Nearly everyone has a favorite building—either a nostalgic place from your hometown or a memory of a wonderful place you’ve visited. Historical buildings, like Notre Dame Cathedral, even inspire international efforts at preservation, for the sake of humanity. Architecture, “the art and science of building,” is a large field that encompasses multiple disciplines at its core. To be successful, architecture professionals must combine creativity, design, engineering, and more in the art of constructing an effective and beautiful structure. For students just getting started, however, this complex industry can be intimidating.
That’s where internships come in. Internships provide high school students with hands-on work experience in this dynamic field, allowing them to explore the different facets of architecture and build a solid foundation for future studies and careers.
Listed below are 14 architecture internships and programs targeting high school students where you can begin to learn the dynamic foundations of this fascinating field.
Top 15 Architecture Internships for High School Students in 2024
We’ve done the hard part for you! Now, let’s explore 14 epic architecture internships for high school students, with details on eligibility, deadlines, and duration to kickstart your architectural career.
1. Chicago Architecture Center Summer Fellows
The Chicago Architecture Center‘s CAC Teen Fellows program puts Chicago’s teens on a first-come, first-served path to an architecture overview. In three semesters, fellows explore careers in architecture and design while earning college credit and working with professionals in the field. The program includes digital design using software such as SketchUp and AutoCAD, along with hands-on model building and site visits. This immersive experience culminates with a paid summer internship at a local architecture or design firm, where students work on real-world projects.
- Tuition: No cost
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors enrolled in Chicago high schools
- Application Deadline: March 2025
- Duration: Summer-Spring (3 semesters)
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Personal statement or essay
- Recommendation letter(s)
- High school transcript
- Portfolio (optional, depending on experience)
2. Boston Private Industry Council Architecture Internship
The Boston Private Industry Council, in cooperation with the Boston Society of Architects, offers high school students an internship in Boston-area architecture firms. Students enrolled in this program will be working on real-life projects, testing new technologies, and participating in site visits. Interns will be exposed to all phases of architectural practice, from design through drafting, attending client meetings, managing projects, and so much more. The experience gained is invaluable ground for students who are considering pursuing a career in architecture or other related fields.
- Tuition: No cost
- Eligibility: Students in Boston public high schools
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Duration: 6 weeks over the summer months
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Resume
- Cover letter
- High school transcript
- Recommendation from a teacher or counselor
3. NOMA Project Pipeline
Project Pipeline, organized by the National Organization of Minority Architects, is a program designed to bring high school students together with design professionals, civic leaders, and change-makers to expose them to architecture in a greater context of community and social justice. Students learn through workshops, design challenges, and mentorship how architecture impacts communities and their part in designing fair, livable, sustainable environments. The program is an ideal place for showing the beauties of diversity within architecture, putting students to their critical thinking skills in understanding how design shapes the world around them.
- Tuition: $ Paid – Limited scholarships available
- Eligibility: Students of color from grades 8-12
- Application Deadline: Varies by location
- Duration: Varies (between July-August)
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Personal essay or interest statement
- No portfolio required (program focuses on underrepresented youth exploring architecture)
4. STEMcx Summer Architecture Internship
Through a partnership with Bmore NOMA, STEMcx provides architecture internships in Baltimore. The program exposes students to practices in the STEM fields: shadowing architects, exercises in design, and community engagement. As interns, they will be exposed to actual projects where they can further develop their design and technical skills. Field trips are also arranged to important architectural sites and buildings, covering all information about the architectural profession.
- Tuition: No cost
- Eligibility: High school students living in the Baltimore area
- Application Deadline: Rolling
- Length: 8 weeks over the summer, 4 hours a day
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Online application form
- Resume
- Short personal statement
- Recommendation letter from a teacher or mentor
5. Fallingwater Institute’s High School Residencies
The Fallingwater Institute’s High School Residencies are held at one of Frank Lloyd Wright‘s most renowned designs allowing residents to both live and learn at this historic site. Activities include hands-on drawing and design projects that use Fallingwater for inspiration, career exploration sessions, and discussions about the principles of organic architecture. Ample time will be available to experience the natural environment and Wright’s philosophy of putting architecture in the context of nature. In this immersive environment, foster creativity and get inside the architectural design process.
- Tuition: $ Paid – Financial aid available
- Eligibility: Any high school student
- Application Deadline: April 30th, 2025
- Duration: Several sessions from June 26th to August 4th
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Personal statement or essay explaining interest in architecture
- Teacher or mentor recommendation
- High school transcript
- Portfolio of creative or architectural work (optional but recommended)
6. UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy
UC Berkeley‘s embARC Summer Design Academy provides a taste of architecture, urban design, and sustainable city planning studios, workshops, and field trips. Students will work on designing projects about real-life issues using digital tools and building models on the spot. The program includes lectures and discussions with faculty and professionals that give insight into academic and professional pathways in architecture. Students leave this well-rounded program with a better understanding of the field and a strong portfolio.
- Tuition: $ Paid – Financial aid available
- Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Application Deadline: May 1st, 2025
- Duration: July 3rd- July 28th
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Online application form
- Personal statement
- Resume (optional)
- High school transcript
- Letter of recommendation
- Portfolio of design work (optional, based on prior experience)
7. Sasaki Foundation Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED)
The SEED internship program provides both in-person and virtual experiences for high school students seeking an overview of the design profession through collaborative projects, office culture immersion, and design fundamentals. As interns, students work alongside professionals in the field of architecture and affiliated industries to engage in design charrettes, site visits, and project presentations. This program nurtures creative and technical skills, exposing students to a wide variety of careers while giving them a network of mentors and peers within the design community.
