If you’re a high school student in California with an interest in architecture, a summer program is a great way to explore the design process, understand architectural theory, and experiment with technical tools like Rhino, Revit, or SketchUp. Architecture summer programs for high school students in California usually go beyond basic drafting—they offer the chance to build models, engage in studio critiques, and learn from faculty, practitioners, and peers who are passionate about the built environment.
California is home to several architecture schools and institutions (such as UC Berkeley and UCLA) that run summer workshops, camps, immersions, and pre-college programs for teens. Attending architecture summer programs for high school students in California can provide access to expert instruction and facilities, often at a lower cost than those offered by out-of-state alternatives.
To help you begin, here’s a list of 15 architecture summer programs for high school students in California—ranging from design boot camps to research mentorships. They also include a few virtual architecture summer programs that allow students in California to apply.
15 Architecture Summer Programs for High School Students in California
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Architecture Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type Financial aid available | None
Dates: Spring: March – June; Summer: June – August; Fall: September – December; Winter: December – February (program length ranges from 12 weeks to 1 year)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Current high school students (recommended unweighted GPA ≥ 3.3)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct independent research in subjects ranging from architecture and design to international relations, psychology, data science, and environmental science. Each student is paired with a Ph.D. mentor—or in some tracks, a professor—from a top-tier university for weekly one-on-one sessions. Alongside your mentor, you’ll develop a research question, analyze existing literature, and work toward producing a full-length academic paper. Students also attend writing workshops and receive guidance from a dedicated writing coach to support the drafting and revision process. By the end of the program, you’ll have completed a research project that culminates in a detailed paper.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available) | None
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including summer
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary according to cohorts Summer I: May 25 | Summer II: June 22
Eligibility: High school students from across the world | AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
If you’re interested in the intersection of architecture, design, and tech, consider this program! Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduates, offers a 10-week online program called AI Scholars, specifically for high schoolers. You’ll dive into exciting topics like regression and neural networks to the cutting edge of deep learning and natural language processing – all using Python, TensorFlow, and Keras. You’ll get hands-on with coding, work on cool group projects with experienced instructors, and see how AI tackles real-world challenges in healthcare, gaming, and even climate change. You’ll also explore important topics such as AI ethics and fine-tuning models. Veritas AI also offers a more advanced program – AI Fellowship where you get one-on-one mentorship to work on your own research project, which you could even get published! You can apply here!
3. USC Exploration of Architecture
Location: University of Southern California campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $11,347 | Commuter: $7,812 | $1,000 nonrefundable deposit required) | None
Dates: June 15 – July 12
Application Deadline: Residential: March 14 | Domestic: May 2
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 9th grade by the program start date
“Exploration of Architecture” is a four-week, in-person program designed for high school students curious about the built environment. The program introduces you to core architectural principles, visual thinking, and studio culture in a college setting. You’ll explore analog and digital design techniques through sketching, modeling, and photography while studying form, space, and materials. Field trips to architectural landmarks in Los Angeles enhance your classroom experience, and living in a USC residence hall offers a firsthand glimpse of university life. You’ll work in a studio alongside faculty, practicing architects, and teaching assistants, and participate in critiques, lectures, and guided portfolio development. The program may offer three units of college credit.
4. UCLA TeenArch Studio
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA or Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Residential: $5,026; Virtual: $2,339; Commuter: $3,300; additional materials and supplies may cost $500–$1,200 | None
Dates: June 29 – July 18 (Residential, Commuter, and Virtual options available)
Application Deadline: Residential: June 6 | Commuter & Virtual: June 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 as of Spring; minimum age 15 by June 30 for Commuter/Virtual, and 17 by June 23 for Residential | Cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher
TeenArch Studio is a full-time, three-week summer architecture program designed to give you a realistic preview of studying architecture in college. You’ll work on a focused design project, exploring architectural thinking, problem-solving, and spatial representation. Mentored by current UCLA architecture students, alumni, and faculty, you’ll participate in daily critiques, workshops, and reviews that mirror the rhythm of professional design practice. You’ll build skills in drawing, physical and digital modeling, and conceptual development while also experiencing the collaborative and iterative nature of studio-based learning. You’ll gain hands-on exposure to architecture and design thinking, preparing a final project for critique and possible inclusion in your college portfolio.
