partners with the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) to place interns at well-known Boston architecture firms, where they assist with active projects, participate in office tasks, attend site visits, and shadow professional architects. These placements provide direct exposure to firm culture, design workflows, and professional expectations within the architectural field.
7. Chicago Architecture Center Teen Fellows
Location: Harold Washington College, Chicago, IL
Cost: None; internship will be paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: cohort size not specified, but intensive format suggests small groups
Dates: June 22 – May 28 (internship will start 2nd summer)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors who attend high school in Chicago and the surrounding area
The Chicago Architecture Center Teen Fellows program is a free, 15-month architecture and design experience for Chicago high school students that builds foundational skills through discussions, projects, field trips, and site visits across the city. You explore how the built environment shapes daily life while learning through hands-on model-making, locally focused design projects, and portfolio development. You will attend college-level courses at Harold Washington College, earning college credit while working alongside architects, designers, and industry professionals. The program also introduces digital design tools such as SketchUp, AutoCAD, Rhino, Revit, and Adobe software, along with visits to architecture firms and significant sites. You may earn a stipend during the program and may advance to paid summer internships at local architecture or design firms.
8. Boston Architectural College (BAC) Summer Academy
Location: Boston Architectural College, Boston, MA; Virtual options available
Cost: Not for Credit: $1,800; Credit Bearing: $2,000 for 3 credits; Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: June 22
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 and older
Boston Architectural College (BAC) Summer Academy is a four-week, studio-based program that immerses high school students in architecture and design through hands-on work that closely mirrors professional internship studios. You can choose between the Exploration Track, which builds broad foundational skills across design disciplines, or the Investigation Track, which focuses more deeply on areas like architecture or interior design. Working in small studios of 8–10 students, you tackle real-world design challenges involving ideation, sketching, digital design, model making, fabrication, and presentation, with regular critiques from practicing professionals. The program includes lectures, workshops, site visits, and digital fabrication activities, with both on-campus and well-supported online options.
9. Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation High School Residencies: Sustainability and Architecture
Location: Fallingwater, Mill Run, PA
Cost: $1,500 per week; Scholarship available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Various 1-week sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 and gap year students
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation High School Residencies: Sustainability and Architecture is a week-long, immersive program held at Fallingwater that introduces high school students to architecture through studio-based learning. You’ll work on hands-on projects like drawing, model-making, and site-responsive design, using the surrounding landscape as a core inspiration. Licensed architects and artists mentor you through design exercises, critiques, and discussions focused on form, function, and environmental harmony. The program emphasizes sustainability and Wright’s principles of organic architecture, helping you understand how buildings interact with nature. You’ll collaborate with peers in a supportive studio environment while refining your creative and technical skills.
10. Marwen’s Art@Work Summer Internship: LBBA Architects Site
Location: W Carroll Avenue, Chicago, IL
Cost: Stipend of $16.20/hr for a total of $1,174.50 (before taxes)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: Applications will be due in May
Eligibility: High school students (ages 16-18) from Chicago who have taken at least one Marwen course
Marwen’s Art@Work Summer Internship: LBBA Architects Site is a paid summer internship for Chicago high school students interested in architecture and community-based design. As part of the LBBA LABS program, you’ll spend about six weeks working on a real research and design project connected to an active LBBA partnership in a Chicago neighborhood. You’ll learn core architectural skills such as design thinking, visual communication, and presentation while collaborating with architects, subject-matter experts, and community leaders. The program emphasizes how architecture responds to local context and community needs, giving you insight into socially engaged design practice. Along the way, you’ll explore creative career pathways and gain professional experience working in an architecture firm setting.
11. Arts for Learning (A4L)’s ArtWorks Program
Location: Miami-Dade College Koubek Memorial Center, Miami, FL
Cost: $13/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 6 weeks in June – July
Application Deadline: Application opens in the spring
Eligibility: Current 9–12 graders; must be at least 14 years old; Florida resident
Arts for Learning (A4L)’s ArtWorks Program is a six-week paid summer internship for high school students interested in arts, design, and creative careers. You’ll work in a small co-op under the guidance of a professional Master Teaching Artist, contributing to original projects in fields such as architecture, animation, visual art, music production, or theater. In the architecture track, you will typically explore design concepts, spatial thinking, basic drafting or modeling, and how creative ideas move from concept to execution in real-world settings. Alongside hands-on creative work, you’ll take part in structured workforce development sessions focused on collaboration, time management, communication, and goal setting. Mentorship from teaching artists and A4L staff provides regular feedback and professional guidance throughout the program.
12. IIT College of Architecture’s Experiment in Architecture Summer Workshop
Location: IIT campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: 2 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
IIT College of Architecture’s Experiment in Architecture Summer Workshop is a two-week intensive studio program for high school students that introduces you to architectural thinking through hands-on, studio-style work. While it is not a traditional internship, the workshop closely mirrors professional studio environments through iterative design exercises, model making, hand drafting, and 2D/3D digital modeling. You participate in guided studio sessions, design charrettes, and formal critiques, gaining exposure to how architects develop and refine ideas. The program also includes firm visits, field trips around Chicago, and daily discussions with faculty and practicing architects, offering insight into both architectural education and practice. By the end, you complete a portfolio-ready project and gain a clearer understanding of architecture’s role in shaping the built environment.
13. SCI-Arc Design Immersion Days
Location: Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,350; Full scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
SCI-Arc Design Immersion Days is a four-week summer program that introduces high school students to architectural thinking through intensive, studio-style design experimentation. You work across analog and digital media, freehand sketching, physical model-making, Rhino modeling, Photoshop/Illustrator rendering, 3D printing, and augmented reality, while responding to real cultural, material, and urban contexts in Los Angeles. The experience mirrors architecture school and firm studio culture, with desk critiques, pin-ups, peer collaboration, and close guidance from SCI-Arc faculty. Weekly field trips to landmark projects and conversations with practicing architects connect your work to LA’s broader creative economy. Although not a traditional internship, the program offers strong, internship-like hands-on training and culminates in a public exhibition and portfolio-ready work.
14. Cooper Union Introduction to Architecture: Foundation Studies and Portfolio Development for High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not mentioned
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Cooper Union Introduction to Architecture: Foundation Studies and Portfolio Development is a five-week, full-time program designed for high school students exploring architecture and design. Modeled on Cooper Union’s professional Bachelor of Architecture curriculum, the program immerses you in studio-based learning through hands-on digital and physical modeling, iterative design exercises, and formal critiques led by practicing architects. You work in an environment that closely reflects real architectural practice, engaging in analysis, concept development, and portfolio-ready projects. While not a traditional internship, the program offers strong internship-like exposure by replicating firm studio culture, workflows, and expectations. By the end, you gain practical design skills, a deeper understanding of architectural thinking, and polished work suitable for future internships or college applications.
15. National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Project Pipeline
Location: 20+ cities across the country
Cost: Varies for each city
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: Different dates between June and August/weekend boot camps during the school year for some cities. Check details here
Application Deadline: Varies according to city
Eligibility: Students of color in grades 6 to 12
NOMA Project Pipeline is a design immersion program that introduces middle and high school students to architecture through hands-on, community-centered projects rather than a traditional office internship. You learn core design skills such as drawing, model making, research, diagramming, and site analysis while exploring how architecture connects to culture, history, and everyday life. Working closely with practicing architects and designers, you develop a complete design proposal that addresses a real issue in your own community. Programs are hosted in more than 20 cities and use a nationally standardized curriculum that guides you through every stage of the design process, from concept to final presentation.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like sustainable design, architectural history, urban development, or innovative building technologies, consider applying to Horizon’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: IIT College of Architecture logo