UNM School of Architecture + Planning launches new Summer Academy

Spacing, Scaping, Urbing and Zerving – the terms may seem unfamiliar now but perfectly accentuate the fun, zany, hands-on opportunities being offered through the new Architecture + Design Summer Academy (ADSA) at the UNM School of Architecture + Planning (SA+P).

ADSA is designed to specifically cater to high school juniors and seniors. The program debuts this summer and will give students the opportunity to explore design, architecture, preservation and planning. ADSA sessions offer teens the chance to learn from UNM faculty and renowned professionals from around the country, while creating a portfolio to support their future applications to architecture and planning schools.

“We have such wonderful opportunities for growth in the architecture, design and community planning sectors in New Mexico, and our high school students are poised to lead that growth. UNM SA+P wants to create a platform for these future leaders to explore their passions and network with professionals in a fun and engaging way,” said Robert Alexander González, Dean of UNM SA+P.

In each Session, teens will dive into hands-on design workshops in SPACING (architecture), SCAPING (landscape architecture), URBING (city and regional planning) and ZERVING (historic preservation)—the subjects of UNM SA+P degrees and certificates. They'll learn analog and digital design techniques and use 3D fabrication technologies, hear guest lectures, and take various field trips, including a Rail Runner ride to the "other end of the line" city (Santa Fe for the ABQ session students and vice versa).

“Architecture + Design Summer Academy will be packed with informative, hands-on learning opportunities. I’m really thrilled to connect students with leading architects, designers and planners from across the country,” said Janet Abrams, ADSA director and UNM SA+P visiting associate professor. “Our hope is to ignite curiosity about design in high schoolers who are beginning to explore possible career opportunities. ADSA will be an exciting and practical way for them to find out how interesting and impactful these fields really are. And even if they’re not thinking about careers yet, these studio workshops will be incredible opportunities to practice creative design thinking.”

The sessions offer an amazing roster of instructors for this first edition of A+D Summer Academy (click here to see samples of their work):

• 2016 National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development 40 under 40 award winner Tamarah Begay (Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture, Albuquerque)
• 2021 Jeff Harnar Awards "Unbuilt Architecture" award winner Ke Vaughn Harding (AOS Architects, Santa Fe) 
• 2019-20 Dumbarton Oaks Fellow Ann Komara (professor and former chair of Landscape Architecture, UC Denver)
• 2019 Obama Fellow Joseph Kunkel (Mass Design Santa Fe, director of its Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab)
• 2017 National Design Award for Interaction Design winner Eric Rodenbeck(founder and CEO, Stamen Design, SFO)
• 2016 arcVision Award—Women and Architecture winner Jennifer Siegal (Office of Mobile Design, Los Angeles)

These guest instructors will team-teach with SA+P faculty members including Francisco Uviña and Kathleen Kambic.

Each 2-week session costs $300 and there are a limited number of scholarships available on a first come first served basis.

Click here to register for a session at the inaugural Architecture + Design Summer Academy.

Click here to inquire about scholarship opportunities (please use subject line “Scholarship Request”).