5. SCI‑Arc Design Immersion Days
Location: Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $3,350 tuition (full scholarships available; need-based) | None
Dates: June 16 – July 11
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity
Eligibility: High school students (entering or continuing enrollment)
Design Immersion Days (DID) is a four-week, immersive summer studio hosted by SCI‑Arc that introduces you to architectural thinking, design experimentation, and fabrication techniques. You’ll explore a wide range of production methods—from freehand drawing and analog modeling to 3D modeling, Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator, and VR/AR workflows. Guided by SCI‑Arc faculty and graduate instructors, you’ll develop architectural proposals grounded in the cultural, material, and economic fabric of Los Angeles. Weekly desk‑crits, pin‑ups, field trips to sites like Walt Disney Concert Hall, and discussions with local architects deepen your understanding of design’s real‑world contexts. The program includes portfolio workshops and a public final exhibition.
6. SCI‑Arc Making+Meaning
Location: Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $3,350 tuition (full scholarships available; need-based) | None
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity
Eligibility: High school students, college freshmen, and career changers (no prior experience required)
Making+Meaning is a four‑week, portfolio-building summer studio at SCI‑Arc where you’ll explore design fundamentals and advanced techniques—from hand-built paper models to Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, 3D scanning, AR/VR, and robotic fabrication—with guidance from faculty and visiting architectural professionals. The program mirrors a college studio environment, offering 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekday sessions and 24‑hour access to state-of-the-art facilities including laser cutters, CNC mills, and robotic arms. During desk crits and pin‑ups, you’ll receive feedback from faculty and visiting critics, helping you articulate your design process and expand your production methods. Weekly site visits and lectures by LA-based practitioners connect your studio work to the broader architectural context and design culture of Los Angeles.
7. UC Berkeley – embARC Summer Design Academy
Location: UC Berkeley campus, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: Domestic students: $5,136; international students: $8,096 + $5,300 housing fees | None
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadlines: Priority (including financial aid/housing): February 18 | Final : April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or exceptional juniors | At least 16 by July 6 | Minimum GPA 3.0
UC Berkeley’s embARC program is an intensive, four-week summer experience in architecture, urban planning, and sustainable design hosted by the College of Environmental Design. You’ll participate in daily studio work, materials exploration, sustainable city planning, digital design, and a “Community Build” project partnering with a nonprofit. These modules are designed to simulate college-level coursework—drawing, modeling, fieldwork—and include one-on-one design reviews, a lecture series, and site visits across the Bay Area. By the end of the program, you’ll leave with college-credit transcript notation, a certificate of completion, and a portfolio-ready body of work. embARC emphasizes design thinking applied to real-world community issues, providing you with critical design skills.
8. Cal Poly SLO – Architecture Summer Career Workshop
Location: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $3,600; others: $7,200 | None
Dates: June 22 – July 18
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 7 and is filled on first-come basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 | Rising juniors and seniors | Graduating seniors entering community college considered if space allows
The Architecture Summer Career Workshop at Cal Poly SLO is a four-week, in-residence studio experience that simulates college-level architectural training. You’ll explore design fundamentals—light and shadow, space, materiality, structure, and site planning—through daily studio projects, lectures, field trips, and model-making exercises. You’ll live on campus in university residence halls, supported by faculty and counselors, and follow a full workshop schedule from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, with planned weekend activities. The experience culminates in a gallery exhibition presented to peers, faculty, and families. By the end of the program, you’ll have a portfolio of completed works and a clearer insight into architecture as a college discipline.
9. California College of the Arts Pre‑College Architecture Studio
Location: California College of the Arts campus, San Francisco, CA | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $5,200 tuition (includes studio supplies, field trips, and lab fees); $55 nonrefundable application fee; $1,620 for on-campus housing (optional); $950 meal plan (required for residential students); $250 refundable housing deposit; Commuter: Approximately $5,605 | None
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 24 (Priority & Scholarship)
Eligibility: High school students | Must be 15–18 years old by July
The CCA Pre-College Architecture Studio is a rigorous, four-week summer program where you’ll develop a foundation in design thinking, drawing, spatial analysis, and model-making. The curriculum includes research, ideation, conceptual development, and hands-on experimentation with 3D forms. You’ll explore the intersection of art and architecture through a human-centered lens and work toward producing a final exhibition of your creative projects. Taught by practicing architects and designers, the program blends studio instruction with field visits to iconic design locations in San Francisco. You’ll receive college-level critique, build a strong visual portfolio, and gain exposure to the rhythm of a real design studio.