- Tuition: No cost
- Eligibility: All high school students
- Application Deadline: Not specified, usually one month before the program
- Duration: 6 weeks during summer months
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Personal statement or essay
- Letter of recommendation
- No portfolio required
8. SCI-Arc Design Immersion Days
The Southern California Institute of Architecture, through its Design Immersion Days program, gives an intensive orientation in architectural principles, design thinking, and digital design tools. The program was built with projects, workshops, lectures, and interactions with faculty and students to give a better sensation of the process of architectural education and what may lead to a career. This interactive, dynamic experience will explore the creativity of students and result in a deeper understanding of spatial conceptions.
- Tuition: $ Paid – Limited scholarships available
- Eligibility: Open to high school students
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Duration: Typically a few weeks in the summer
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Online application form
- Personal statement
- High school transcript
- Recommendation letter (optional)
- No portfolio required for beginners
9. Illinois Institute of Technology Architecture Studio
Exploring the iconic architecture of Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Technology‘s summer program for high school students interlaces practical design projects with explorations of architectural concepts, design methodologies, and making models in guided studio sessions. Further, this program includes meetings with the faculty, students, and professionals themselves; thus, an engagement from students with the architectural community will be hands-on, and a project will be taken back to add to their portfolios.
- Tuition: $ Paid – Financial aid available
- Eligibility: High school students
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Duration: 2 Weeks
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- High school transcript
- Personal statement about architecture interest
- Portfolio (optional)
10. Taliesin Nexus’s Architecture + Culture Workshops
The Architecture + Culture Workshops offer intellectual stimulation to students who want to investigate the connections between architecture and culture within society at Taliesin Nexus. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss, partake in workshops, and go through projects to challenge conventional ideas of the role of architecture in developing culture and society. These workshops are led by a staff of professionals and prominent philosophical thinkers who challenge students to question their relationship with architecture and the world they live in, to broaden their horizons, and to begin to refine their perspectives.
- Tuition: $ Paid – Limited scholarships available
- Eligibility: Open to motivated and mature students with an interest in architecture
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Duration: Varies
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Resume
- Personal essay on interest in architecture and culture
- No portfolio required
11. New York School of Interior Design Pre-College Program
The New York School of Interior Design offers a pre-college program where interested high school students are introduced to interior design principles. Students work on projects that involve the concept of design aesthetics and planning of space, like selecting materials. Studio sessions and several workshops further creative thinking and design skills, bringing students an overview of how design works. Students get a taste of the big world of design and how it relates to architecture.
- Tuition: $ Paid – Limited scholarships available
- Eligibility: Open to high school students
- Deadline: Varies
- Duration: Typically a few weeks in the summer
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Personal statement about interest in interior design
- No portfolio required
12. SOM Foundation Design Fellowships
The SOM Foundation Design Fellowships immerse high school students in a deep understanding of architecture, design, and urban planning. Fellows go through workshops, site visits, and discussion sessions on worldwide urban issues with the finest architects and planners. It offers a unique opportunity to be exposed to the best design practices, as well as to explore innovative solutions to contemporary problems. It aspires to inspire and empower the next generation of designers with skill sets and knowledge to meet challenges within the built environment.
- Tuition: No cost
- Eligibility: High school students
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Duration: Varies
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Personal statement or essay
- Portfolio of design work or sketches
- Resume
- High school transcript
13. Camp ARCH
Camp ARCH is a week-long overnight camp conducted by the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University. This program exposes rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to the professions of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning through hands-on projects and activities. Campers will be involved in design studios, workshops, and field trips where they will learn to conceptualize and critique an architectural design. Moreover, students attend faculty and professional lectures and presentations to better understand academic and professional pathways in architecture. This well-rounded experience enables students to lay a strong base for further studies.
- Tuition: $ Paid
- Eligibility: High school students
- Application deadline: Spring 2025
- Duration: One week in the summer
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- Application form
- Short essay explaining interest in architecture or design
- High school transcript
- No portfolio required for entry-level students
14. Drexel University Summer Architecture Program
Drexel University’s Summer Architecture Program exposes students in high school to an introduction to architecture through studio sessions, workshops, and site visits. Students produce design projects that test their creativity and problem-solving skills in both digital and hands-on model-making alike. This program also features interaction with faculty and students that gives participants insight into the life of a student studying architecture and possible career paths in the profession. Students will develop their design skills through this full immersion and create a strong portfolio to pursue further studies.
- Tuition: $ Paid
- Eligibility: Any high school student
- Application Deadline: Spring 2025
- Duration: Summer, two weeks
Ready to apply? You’ll need to collect the following materials to complete your application:
- No portfolio required for beginners
- Application form
- Personal statement about interest in architecture
- High school transcript
- Recommendation letter
Architecture Internships: a Bridge to Your Future
Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and sharpen your pencils. If architecture piques your interest, there’s no better way to learn more than to get involved yourself! Participation in architecture internships or programs during high school is vital to help you understand what the industry looks like on the ground. These unique opportunities offer early exposure, certainly, but also have a great base for future studies and careers.
Looking for more experiences, outside of the box? These skills can be gained through project-based work experience, live projects, or immersive workshops. Seek such opportunities, meet the eligibility criteria, and apply within the deadlines for this enriching journey into architecture.
Most of all, as you go through these fantastic internships and programs in architecture, always bear in mind that Empowerly has your back every step of the way. Delivering personalized college counseling and career guidance to high school students to pursue their dreams, Empowerly provides expert advice and application assistance along with a whole set of tools that make you successful in taking on these opportunities and building an architecture career.
Unleash your best self in an architectural career with Empowerly by your side. Learn more about the how-to with Empowerly today!
Sophia Minhas
Madeleine Karydes