School of Architecture and Planning

Reclaim + Remake Symposium

This conference is proposed to bring together the most innovative practices in education and research for current and future reuse and recycling of material resources in the built environment. Its location in Washington, DC affords the opportunity for interactions and exposure for designers, educators, researchers, and students to national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with material resource environmental impacts and waste. It also provides ease of access from major centers in the Eastern US via air and rail, and internationally.

Experiences in Architecture

The Experiences in Architecture program at The Catholic University of America is an intense three-week workshop for high school students interested in architecture or other design related fields.

Design Collaborative (CUAdc)

CUAdc provides architectural services to nonprofit and community groups in the District of Columbia who could not otherwise afford architectural design services with the ultimate goal of repairing and improving the city, its neighborhoods and its buildings.

Solar Decathlon

Catholic University has been selected to participate in the 2013 Solar Decathlon, which will take place in Irvine, California.  An interdisciplinary team of students are working to design and build a net-zero energy home.

Summer Institute for Architecture

Each summer, the School of Architecture and Planning conducts the Summer Institute for Architecture (SIA) featuring numerous undergraduate and graduate level courses. Among these are design studios and elective courses, including history of architecture, graphics, furniture design, theory and computer-aided design/fabrication.

Urban Institute Studio

Enhancement of our urban environment, creating beauty and a sustainable public realm is an ambitious goal. We at CUA seek to provide opportunities for students to participate in community-based projects, and to fundamentally contribute to their communities as informed citizens and educated designers when they leave our university. Programs such as these efforts build positive relationships and help foster a commitment to community service.

Frequent meetings with Urban Institute Studio,community organization leaders, government agencies and private sector consultants, expanded students awareness of neighborhood needs and desires. These gatherings enable students to understand how the neighborhood impacts daily lives. They learn to identify what aspects make a positive neighborhood feeling and what may be unacceptable conditions.