15 Best Architecture Internships for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 14
- 12 min read
For high school students interested in architecture, internships can be an excellent way to gain early exposure to the profession while building valuable skills. You can learn how architects approach design challenges, work with digital modeling tools, and collaborate with clients and engineers on projects. Many internships, especially online internships, are also accessible and flexible, allowing you to explore architecture regardless of your location.
Why should I do an architecture internship in high school?
Completing an architecture internship in high school can give you a valuable head start in exploring a design-focused career. You gain insight into how architects approach design problems while learning the necessary technical skills and software. Another major benefit is the opportunity to build connections with professionals and mentors in the field. These relationships can lead to future opportunities and strong recommendation letters. Finally, an architecture internship can strengthen your college applications by demonstrating your genuine interest in design and the built environment. Admissions officers notice students who pursue meaningful academic or professional experiences related to their intended major.
In this list, we’ve identified the 15 best architecture internships for high school students based on prestige, rigor of the professional experience, quality of mentorship, and opportunities to network with architects. We also prioritize selective programs, as smaller cohort sizes often provide more individualized mentorship and meaningful learning experiences.
If you're looking for more prestigious internships, you can also explore similar opportunities through these blogs.
Location: Remote (work from anywhere in the world)
Cost/Stipend: Program cost varies by placement; full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohorts per startup placement
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort, typically January, May, September, November
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working with high-growth startups across industries such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, consulting, marketing, and media. During the internship, you are placed with a startup team where you collaborate directly with a manager or mentor on a real-world project that contributes to the organization’s goals. Many of the startups participating in the program are early-stage companies that have raised significant funding, giving you exposure to fast-paced entrepreneurial environments. Throughout the 8–12 week internship, you develop professional skills such as research, project management, communication, and problem-solving while gaining insight into how startups operate. Apply now!
Location: Chicago, IL (Harold Washington College and Chicago Architecture Center)
Cost/Stipend: Free program; stipend provided to participants
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; small cohort of Chicago-area students
Dates: June 22–May 8 (15-month program)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Chicago or surrounding area
The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) Teen Fellows Program is a rigorous, long-term program that offers high school students an immersive introduction to architecture and design. Over the course of 15 months, you participate in hands-on coursework, site visits, and collaborative design projects while exploring Chicago’s built environment. As a Fellow, you‘ll attend college-level classes at Harold Washington College, where you will earn college credit while learning foundational architectural concepts and developing design portfolios. Throughout the program, you will work with both physical and digital design tools, gaining experience with industry software such as SketchUp, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Revit, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. You also visit architecture firms and architecturally significant sites across Chicago, helping you understand how design decisions influence urban environments and communities.
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost/Stipend: Varies by location and program format; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohorts per location
Dates: 2 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions for multiple summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The Immerse Education Architecture Career Insights Program allows high school students to explore architecture and design careers in some of the world’s leading global cities. Each location offers a unique perspective on the field, for example, the London track focuses on historic and contemporary urban design, while New York and San Francisco provide exposure to modern architectural innovation and sustainable city development. The program is structured around project-based learning, allowing you to analyze real architectural challenges and explore how design shapes the built environment. During the two-week program, you participate in interactive workshops, site visits, and discussions with industry professionals. These experiences may include visiting architecture firms, design studios, and landmark buildings while learning about architectural planning, sustainability, and urban development.
Location: Boston, MA (placements at local architecture firms)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited placements
Dates: July 6–August 14
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in February
Eligibility: Boston Public Schools high school students in grades 9–12
The Architecture/Design High School Internship, organized by the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA), offers high school students a six-week immersion in professional architecture firms across Boston. During the internship, you will work with practicing architects and design professionals, gaining exposure to the day-to-day workflow of architectural practice. Participating firms range in size and specialization, allowing you to experience different approaches to architectural design and project development. In addition to the workplace experience, you participate in a “Summer Fridays” series, where you explore Boston’s built environment through guided tours of notable architectural, cultural, and historic sites. These weekly sessions provide additional context on how architecture shapes cities and communities while allowing you to engage with professionals and peers interested in design.
