The University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture and Planning hosts its annual Summer Design Academy program starting in June. This program is aimed at high school juniors and seniors who are enthusiastic about creativity and design work.
Participants will receive hands-on and practical experience creating their own designs and will master the fundamentals of placemaking and problem-solving within the field.
The program offers two in-person sessions, with options for two or three weeks each session. Each two-week session is noncredit, and participants will not have required homework, while each three-week session provides participants with dual college credit. The dual credit curriculum teaches skills equivalent to the college’s introductory course for students and will include required homework.
Session one starts June 9 in Santa Fe at the New Mexico School for the Arts, and session two begins July 7 in Albuquerque. For both sessions, students will meet Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Registration is open for both sessions. The cost is $300 per session, with a $150 deposit, which is fully refundable until the start of the chosen session. Interested students can register for both sessions. The deadline for submitting registration is May 5. A limited number of full-ride scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additionally, parents need to complete waivers and release forms for their student. All necessary forms, including the scholarship application, can be found at the bottom of the program’s webpage. Once the forms are completed, email them to adsa@unm.edu. The subject line should read: student_name_forms.
Students will be able to learn from renowned faculty and community members, who want to share their expertise to inspire the next generation of architects, landscape architects and planners.
The faculty includes Stephanie Bunt, assistant professor of architecture; Francisco Uvina, assistant professor of architecture and historic preservation; Tamarah Begay, principal, Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture; Alex Webb, Director, Predock Center for Design; Evan Ripley, lecturer in architecture; LaShannon Begay, graduate assistant in Landscape architecture; and Susannah Abbey, lecturer in landscape architecture and Academy coordinator.
The School of Architecture and Planning Dean Robert Gonzalez revived the Summer Academy as a part of his priority initiatives in 2020. “The Architecture + Design Academy students gain valuable knowledge while demonstrating impressive skill and commitment,” stated Dean Gonzalez. “Through the academy, we can encourage their talents and foster the next generation of architects in New Mexico and beyond.”
Visit the Summer Academy’s webpage to learn more about the program.
