UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (UCLA AUD) and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has announced their pioneering collaboration to enable twenty 11th grade LAUSD students from design-focused STEM high schools to attend UCLA AUD's Teen ArchStudio Summer Institute on full scholarships. 

The residential program is an intensive, full-time summer architecture experience for high school students interested in exploring idea-driven design.

Structured around the experience of an architectural design studio typically offered within the curriculum of an undergraduate architecture program, students focus on developing design skills through space, and form making, and related 2D and 3D representation techniques. Individual and group projects generate a dynamic and productive environment designed to help students in their decision-making process as they consider future paths in higher education in architecture or other design-related fields. 

Teen ArchStudio is one of two summer programs offered by UCLA AUD, in collaboration with UCLA Summer Sessions. The second, JumpStart, is an intensive, four-week program for individuals contemplating careers in architecture, design, and related fields. Both programs offer students a glimpse into life at one of the leading public universities in the world, and provide access to courses and programming that is not available at many high schools. 

Image courtesy of UCLA AUD

They culminate in critiques and final presentations of work through portfolios and exhibitions, giving students a chance to apply their skills and gain experience producing professional presentations and putting together materials needed to apply to college or find a job. Furthermore, after living in campus housing, taking courses, and interacting with other students and faculty, students can picture themselves pursuing architecture and design in a university setting, and feel more prepared and confident when they go to college.

Sponsorship for the twenty LAUSD summer architecture scholars is provided by UCLA AUD and the LAUSD's federally funded Youth CareerConnect (YCC) Grant. 

"This initiative would not have been possible without the tireless support of the UCLA AUD Chair, Heather Roberge; UCLA AUD Director of Summer Programs, Mohamed Sharif; LAUSD Superintendent Austin Buetner; LAUSD Administrator, Linked Learning, CTE and Work Experience, Esther Soliman; LAUSD CTE Coordinator, Seema Puri; UCLA Assistant Vice Provost for Summer Sessions, Communications, and External Partnerships, Jaime Balboa; and UCLA Summer Sessions Director of Academic Programs, Jisoo Kim, Ph.D; as well as UCLA Summer Sessions staff members Alejandra Hurtado and Christopher Wiley," stated UCLA AUD in its press release.

To learn more, please visit UCLA AUD. 

Top image: UCLA IDEAS SUPRASTUDIO Gehry Module Summer 2013 Review with studio leaders Dennis Shelden, Greg Lynn, Frank Gehry, Craig Webb and Julia Koerner. Image courtesy of UCLA Architecture and Urban Design. 

> via UCLA AUD