Explore Design

The Boston Architectural College (BAC)’s Summer Academy offers high school students the opportunity to explore design. If your son or daughter is considering a career in architecture or design, or is working on a portfolio for college admission, Summer Academy is a fun way to test out the fields and gain practical experience with Boston as a backdrop. The dates for Summer Academy are July 5–29, 2016.

Since 1973, Summer Academy has been a memorable experience for high school students and a valuable resource for parents. Summer Academy is an affordable option that offers scholarships and financial aid as well as the opportunity to earn a scholarship to the BAC upon completion. Led by advanced graduate students and other design professionals, students work on practical, hands-on projects in groups and individual studio settings. They learn basic structural principles, materials composition, and drawing techniques, all while exploring Boston’s historic neighborhoods. Field trips typically include building sites, design firms, museums, and other landmarks.

«Summer Academy embraces the principle that young students acquire an immediate and comprehensive understanding of spatial design by directly experiencing the processes and materials used in the execution of creative projects,» said Luis Montalvo, Summer Academy Director. «Field trips in the Boston area are placed at the center of the learning experience and provide case studies on how significant buildings, design firms, as well as factories and construction sites have engaged in practical solutions that relate to classroom discussions and exercises in the studio and workshop. Throughout the program, students gain a solid understanding of how the built environment is developed and their personal relationship to it.»

One highlight for students during Summer Academy is bringing their ideas to life through architectural models. Using professional software such as SketchUp, as well as laser cutters and 3D printers, students build both digital and physical models. At the end of the program, students have the opportunity to present their final work to family and friends at the closing celebration. Students leave with a comprehensive portfolio of their work and a sketchbook of their experience.