2025 Explore Architecture Summer Program

The 2025 Virginia Tech Explore Architecture Program, 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.

To kick off this one week program, students learned how to observe their surroundings, distill the essence, and translate those insights onto paper, revealing the power of interpretation and the many perspectives that can emerge from a common prompt. Through a series of pin ups students and faculty discussed the thinking behind each move and its application in the real world.

Through the week, participants worked both individually and collectively to navigate the stages of the design process. By employing an interactive design method participants enhanced both their critical and creative thinking skills. This approach not only fosters collaboration but also enriches dialogue design concepts.

On day two , students began by exploring spatial scale and experience. Working in groups, they measured and sketched various rooms across Cowgill and Burchard Hall, documenting how each space felt and functioned. They then recreated the rooms outside using masking tape and chalk, discussing how the absence of walls and ceilings altered their perception of space.

In the afternoon, students measured their own height and created scale figures of themselves. Using both their scale figures and the abstract forms they developed on day one, they selected a form to transform into a pavilion. These pavilions became a way to explore and express personal identity, and each group reflected on the added complexity and insight gained through iteration and collaboration.

On day three, students engaged in a focused study of how buildings interact with their environment, specifically how they touch the ground and reach toward the sky. Through rapid modeling exercises of unique architectural images, students analyzed form, context, and vocabulary, deepening their visual and conceptual understanding.

On day four, students went to downtown Blacksburg to visit the historic Lyric Theater for a “Scavenger Hunt”. Working in groups, students were given construction sets of the theater, tasked with connecting 2D plans to 3D structures.

On the final day, students created an exhibition of their week-long projects, celebrating their hard work and new knowledge. The exhibition was open to families to see what their child had produced during their time with the School of Architecture.

Thank you to Clark Nexsen for being this year’s guest firm. And a special thanks to alumni Alex Cejka ‘19, Allison Rogers ‘23, Chase Beshore ‘05, Clayton Greer ‘24, Damian Seitz ‘05, Elizabeth Criss ‘24, and Ian Vaughan ‘07 for acting as guest instructors. Additionally, thank you to all the TA’s who assisted with this year’s program.

We would also like to extend a massive thank you to Hanbury, for their role in last year’s Explore Architecture summer program, and for sponsoring this year’s student internships!