Hey future architects! Want to take your ideas beyond notebook sketches and into real design studio work? Architecture is about much more than eye-catching buildings—it’s about problem-solving, spatial thinking, and designing spaces people actually use. Architecture winter programs for high school students are a great way to explore the field without waiting for summer.
A fast-paced introduction to real design thinking
Winter architecture programs are short, intensive, and hands-on. You’ll jump straight into design challenges, model-making, and digital drafting while learning tools architects actually use—like sketching, physical models, Rhino, SketchUp, or Adobe Creative Cloud. These programs give you a feel for studio culture and help you start building portfolio-ready work.
If you’re also interested in longer-term design experiences, check out our guide to architecture summer programs for high school students on the Horizon blog.
Below, we’ve curated nine architecture winter programs for high school students that stand out for their credibility, hands-on learning, and value for aspiring designers.
9 Architecture Winter Programs for High School Students
1. University of Washington Youth & Teen Programs: Architectural Studies
Location: Online (Zoom)
Cost/Stipend: $700 (nonrefundable $50 registration fee per quarter)
Program Dates: January 13–March 19 | Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Deadline: December 1 (refund deadline)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
This online pre-college course introduces students to architecture through a combination of independent and collaborative design projects, desk critiques, and presentations. You’ll explore design thinking, model making, drawing, and architectural studies while developing skills in visual and verbal communication. Work culminates in an exhibition shared with guests from the architectural design community. You’ll gain foundational knowledge of architecture and can earn a Youth & Teen Programs digital badge upon completion. A high-speed internet connection, webcam, and headset are required.
2. Hip Hop Architecture Camp
Location: Regional hosts across U.S. cities
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: Varies as per program
Deadline: Varies by host event
Eligibility: Open to students across grades 6-12
This week-long program introduces you to architecture, urban planning, and creative design through the lens of hip-hop culture. You’ll develop skills in spatial design, conceptual modeling, and collaborative problem-solving while engaging in activities that emphasize creativity, communication, and critical thinking. Sessions are led by architects, urban planners, designers, and community artists, giving exposure to professional practice and interdisciplinary design approaches. You’ll learn to integrate cultural narratives into design solutions, explore the impact of built environments on communities, and practice iterative design processes. The program fosters both technical skills and civic-minded design thinking, applicable to careers in architecture.
3. 400 Forward
Location: Varies
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: Varies depending on program
Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school African American girls and young women
400 FORWARD is designed to equip students with architectural tools to engage with and improve urban environments. You’ll develop skills in design thinking, community-based project planning, and installation, while collaborating with artists, makers, and urban planners. Projects emphasize hands-on practice in building, civic engagement, and integrating social justice principles into architectural solutions. Mentorship from practising architects and city-builders guides iterative problem-solving, technical design execution, and presentation skills. The program also connects students to professional networks, workshops, and real-world urban projects, fostering competencies in both creative expression and applied architectural thinking within inner-city contexts.
4. Boston Society for Architecture – Architecture/Design Thinking Weeks
Location: BSA Space, 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: February 17–20
Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 across Boston Public Schools
This four-day winter studio introduces you to design thinking through focused concept development, model-making, and spatial exploration. Guided by practising architects from firms like Finegold Alexander, Goody Clancy, HMFH, and the Hideo Sasaki Foundation, you’ll work through short design prompts that sharpen your ability to translate abstract ideas into physical form. You’ll experiment with diagrams, iterative sketching, and quick-study models while learning how architects approach constraints, site conditions, and user needs. Peer critique and daily pin-ups help you refine visual communication and analytical reasoning. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a clear understanding of foundational design processes and insight into the workflows of professional architects.
5. The Cooper Union Saturday Program
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Weekly Saturdays (Fall and Spring semesters) | Includes December and January sessions
Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: NYC public or charter high school students with limited access to arts education | Priority for students from low- or moderate-income households or schools without comprehensive visual arts programs | Returning students are automatically eligible
The Saturday Program provides a structured approach to studying architecture and visual arts during the winter and early spring months. You’ll work with Cooper Union undergraduates and practising artists who guide you through studio projects, critiques, and design exercises that build fundamental creative skills. If you’re an 11th or 12th grader preparing for college, the Portfolio Prep track helps you develop a strong, review-ready portfolio with personalized instruction. The program also integrates mentorship and college-readiness workshops, giving you support in planning academic goals and navigating future pathways. You’ll engage in field trips, studio visits, and a culminating exhibition, all designed to strengthen your artistic voice and confidence.
6. Cornell Winter Online Program (Architecture Track)
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course
Program Dates: January 2–17
Deadline: Applications open October 15
Eligibility: Rising/current high school juniors and seniors, ages 15–19
The online Cornell program lets you explore architecture through rigorous undergraduate courses taught by Cornell faculty. You study alongside college students, earning 3–12 credits and an official Cornell transcript while building the academic habits needed for design-focused majors. Courses are delivered on Canvas and may follow either synchronous or asynchronous formats, providing flexibility while still offering direct interaction with instructors. You learn foundational concepts relevant to architecture, such as visual thinking, design theory, or the built environment, depending on course selection. You also connect with motivated peers worldwide and gain early exposure to college-level expectations, helping you clarify whether architecture is a field you want to pursue in the future.
7. Winter Architecture Foundations Course (Cornell Online)
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Self-paced
Deadline: None
Eligibility: High school students (rising juniors and seniors recommended)
This architecture foundations course introduces you to how designers shape environments across scales, from individual objects to buildings and large territories. You study architecture, urbanism, and landscape within a broader framework influenced by the arts and sciences, providing you with a clear understanding of how the field connects to cultural and technical systems. You build skills in spatial analysis, visual representation, and design methodology through lectures and structured design exercises. These activities help you understand the fundamentals of architectural thinking and the iterative nature of the design process. Led by instructor Lorena Bello Gomez, the course offers an early academic reference point for exploring architecture and environmental design at the college level.
8. Architectural Studies I
Location: Online
Cost: $700
Program Dates: January 13–March 19
Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
This online studio course introduces you to architecture as a multidisciplinary field that blends design, history, and socioecological thinking. You work through a sequence of design prompts that build skills in model making, drawing, and visual communication, giving you hands-on experience with core architectural methods. The course emphasizes observation, representation, and clear presentation, helping you develop the design vocabulary needed to communicate complex ideas. Regular desk critiques support your progress, and the program concludes with an exhibition that showcases your work to members of the design community. You also earn a digital badge that highlights your architectural learning and strengthens your academic profile.
9. Vacation Programs (Center for Architecture)
Location: New York, NY
Cost: Varies by session | Need-based partial scholarships available
Program Dates: Three-day sessions (Tue–Thu), 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Deadline: Registration opens in early December
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–12 (specific session ages vary)
These three-day programs let you explore architecture by diving into themed design challenges, guided investigations, and hands-on building activities. You work in a small studio group with a lead educator and an assistant, providing you with consistent support while still encouraging independent problem-solving. Each session introduces architectural ideas through art-making and model construction, helping you test concepts the way practising designers do. The program is built to accommodate different learning styles, and the structured format ensures you complete a full project from concept to final model. Need-based partial scholarships are also available, with a straightforward application process for students who meet the qualifications.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re aiming for a selective, high-level mentored research experience, the Horizon Academic Research Program gives you structured access to advanced work in fields such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry. You’ll join a virtual research seminar or lab where you pursue a focused research question and develop a full academic paper under expert guidance. The program has supported more than 1,000 high school students and offers over 600 research specialisations, giving you substantial flexibility in shaping your project. You can find the application link here!
Image Source: Cornell Logo