The core of the Academy’s program is the design studio.

The participants are expected to work in studio at least five days a week to advance their projects independently between sessions.

The studio meets two days per week―encompassing desk critiques, design tutorials, reading discussions, and pin-up reviews.

Criticism is rigorous and constructive, and follows an academically established architectural review format.

Each researcher receives individual attention and guidance from their program advisor, with whom they meet at least twice a week.

Researchers are assigned readings in architectural and urban history, theory, and criticism relevant to their topic of investigation.

Design seminars provide researchers with the tools and techniques to integrate 2D- and 3D-design principles with various software and digital-media platforms. Tutorials address spatial concepts ranging from basic geometrical arrangements of points, lines, and planes to more complex morphological systems and parametric design softwares.

The studio develops researchers’ abilities to visualize design problems, and to explore, test, and adapt solutions through a variety of analogue and digital media including drawings, models, diagrams, and renderings.

Several times during the semester, researchers present their work to the group in the form of a digital ‘pin-up.’  Participants will learn to develop a coherent project narrative and to articulate their ideas in both a verbal and visual format.

The mid-term and final reviews provide researchers the opportunity to present their projects to a sizable audience of architects, designers, and educators there to provide unique perspectives and insight into each researcher’s work.

Each researcher is provided with a dedicated workstation equipped with both  architectural and graphics software, full access to the Academy’s network printers, copiers, and scanners, and a rich library of digital resources. Facilities also include a small print library and model shop, as well as a formal presentation space for seminars, digital pin-ups and reviews.