10. Academy of Art University – Pre‑College Architecture Maker Lab
Location: 601 Brannan Street campus, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: None (Unspecified additional fees may be incurred for labs, materials, equipment costs, and more | None
Dates: June 17 – 27 (Tentative)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: All high school students in grades 9–12
In this hands-on Maker Lab, you’ll test “What if?” questions through iterative design and fabrication. You’ll use woodworking and digital tools in a professional maker environment to move between sketches, study models, scaled orthographic drawings, and simple digital models for fabrication. You’ll also take Architecture and the City concurrently, engaging with local urban issues through field observation and studio collaboration. Together, these courses deepen your understanding of design ideas and their real-world applications. Through regular deadlines, critiques, and teamwork, you’ll develop professional behaviors like time management, visual communication, and constructive critique. At the end of the two-week program, your refined models and drawings will be ready to present in a public showcase.
11. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) – Visual Arts Program
Location: California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Cost/Stipend: $4,830: California residents; $9,977: Out-of-state/international students; additional 2.99% transaction fees will apply to all payments (financial aid available) | None
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students | Open to California residents and a limited number of out-of-state applicants
The Visual Arts Program at CSSSA offers a highly immersive, pre-professional experience in studio art and visual communication. While not an architecture-specific track, the curriculum emphasizes core skills that align closely with architectural training—drawing, mixed media, design thinking, and digital media fundamentals. It incorporates both theoretical and practical elements, including foundational math and science coursework, visual arts, design principles, and practical experience with tools and software. It also fosters creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills—skills that this program builds through intensive studio practice, critiques, and workshops. You’ll learn under the guidance of practicing artists and educators and showcase your progress in a final exhibition. Completion of the program earns you three transferable college credits through the CSU system.
12. La Jolla Historical Society – Young Architects Summer Program
Location: La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: $900 | None
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: May 12
Eligibility: High school students between grades 10–12
The Young Architects Summer Program is a week-long design studio that introduces you to architectural thinking, sustainability, and hands-on design techniques. You’ll gain foundational skills in sketching, orthographic projection, and 3D modeling while working on a design solution inspired by La Jolla’s unique built environment. Mentored by practicing architects and designers, you’ll explore local architectural landmarks, engage in studio projects, and connect your ideas to real-world community needs. The program culminates in a final showcase where you present your design project, gaining experience in architectural communication and critique—skills essential for a future in design, urban planning, or architecture.
13. UC Berkeley – Design + Build Bootcamp
Location: Bauer Wurster Hall, UC Berkeley campus, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: $2,900 | A small number of need-based stipends are available
Dates: July 14–25
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th grade high school students
The UC Berkeley Design + Build Bootcamp is an intensive, two-week commuter program where rising 10th and 11th-grade students collaborate in teams to design and construct a themed mini golf hole, using state-of-the-art tools in the university’s wood, metal, and digital fabrication labs. You will engage in activities such as brainstorming design concepts, hands-on fabrication with professional equipment (like 3D printers and CNC routers), digital modeling, and assembling your creations into a playable course. You will be mentored and instructed by highly skilled fabrication specialists and college-level educators and have access to professional-grade facilities. While no academic credit is given, students gain design, teamwork, and technical skills, and earn a certificate that strengthens college applications.
14. Woodbury University Summer Design Lab
Location: Woodbury University, Burbank, CA (main campus); program may also be offered at San Diego campus
Cost: Approximately $250 | None
Dates: Five weeks, typically late June to late July
Application Deadline: Not specified; early application recommended as space is limited (previous years did not list a formal deadline)
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th or 12th grade; no prerequisites
Woodbury University’s Summer Design Lab is a five-week, college-credit program for high school students entering 11th or 12th grade, focused on architecture and interiors. You will explore design principles through hands-on activities such as digital and hand drawing, 3D modeling, laser cutting, and building scale models of pavilions or architectural elements. The program is taught and mentored by Woodbury’s design faculty, who will provide you with direct guidance and feedback. You will have access to advanced fabrication labs and exposure to both digital and analog design methods. Participants develop skills in design thinking, software like Rhinoceros and Photoshop, and creative problem-solving while earning 2 units of college credit.
15. Architectural Foundation of San Francisco – Build SF Summer Design Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $3,500 (includes all materials and supplies) | None
Dates: Session 1: June 9–27, 2025 | Session 2: July 7–25, 2025
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: High school students, including rising 9th graders
The Build SF Summer Design Institute is a three-week virtual architecture and design studio where you’ll dive into architectural thinking, digital modeling, and collaborative design through interactive projects and weekly one-on-one mentorship with a professional architect or designer. You’ll use tools like SketchUp, Revit, and Adobe Creative Suite to develop your ideas and build a polished digital portfolio. The program encourages you to explore the design process from concept to presentation, participate in peer critiques, and sharpen your creative problem-solving skills. By the end, you’ll be equipped with both technical know-how and the confidence to present your work like a design professional.
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 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 – Woodbury University