Explore Architecture

Explore Architecture is an incisive introduction to the ways in which designers think and work. For young people considering a future in design, this program cracks open the excitement and opportunities of architecture and related design disciplines. No prior course or subject experience is necessary, just the initiative to break the bounds of conventional modes of thinking.

Registration Information

The popular week-long sessions of Explore Architecture are undergoing a reboot. For summer 2025 participants can choose between two sessions, Blacksburg, which includes on-campus experiences of dorm living and dining hall, or a virtual session. Everyone in grades 9 - 12 are welcome. 

• Registration for the Blacksburg session  
• Registration for the virtual session

Registration will open December 1st

Registration will close May 15th or when all spots have been filled. There will be no refunds past May 15th. Schedules and further details will be provided after registration.

Please contact Chris Pritchett (cpritche@vt.edu) if you have any questions.

Course Content

Primarily a hands-on experience, students work with long-time educators and practitioners in exercises designed to stimulate discussion and discovery of issues affecting the design world. Though these fields are professional disciplines, the tenants of the curriculum are anchored in the belief of design as a way of life.

The course is modeled around the curricula of the nationally ranked programs in the School of Architecture and School of Design (architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture). Much of the concepts covered are the focal points of the first year of the design studio of the undergraduate program. Students will explore the intuitive, problem framing modes of design. Emphasis is placed on formulating new visions and the richness of ambiguity through conceptual thinking. 

Blacksburg Session

The Blacksburg session offers either an overnight or day camper experience from June 15th-20th, with the program based out of Cowgill and Burchard halls– the hubs of our School of Architecture and School of Design. Students will have their own desks in the same shared studio space that VT students use, just one floor away from undergraduate and graduate students doing summer work, as well as access to some of the cutting-edge labs and materials workshops. By being immersed in studio life, students will be exposed to a number of collaborative tools that encourage the development of community and partnership between students as they work through their series of design exercises, lectures, discussions, and tutorials. The material will be taught by practicing architects Chase Beshore and Damian Seitz, in collaboration with select faculty members in multiple disciplines and current students, offering students insight into both academic and professional perspectives on design. 

Being on campus also provides students a sense of what college life can look like, including campus dining options, experience living in suite-style dorm rooms complete with roommates and an RA, and the beauty of Virginia Tech’s iconic campus. Given the level of independence required, we expect students to treat instructors, each other, and their environment with respect, and to be timely, engaged, responsible, self-motivated, and community-minded. 

Virtual Session

The virtual session will take place July 16th-21st. The session takes advantage of participating students’ diversity of geo-locations to explore the rich variety of spaces and forms which constitute the built environment. Students will deep-dive into a week-long design challenge involving program tutorials, group discussions + critiques, short lectures about emerging designers + exciting new projects, and hands-on exercises encouraging exploration beyond the workspace. The session will be led by VT School of Architecture faculty member Dr. Andrew Gipe-Lazarou. 

The Instructors

Blacksburg:

Clark Nexsen:  

The 2025 VT Explore ArchitectureProgram, in partnership with Clark Nexsen, offers an immersive introduction to the field of architecture and design. Crafted specifically for students with an interest in the subject, this program aims to educate and inspire by engaging participants in the full spectrum of the design process, from concept to realization.

Throughout the week, participants will work both individually and collectively to navigate the stages of the design process. By employing an iterative design method, participants will enhance both their critical and creative thinking skills. This approach not only fosters collaboration but also enriches dialogues around design concepts.

Instructors will provide foundational guidance in model-making and architectural drawing, equipping students with the skills to express their ideas across various mediums. The curriculum includes exposure to both traditional and digital techniques, such as 3D scanning and printing, offering a comprehensive exploration of architectural expression.

The program culminates in a final exhibition, providing a platform for students to present their projects. This celebration of their hard work and creativity allows them to share their achievements with peers, family, and the broader Inside Design community.

Partner. Discover. Transform. These three ideals are at the core of Clark Nexsen’s culture and form the foundation from which they deliver successful, meaningful spaces. Through a process forged over more than a century of design practice, they inquire, challenge, and collaborate across disciplines to discover ideas that solve real problems. Their transdisciplinary teams partner with their clients to advance communities with innovative, sustainable solutions.

Founded in 1920, today the firm of more than 300 professionals delivers solutions for architecture, engineering, planning, interior design, and landscape architecture. Their expertise encompasses educational, institutional, research, healthcare, military, industrial, commercial, and public work for local, national, and international clients. With nine offices, Clark Nexsen leverages the strength of multiple disciplines to actively collaborate across intersecting areas of expertise to gain new perspectives, inspire innovation, and deliver high-performing, sustainable projects.

Get ready for an immersive experience in design thinking, where ideas stretch, and potential unfolds within a community of like-minded creative thinkers.

Virtual:

Dr. Andrew Gipe-Lazarou:

Dr. Andrew Gipe-Lazarou (MArch Harvard GSD 2015, PhD NTUA 2021) is a designer, educator, and researcher interested in the significance of space in cultural-historical contexts. His work includes contributions to the internationally-published Elements series by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, field work and articles about the role of sensory learning in design education (The Diakron Institute, University of Cambridge, 2019), and ongoing research about the role of fictional narratives in the history of the city (“The ‘Extreme Fantasy’ of Delirious New York”, Lovecraft Annual, Hippocampus Press, 2020). He is currently a visiting instructor at the Virginia Tech School of Architecture. 

Cost + Registration

Registration Fees:

• Blacksburg session tuition: $1050*

• Virtual session tuition: $250*

*Please note, the Blacksburg session tuition does not include materials. Required material list and instructions on how to purchase coming soon. Estimated material cost: $100

Opportunities for needs-based scholarships are available. More details included in the registration form.

FAQ

• Blacksburg Session general schedule: See a previous year’s schedule.

  Virtual Session general schedule: See a previous year's schedule.

• Supplies: Campers are responsible for purchasing all required materials, either through our partner at New River Art and Fiber, or on your own. Material list and instructions on how to purchase coming soon.

• Laptop/Cellphones: A computer with internet access is necessary for those participating in the virtual session.

• Unable to attend the entire week: Please know you will get the most out of the week if you are there from start to finish. However, this is your camp and your time, so if you need to join late for any reason, just let us know ahead of time so we can know when to expect you or know that you’re planning on leaving early.

• Behavior: One of the goals of the School of Architecture and School of Design is to give participants the experience of a college design student at Virginia Tech in the studios. This offers a freedom that requires personal responsibility at all times. It is expected that participating students will behave in a mature and professional manner.

  Refunds: No refunds can be issued after May 15th.