Program Details

Design the great buildings of the future at the NSLC on Architecture.

At the NSLC on Architecture, live the life of an architect as you take a building project from idea to reality. From hand-drawing, CAD, and model-making, to structural analysis, selecting building materials, and employing cutting-edge technology, you and your peers will make the big decisions that go into designing buildings. Working closely with the faculty at leading architecture schools you will gain insight into the careers available within architecture and the challenges and opportunities facing architects today.

Program Highlights

Hands-on Design
Design buildings, select materials, and analyze environmental impact, as you use hand-drawing, CAD, and model-making in the hands-on design simulation.

Visit Iconic Buildings
Get up close and personal with the major sights and best examples of architectural styles.

Guest Speakers
Meet with leading architects, engineers, and art historians as they discuss topics such as architectural design, modern architecture, the history of structures, and architectural technology.

Dates & Locations

Note: Space is limited. Please login to the online application to see up-to-date session availability.

American University

Washington, DC

Sample Schedule
Trips & Tours
Explore Location
  • July 5 - July 13
  • July 17 - July 25

Hands-On Simulations

At the NSLC you will learn the skills of professional architects as you participate in a variety of hands-on workshops and design projects.

Topics include:

  • Create designs using hand-drawing and CAD and bring them to life in a model-making workshop
  • Test the limits of structural engineering
    and design
  • Experiment with innovative materials

Visit Iconic Buildings

While in D.C., you will visit some of the nation’s most iconic buildings and learn about the architectural styles and techniques that influenced their designs.

Examples include:

Washington National Cathedral

Library of Congress

National Archives Building

National Museum of the American Indian

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Union Station

Exclusive Guest Speakers

While at the NSLC, you will meet with and learn from professional architects, structural engineers and designers as you discover the opportunities awaiting you in the architecture field.

Examples of past guest speakers include:

Mr. Carlos J. Cardoso
Partner, Director of Construction Administration, Beyer Blinder Belle

Ms. Erica Hartmann
Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University

Ms. Jeanne Marie Gath
Principal, Pfeiffer Partners Architects

Mr. Mark Regulinski
Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP

Mr. John R. Sorrenti
President, JRS Architect, PC

Mr. Mark Hartmann
Architect, Harley Ellis Devereaux

Dr. Karen Chou
Clinical Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University

Ms. Paola Gomez-Pineiro
Architect, GREC Architects

Dr. David Corr
Associate Clinical Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University

Mr. Chip Von Weise
Principal and Founder, Von Weise Associates

Mr. Juan Gabriel Moreno
Principal, JGMA Architects

Mr. Adam Rubin
Director of Interpretation, Chicago Architecture Center

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

An important part of the NSLC summer high school architecture program is seeing the sites around one of the world’s greatest architectural cities. These trips are designed as both sightseeing tours and exclusive educational trips specifically tailored to the area of architecture.

These trips may include:

American University

The School of Architecture and Planning at The Catholic University of America | University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation | Active Construction Site Tour | Architectural Firm Visit | National Building Museum | ARTECHOUSE | D.C. Design Tour | D.C. Architectural Tour | Capitol Hill & The Smithsonian | Historic D.C. Monuments at Night

Leadership Training

At the heart of each of our youth leadership programs is a curriculum designed to build concrete leadership skills that will help you succeed. Interactive lectures and small-group workshops will give you an opportunity to build upon your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

Leadership topics tailored to the Architecture program include:

  • Personality Styles and Group Dynamics
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Negotiation
  • Public Speaking
  • Intrapersonal Communication

College Credit Option

American University (AU) and NSLC have a unique partnership that enables you to earn college credit by enrolling in a supplemental online course designed to correlate with your NSLC program’s area of study. By enrolling in this credit course, you will enjoy a stimulating, innovative, and personalized college-level learning experience that builds on your NSLC accomplishments. The course is for one credit and is taught in a self-paced, asynchronous format across six weeks, allowing ample time to complete assignments. The course is designed to work within the framework of NSLC; students are not expected to complete coursework while on campus. Students may register for college credit via their personal student portal (myNSLC) once they have enrolled in an NSLC session.

Click here to learn more about this opportunity.

Tuition

Program tuition includes housing, all on-campus meals, course materials, academic expenses, and activities. Tuition also includes chartered, air-conditioned motor coaches for off-campus briefings and tours. Note: Students are responsible for the cost of travel to and from the program as well as individual spending money for souvenirs, laundry, and a few off-campus meals during fields trips and tours.

Click here to view our cancellation and refund policy.

LocationTuition
D.C.$3,495
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