Build SF Summer Design Institute - Architectural Foundation of San Francisco

2025

Build SF Summer Design Institute
Register now for either June or July!

2025 Summer Design Institute

Register now!!!

The Build San Francisco Summer Design Institute is a fun and fast-paced 3-week summer program for high school students interested in design & architecture.

The AFSF Summer Design Institute meets online Monday – Friday, 9am-noon (PDT). Learn from anywhere, with fellow teens from around the world for 3-weeks.

Session 1: June 9 – 27, 2025

Session 2: July 7 – 25, 2025

Tuition = $3,000, including all materials and supplies.

A deposit of 1/2 the tuition is required to confirm registration. Need-based financial aid is available.

Cancellations prior to June 1st will receive a full refund, minus a $100 registration fee.

Students receive instruction on design process, approaches, sketching skills as well as digital design platforms. In addition, students present their original work, and receive feedback and guidance, while also participating in group activities including collaborative teamwork. Some individual work and twice-weekly mentoring with an architect or other design professional will be outside of the 9am-noon hours.

The AFSF Summer Design Institute offers students an opportunity to develop their own skills and to use professional tools, creating original content they can use for college applications and career opportunities.

Check out some highlights from participants in previous years presenting their team proposals for the summer’s final design challenge:

Learn Design Tools

In this unique program, students work with a range of hand-drawing, physical model construction, and computer aided design tools.

Each participant will receive mentoring by a professional architect or other designer, to experience the profession and receive guidance on career path.

Technology Requirements

Given the remote nature of AFSF programs each participant needs access to an internet-connected computer in a quiet space where they can participate fully in every online design studio session and every mentoringing meeting. Most PCs/Windows and Mac computers (desktops or laptops) as well as most chromebooks should work fine.

Contact fred@afsf.org with any questions.

Testimonials

"My daughter learned a lot. I was amazed by how comfortable everyone was with the technology and working online together. It gives me hope for more learning opportunities online in these new challenging times."

"Who knows if these students will go on to become architects, landscape architects or designers, but I think having the exposure, will lend them an appreciation of building design as they navigate through life. To be honest, I wish there were workshops like this in all disciplines to give our youth exposure to everything that is out there."

"The AFSF Summer Design Institute is an incredible program that helps you learn valuable knowledge and skills about architecture."

"Working with my teammates to design a solution to a real-world problem and receiving feedback from professionals was fun and inspiring. I am proud of the accomplishments I made in this class. It was very inspiring!"