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2009 Architecture Career Discovery Program
Session I: Sunday, July 12 (check in) Friday, July
24, 2009 (Check out)- This session is full.
Session II: Sunday, July 26 (check in) Friday, August 7, 2009
(Check out)- This session is full.
Students do not need to submit an application for this
program.
Students are registered into each session on a first come
first served basis.
Space is limited with appx. 16 students in each session.
This is an overnight residential program.
There are two sessions due to popular demand.
Open to High school students going into the 10th, 11th and
12th grade in the fall.
Registrations for Summer 2010 will begin when the web site is
updated, January 1, 2010.
2009 Architecture Career Discovery Program Flyer (569KB PDF
file)
This two-week introduction to architecture, on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, includes morning programs and introductory lectures in history and theory of architecture, computing and simulation, freehand and extreme drawing, building ecologies, building conservation, and construction systems. There will be field trips and career counseling. Afternoons will have individually critiqued (tutored) design studios, group and individual projects, reviews and public presentations. High school students considering studies in architecture or design with a curiosity about the world in which we live, as well as an interest in art culture, and new ideas are encouraged to register.
Registration Information
2009 Architecture Career Discovery Program Registration
Form (60KB PDF file)
Cost: $2,800 per student. Cost includes residential room and board meals and Lab Kit for students to keep.
Registration Deadline: Early registrations are encouraged. Space is limited. A non-refundable deposit $560.00 must accompany the registration. Final payment and the below accepted student forms for Session I are due by June 29, 2009. Final payment and the below accepted student forms for Session II are due by July 13, 2009. If you have any questions, please contact Kari Bennett at (518) 276-6431.
Program Details
2009 Architecture Career Discovery Program Schedule (32KB
PDF file)
The architecture career discovery program aims to introduce students to numerous aspects of the field of architecture, such as history, theory, technology, and practice, with an emphasis on understanding how such diverse realms of knowledge can be synthesized within the process of architectural design; the program centers around an intensive two-week studio experience, supplemented with lectures, lab sessions, and field trips.
Over the course of the program, students will continually be encouraged to apply what they’ve experienced outside the studio to their own design endeavors, as well as formulate their own critical understanding of architecture. The studio will consist of a single project that will be developed both conceptually and technically, through a number of quick investigative studies into different aspects of architectural design, such as site analysis, sketching, conceptual diagramming, and computer modeling. In addition, students will be exposed to related topics concurrently through the lectures, lab sessions, and field trips.
In the summer of 2008, students designed an addition to the Greene Building, experimented with 3-D modeling and rendering programs, and visited both the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and New York City, where they toured the Skycraper Museum, architectural offices, and visited contemporary retail design projects in lower Manhattan.
In the summer of 2007, Rensselaer hosted a group of high school students considering studies in architecture or design, with a curiosity about the world as well as an interest in art, culture, and new ideas. The Architecture Career Discovery Program introduces students to the field of architecture, including history, theory, technology, and practice, while emphasizing how these diverse realms of knowledge can be synthesized within the process of architectural design. Students were encouraged to apply what they’ve experienced outside the studio to their own design endeavors, as well as formulate their own critical understanding of architecture.
For additional information on Rensselaer's School of Architecture click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do students do over the 2-week
program?
Students spend the majority of their time working on a
small-scale architecture project over the duration of the
program; the studio sequence is supplemented with instruction
in various tools and techniques, ranging from hand-drawing to
computer modeling, as well as tours of sites of architectural
interest and informal seminar sessions on topics such as
architectural theory, history, and technologies. Outside of
class times, students participate in leisure activities at
various locations around campus.
What is the program focus and aim?
The program aims to introduce students to the diverse issues
and methodologies that contribute to the process of creating
and understanding architecture. Rather than focus in depth on
one particular aspect of the discipline, as an analogue to a
single course in the school of architecture, the program
exposes students to a broad spectrum of subjects, providing a
sampling of the vast range of materials covered in an
undergraduate architectural education.
What are the field trips?
The program goes on a day-long excursion each week, usually to
a nearby site of architectural interest or cultural center,
such as a museum, with the program’s trips usually culminating
in travel to a major urban area, such as New York City, to see
contemporary architectural works and current exhibitions at
major museums. In addition, there are several early evening and
weekend short-term walking tours taken in downtown Troy.
Are the field trips and activities
different?
The activities are centered around running an intensive studio
project, where the students design a small facility on campus.
The project is used as a springboard to enter into discussions
about the various aspects of the discipline, and is
supplemented with informal lectures, discussions, and walking
tours. The field trips are substantially different; last summer
we went to Olana, the residence of a painter, and to New York
City, where we toured several museums and saw a few projects of
interest; they are not intended to correspond necessarily to
the main thrust of the program, but are more about exposing the
students to interesting built works and encourage discussion of
such.
Do you have many incoming 10th grade students in the
program or is this more geared towards a student who definitely
knows they want to pursue a career in architecture which might
not be a certainty for students entering the 9th
grade?
Last summer was a mix of students going into the 12th grade
(senior year) and 11th grade, with the seniors comprising the
majority. The program is more of an exploratory experience,
with students getting a taste of the different aspects of the
architectural discipline and exposure to some of the academic
experiences that are present in an architectural education, so
the program does not, in any way, require the student to have
made any kind of decision regarding whether they wish to pursue
architecture as a major and/or career.
Is there time when students are completely left on
their own during the course of the day?
The students are under the supervision of a resident advisor
(RA), teaching assistant (TA) or the participating faculty
member at all times.
Can parents attend any events?
Parents and students meet in Greene Building, home of the
School of Architecture by 6:00 pm on check-in Sunday. Parents
are welcome to attend the closing events at 3:00PM on the final
Friday of the session.
Accepted Student Forms
Check list for completing Medical History Form -
Residential (53KB PDF file)
Medical History Form - Residential (75KB PDF file)
Medication Sheet Form (54KB PDF file)
Self Medication Waiver (52KB PDF file)
Authorization to Visit - Residential (162KB PDF file)
Meningitis Fact Sheet (52KB PDF file)
Meningitis Summer Response Form (58KB PDF file)
Note for Summer program participants Medication Sheet Form and Self Medication Waiver: For children who do not have any prescriptions the parent and doctor should sign the Medication sheet for the three over the counter medications listed so they can be administered by the Health Services Office. If your son/daughter does not have any medications to self administer then the Self Medication Form is not applicable.
Location: This program will be held on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
Transportation: The Albany International Airport and Amtrak Train Station are each location 20 minutes from campus. Car rentals are available from both the airport and train station. All students must furnish their own transportation to and from campus.
Program Inquiries/Questions: For further information about the program, Request Information, or contact, Mike Gunther, Program Manager for Recruitment, (518) 276-8351, gunthm@rpi.edu.
MAIL OR FAX MATERIALS TO:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Attn: Outreach Programs
Office
110 8th Street – Low Center Suite 4011
Troy, NY 12180-3590
(518) 276-6431 (Voice)
(518) 276-8738 (Fax)
An email will be sent to confirm receipt of materials.
Special Needs: If you have any special needs please contact Kari Bennett at (518) 276-6431.
Registration Questions & Answers: If you have any application/registration questions, please contact Kari Bennett at (518) 276-6431.