Location: Washington, D.C. (U.S. Capitol Campus)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited positions across multiple departments
Dates: ~12 weeks in summer; varies by placement
Application Deadline: Applications open November; close January
Eligibility: Current students enrolled in high school, college, trade school, or another qualifying educational institution
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Summer Internship Program provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while supporting the preservation and operation of one of the most historic government campuses in the United States. The AOC is responsible for maintaining the buildings, monuments, grounds, and artwork across the U.S. Capitol complex, which includes more than 18.5 million square feet of facilities and over 570 acres of grounds. Through this internship, you will work alongside professionals who manage architecture, engineering, landscaping, and historic preservation across the Capitol campus. You can assist in several departments, depending on your interests, including Architecture Aide, Engineering Aide, Horticulture Aide, Information Technology Aide, and Communications Aide. You may support architectural documentation, maintenance planning, preservation projects, and operational tasks for historic buildings and public spaces.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (~$15/hour, up to ~27.5 hours/week)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; ~40–45 high school interns per year
Dates: July 6–August 14
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: High school students from Boston and surrounding Metro North communities
The Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED), hosted by the Hideo Sasaki Foundation, is a six-week paid internship designed to introduce high school students to careers in architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, and design. During the program, you will work in teams on a design project addressing a challenge faced by local nonprofit or community organizations. Mentors from Sasaki and other design firms guide you through the design process, helping you understand how professionals approach complex environmental and community issues. Throughout the internship, you learn core design concepts and tools through workshops, mentorship, and field trips around Boston.
Location: Boston, USA (local architecture firms)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; varies annually based on firm placements
Dates: July 6–August 14 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications open in February (e.g., February 20); interviews April–May
Eligibility: Boston Public School (BPS) high school students, including recent graduates
The Architecture/Design High School Internship, organized by the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) in partnership with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), is a six-week immersive program that places students in local architecture firms to explore careers in design. During the internship, you will work in a professional firm environment, gaining exposure to architectural workflows, office practices, and project development. You are matched with firms that vary in size, specialization, and design approach, allowing for diverse experiences across the field. In addition to the internship, you participate in “Summer Fridays,” a curated series of site visits, neighborhood tours, and design-focused activities across Boston, culminating in a final presentation of your work. As part of a broader city initiative to expand access to career opportunities, the program provides meaningful early exposure to the architecture profession while helping you build professional networks and practical skills.
Location: Multiple U.S. cities (varies by local NOMA chapter, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, Houston, and more)
Cost/Stipend: Usually low-cost or free depending on chapter; scholarships often available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohorts vary by host chapter
Dates: Typically 2–6 days in summer (varies by city)
Application Deadline: Varies by local chapter and program schedule
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (generally ages 11–18)
The NOMA Project Pipeline Architecture Camp is a national initiative run by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) that introduces middle and high school students to careers in architecture, urban planning, and design. The program is hosted by local NOMA chapters across the United States, allowing you to participate in design workshops in your own city. Its mission is to empower young people to understand how architecture shapes communities and to encourage greater diversity in the design professions. During the camp, you work alongside architects, designers, and planners on project-based activities that mirror real design processes. You will learn foundational architectural skills, including sketching, diagramming, research, and model-building, while exploring how buildings and cities respond to social and environmental challenges.
Location: Various construction sites across the United States
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; transportation stipends may be available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited placements across project sites
Dates: 8 weeks in summer; exact dates flexible
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or recent graduates from households below 80% HUD Median Family Income in their county
The Build Up High School Internship, hosted by DPR Construction, is an eight-week, hands-on program that introduces students to careers in construction management and the broader built environment. During the internship, you will work on an active construction site under the guidance of experienced mentors, gaining exposure to construction management processes. You will assist with tasks such as coordinating with subcontractors, maintaining project documentation, supporting scheduling and planning updates, and participating in quality inspections and site walks. Throughout the program, you also learn essential jobsite practices, including safety procedures, communication protocols, and project management workflows. You will be introduced to industry tools and software used in construction projects while working closely with project teams. While the program is more construction-centric than architecture, it is highly valuable for understanding how design concepts are executed in real-world settings, offering practical insight into project workflows, material constraints, and interdisciplinary collaboration within the built environment.
Location: Fallingwater (Mill Run, Pennsylvania)
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 per week; includes housing, meals, materials, and instruction; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited enrollment per session
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions, June 29–August 14
Application Deadline: Varies by session; scholarship applications typically due February 28
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 and gap year students
The High School Residencies at Fallingwater, offered by the Fallingwater Institute, provide students with an immersive introduction to architecture and design in one of the most architecturally significant sites in the United States. Throughout the residency, you participate in workshops and discussions led by professional architects and designers who introduce key concepts, including organic architecture, sustainability, and design thinking. You will also explore Fallingwater and its surrounding landscape, using the site as inspiration for creative work and design experimentation. Activities often include observational drawing, collaborative design challenges, and discussions on how architecture responds to the natural environment. Several themed sessions are offered during the summer, including Drawing + Model Making, Interior Design, Sustainability and Architecture, Design + Build, and Biophilic Design Studio. Each program allows you to produce portfolio-quality projects, making the residency especially valuable if you are considering applying to architecture or design schools.
