Architects' School Projects

Culturally Relevant Structures

• Most architecture schools require students to design and develop building types that are culturally significant. Some culturally important structures are art galleries, museums, theaters, plazas, and parks, as well as small retail projects, such as cafes, bookstores, and clothing shops. These building types, also called programs, are important for students to engage with cultural ideas, norms, and beliefs. Furthermore, such projects allow the student to produce novel, creative solutions for familiar building types.

Government and Public Structures

• Government and public buildings, such as courthouses, libraries, police stations, hospitals, and jails are advanced programs, or building types, for the student. These structures have many more requirements placed on them because of their function and need for security. Often these building types have several occupant types that require different uses of the structures. An example of this is the courthouse, which requires separate access and circulation for the judges and juries, plaintiffs and defendants, and the public. These three groups must weave in and out of separate, private and shared spaces, making an extremely complex structure.

Residential Structures

• Residential buildings are another difficult program, partially because we feel so comfortable with the residential type. Often, the student takes for granted certain aspects of residential design and will not think through the best flow or layout of spaces and amenities.

  Nevertheless, there are many different types of residential structures students design. These include large-scale structures, such as high rises; medium-scale structures, such as apartments, town homes, and condominiums; and small-scale structures, such as houses and duplexes.

Urban Design and Planning

• Architecture students are also required to understand design at the scale of the city. Many architecture studios look at urban design, and the students are required to design city blocks or even a city street network. These projects are often challenging, requiring the student to think like a city planner.

  In addition, many schools require the students to design large swaths of land, including amenities such as lights, benches and street facades.