Architecture

Have you ever wondered how design influences the spaces we live in? Tulane Pre-College Programs offer high school students the opportunity to immerse themselves in architectural design while earning three hours of college credit in just two weeks. Explore the fundamentals of architecture and design, from concept to creation, while developing practical skills in drafting, modeling, and spatial analysis. Learn from award-winning instructors, gain hands-on experience, and build a portfolio that will set you apart. Starting turning your ideas into reality - apply today!

Pre-college students creating architectural designs in studio

Dream it. Design it. Build your future.

Study architecture in Tulane's newly renovated Richardson Memorial Hall, where state-of-the-art facilities meet a historic anchor of campus. Our studio-based courses give you the skills and knowledge to turn your innovative ideas into real-world designs using the latest tools. Whether you are interested in graphic design, urban ecology, 3-d modeling, and more, you will uncover the intersection of creativity and functionality through design. Experience the rich architectural heritage of New Orleans alongside passionate peers and find your calling this summer. View our architecture course offerings below.

Architecture Courses

Architecture | Design

ARCH 1001: Analog Design

* Registration is no longer available.*

At the root of the architecture discipline is the study of design. In this two-week course, students will focus on analog techniques of design utilizing hand drawing, mixed media exploration, shadow studies, and physical model making. The course will embolden students to embrace the tactile facets of the creative process as a foundation of Architecture and its allied fields. Students will explore the built environment from a haptic perspective, experiencing the universal spatial, environmental, and social elements of architecture while creating beautiful work that will be digitally archived for their professional portfolio.

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

tactile design

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Architecture | Design

ARCH 1002: 3D Digital Design

* Registration is no longer available.*

Jump into the digital realm exploring the intersection of digital design, representation, and documentation using the Adobe Creative Suite, as well as Rhino (a 3d modeling software). In this two-week course, students will focus on visual and spatial communication through digital media and express their design ideas in the digital laboratory using laser cutters and 3d printers. They will work with innovative digital tools to compile a portfolio of work that is lively, relevant and professional reflecting a strong understanding of translating architectural design through orthographics and three-dimensional space.

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

3d-digital-design-2024

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Architecture | Design

ARCH 1901: Architectural Futures: Designing with Artificial Intelligence

* Registration is no longer available.*

Explore architecture through a futuristic lens in this two-week design studio. Students will discover how AI can become an active partner in an iterative design process, guiding decisions from concept to proposal with opportunities for deeper analysis. Through hands-on assignments and collaborative projects, the course emphasizes developing human-centered narratives and sustainable solutions that harmonize with their surroundings. By the end, students will understand how AI-assisted design enhances creativity, supports informed decision-making, and deepens exploration in architecture.

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

arch_1901_architectural_futures

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Architecture | Design | Environmental Studies

ARCH 1901: Building Ecologies: Designing for More than Just Humans

* Registration is no longer available.*

What would it mean to design a park for a deer? Or to consider the local songbirds when building the eaves of a house? In this course, we will explore all the different life forms— plants, trees, animals, fungi, bacteria…and humans— which interact with the built environment. Students will conduct field research of New Orleans’ urban ecologies using the techniques of naturalists, architects, and artists. This sketchbook-based research will culminate in the design of a small architectural project that serves both human and nonhuman users.

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

arch 1901 building ecologies

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Architecture | Design

ARCH 1901: Digital Graphic Design & Typography

* Registration is no longer available.*

Graphic design is about mixing creativity + strategy to communicate visually. Images, fonts, and colors combine to tell a story, catch attention, or solve a problem. From logos to posters to app layouts, it’s art with a purpose! Typography is a big part of graphic design. The style of letters changes how we understand a message—bold letters can be powerful, curvy ones can be playful. It’s not just about reading—it’s about feeling what the words say! Also: Adobe Illustrator + Photoshop—AND THE ART OF SEEING!

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

2d-digital-design

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Architecture | Design

ARCH 1901: Experience Urban Spatial Configurations through Design-Build-Play

* Registration is no longer available.*

Explore architecture in action through the dynamic intersection of design, construction, and human engagement in this immersive course. Moving beyond theory, you will translate concepts into physical structure, examining how design shapes communities and everyday experiences. Develop spatial awareness by experimenting with materials, and refine problem-solving skills through collaborative model-making and building at full-scale. Through the inquiry urban spaces and synthesis of object forms, you will gain a deeper understanding of architecture’s impact on the built environment. Whether you’re considering a future in architecture or seeking a deeper engagement with design, this course provides both a strong foundation and real-world application.

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

ARCH 1901 Experience Urban Spatial Configurations

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Architecture | Design

ARCH 1901: Introduction to Site Forces on Architecture and the Built Environment

* Registration is no longer available.*

Introduction to Site Forces on Architecture and the Built Environment introduces how natural, physical and social systems impact the design of buildings and the built environment. Students will learn about these systems and how they can be addressed through the design of a building through a survey of these forces, of historic movements addressing similar challenges, and current methods to address the same. Architecture is only one part of the built environment and must be considered in this larger context to effectively engage with nature and with the community, and to design for an uncertain future in the face of climate change.

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

ARCH 1901 Introduction to Site Forces

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Architecture | Design

ARCH 1901: The Sketchbook: Articulating Space > Cataloging Place

* Registration is no longer available.*

What do the director of Hellboy II and the French Romantic Delacroix have in common? Fantastic sketchbooks! Just like you did from the age of two to ten years old [and perhaps further], these creative powerhouses documented their places and their thoughts in sketchbooks, extensions of their limbs, and in words, lines and washes. For these two weeks, you will be doing the same, demystifying mark and stroke, and you will leave with the capacity to articulate space and place through a two-dimensional device.

Credit-Bearing
Explorations in Architecture and Design
11th Grade | 12th Grade

sketchbook-articulating-space-cataloging-place

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Students in the New Orleans Sculpture Garden