Location: University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)
Cost/Stipend: ~ $5,193 tuition for domestic students and $8,233 for international students (housing and meals extra; limited scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited seats
Dates: July 6–July 31
Application Deadline: Priority and housing deadline: February 17; final deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and exceptional rising juniors with minimum GPA 3.0; must be at least 16 years old by July 5
The embARC Summer Design Academy at UC Berkeley is a four-week architecture and environmental design program that introduces you to college-level coursework in architecture, urban design, and sustainable city planning. Through studio courses and workshops, you explore how architecture, planning, and public policy intersect to shape communities and cities. During the program, you participate in an Architecture and Urban Design Studio where you learn to communicate design ideas through sketching, drafting, model-building, and digital design tools. Workshops on materials exploration, sustainable city planning, and digital design introduce key technical skills used in architecture and urban planning programs.
Location: Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $3,350 tuition + $25 nonrefundable application fee; limited scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited seats until capacity is reached
Dates: June 15–July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (scholarship applications due June 5)
Eligibility: Students entering or currently enrolled in grades 9–12
The Design Immersion Days (DID) program at SCI-Arc is a four-week summer design program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of architecture and design. Hosted at SCI-Arc’s Los Angeles campus, the program exposes you to the creative and technical processes used in contemporary architectural practice. Through studio projects and workshops, you will explore how architects think about form, materials, and spatial design while learning foundational design principles. During the program, you work with both traditional and digital design tools. Activities include hand drawing, physical model building, 3D modeling, augmented reality experiments, and 3D printing, allowing you to experience a wide range of design production methods. These exercises help you develop creative problem-solving skills and understand how architectural ideas move from concept to physical or digital representation.
Location: London, New York, Madrid, Tokyo, or remote (virtual)
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program format; some remote options available. Check here
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; placements with partner architecture firms
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school graduates, university students, or early-career professionals
International Architecture Internships allow you to gain practical experience by working with professional architecture firms on real residential or commercial projects. These internships are designed to complement what you learn in the classroom by exposing you to the full architectural workflow, from research and concept development to client presentations and construction planning. Through these placements, you develop a deeper understanding of how functional, technical, environmental, and aesthetic considerations shape architectural design. During the internship, you may assist with tasks such as site visits, project research, and documenting existing conditions to support planning and design work. You will also collaborate with multidisciplinary teams that can include architects, urban planners, consultants, contractors, and designers.
Location: Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Cost/Stipend: $4,361 (includes tuition, housing, meals, supplies, and field trips) + $250 nonrefundable deposit; full scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small studio cohorts
Dates: July 12–July 25
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors. International students must obtain an F-1 student visa (not a tourist visa or ESTA) to participate
The Architecture Discovery Program (ADP) at Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts is a two-week intensive summer program that introduces high school students to architecture and design through studio-based learning. You will take part in a Design Studio, the core of the program, where you explore architectural thinking through a series of short design exercises that lead to a final project presented during formal critiques with faculty and guest reviewers. You will also learn about sustainability, the built environment, and how architects approach real design challenges. Alongside studio work, the program includes a Drawing Studio where you develop observational drawing skills and learn how to communicate architectural ideas visually. Through sketching and site-based drawing exercises, you practice techniques related to perspective, spatial relationships, light and shadow, material textures, and architectural representation. Upon successful completion, you’ll earn 2 college credits.
Location: Boston Architectural College campus, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 with college credit or $3,600 without credit; scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small studio cohorts of about 8–10 students per section
Dates: June 29–August 7
Application Deadline: June 9 (early-bird and scholarship priority: March 1)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+; enrollment in Summer Academy – Boston required
The Urban Design and Planning (UDP) Studio at the Boston Architectural College is a hands-on pre-college program designed for high school students interested in architecture, urban planning, and city design. Through joint enrollment with Summer Academy – Boston, you participate in studio-based projects that examine how cities are shaped by design decisions, infrastructure, and public policy. The program focuses on contemporary urban challenges such as climate resilience, sustainability, public health, and social equity, helping you understand how design solutions can improve communities. During the program, you learn practical design skills used by architects and planners, including GIS mapping, digital fabrication, model-making, and urban design visualization. You will work in small studio groups led by professional designers, allowing for personalized mentorship and feedback throughout the program. You can choose to enroll either for credit or not for credit; students who opt for the credit-bearing option and successfully complete the program earn 6 college credits. You are also eligible for a $2,000 scholarship toward one of the BAC’s undergraduate programs upon completion.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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