The event will be live-streamed to the public. SCI-Arc is a world-renowned center of innovation and one of the nation's few independent architecture schools, offering undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs. We are dedicated to educating architects who will imagine and shape the future. The school is located in a quarter-mile-long former freight depot in the Arts District of Los Angeles.
It is distinguished by the vibrant atmosphere of its studios, which provides students with a uniquely inspiring environment in which to study architecture and design. An integral part of the emerging cultural hub of a city with a tradition of architectural experimentation, SCI-Arc is devoted to finding radically new responses to the real needs and aspirations of today's world.
We offer students a unique experience as they pursue their degrees. Our approximately 500 students and 80 faculty members-most of the latter practicing architects-work together in a fluid, nonhierarchical manner to rethink assumptions, create, explore, and test the limits of architecture.
It is distinguished by the vibrant atmosphere of its studios, which provides students with a uniquely inspiring environment in which to study architecture and design. An integral part of the emerging cultural hub of a city with a tradition of architectural experimentation, SCI-Arc is devoted to finding radically new responses to the real needs and aspirations of today's world.
We offer students a unique experience as they pursue their degrees. Our approximately 500 students and 80 faculty members-most of the latter practicing architects-work together in a fluid, nonhierarchical manner to rethink assumptions, create, explore, and test the limits of architecture.
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Located in downtown Los Angeles, SCI-Arc is a world-renowned center of innovation and one of the nation's few independent architecture schools. SCI-Arc is always expanding and raising its ambitions. In our globalized era, design matters like never before, and we have the capacity to astonish the world by demonstrating all the different ways in which design can transform it.
SCI-Arc offers students a unique experience as they pursue their undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees. Our approximately 500 students and 80 faculty members-most of whom are practicing architects-work together to reexamine assumptions, create, explore, and test the limits of architecture.
SCI-Arc hosts numerous public events at the school, including lectures, symposia, and gallery exhibitions. Many of the events are also geared to alumni and students. With the health and safety of our community in mind, this fall 2021 SCI-Arc's public programs will only be open for in-person admission to the school's constituents of students, faculty, staff, and trustees.
The SCI-Arc Store carries tokens of school pride for SCI-Arc students, alumni, family, and friends. Check out our online store below and shop a selection of SCI-Arc branded products from anywhere in the world. To purchase in-store art and architecture supplies, email sciarcsupply@sciarc.edu or call us at 213-356-5309.
To fortify the future of SCI-Arc, our next frontier is to address rising tuition expenses. Our top philanthropic priority at SCI-Arc is to dramatically increase scholarship support for our students, minimizing their financial obligation so they can focus only on creating outstanding academic work. Gifts of cash, securities, or other assets, in-kind donations of goods and services, and multi-year pledges to SCI-Arc can be made a variety of ways.
Reviews (18)
Osvaldo Valdes
May 29, 2019
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Brad B.
Oct 05, 2018
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Marichu Silva
Aug 29, 2018
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Garry Summers
Jul 16, 2017
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Ruth Z.
May 24, 2017
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AGAIN, I hd trouble finding Sci-Arc, this time not only because MTA drivers have no idea,
but they are doing construction right outside: as usual the entrance is not where I thought
it should be, though it's easier to find, given that there are so MANY entrances for students.
ONCE I found the exhibit and that took some walking, I was VERY IMPRESSED: The LATIMEs
had written a review and I, not realizing that it had been open for a month, thought i'd better get there as it closes at the end of the week. You have to check with them, I guess , about their exhibits or use your 'psychic
but they are doing construction right outside: as usual the entrance is not where I thought
it should be, though it's easier to find, given that there are so MANY entrances for students.
ONCE I found the exhibit and that took some walking, I was VERY IMPRESSED: The LATIMEs
had written a review and I, not realizing that it had been open for a month, thought i'd better get there as it closes at the end of the week. You have to check with them, I guess , about their exhibits or use your 'psychic
Susan Cook
Nov 26, 2016
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Guy I. Krauss
Oct 19, 2016
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Graduated in 2007. Cannot thank enough to Sci-Arc family. For being a member, one of yours. One of you ALL!
For the great professors and lecturers. For the inspiration, innovation and creation. For Thursday's Gallery opening nights and Friday@5. For my little creative space there, that turned to be my condo for few years.
For the shop and tools,… technology and knowledge. For thinking different. For realizing dreams and thoughts.
For meeting great people, from all over! Letting me fit in as an international student. Interact with different perspectives, opinions and dreams. Debating, Consulting
For the great professors and lecturers. For the inspiration, innovation and creation. For Thursday's Gallery opening nights and Friday@5. For my little creative space there, that turned to be my condo for few years.
For the shop and tools,… technology and knowledge. For thinking different. For realizing dreams and thoughts.
For meeting great people, from all over! Letting me fit in as an international student. Interact with different perspectives, opinions and dreams. Debating, Consulting
Jim Raynor
Aug 03, 2016
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This place is extremely corrupt. Be careful, do your own research and consider going to a real school that has a lasting name behind it and doesn't constantly have to affirm its own ranking with biased reports.… As a school solely dedicated to architecture they don't even rank top 5 as of 2018, and in the past have gone many years without being in the top 20 despite having tried to influence various reviews for years with self-published articles and more recently the "DesignIntelligence survey" which is heavily skewed by conflicted interests, does not allow many to participate, and very
Amer Fakhouri
Jul 29, 2016
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I graduated back in 1991 from the original campus and visited the new campus and the great team of faculty and collegues 5 years ago . sci arc is an incredible 24hrs 365days think tank of creativity and challenging evolution of the terminology of architecture adapted to our present time and reacting to our present needs. Its a 6 dimensional creative enviroment.
Anna H.
Feb 17, 2015
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If you are set on pursuing architecture and are interested in producing innovative, avant-garde designs then this school is for you!
I'm currently in my 1st year of grad school at SCI-Arc coming In with bachelor degrees that are completely unrelated, I can give you my two-cent on how school life here is radically different from any other school life that you've been through.
the only degree you can pursue here is architecture with a variation in focuses depending on programs but overall, this school is just architecture so in that sense, all you hear about day-in and day-out is architecture
I'm currently in my 1st year of grad school at SCI-Arc coming In with bachelor degrees that are completely unrelated, I can give you my two-cent on how school life here is radically different from any other school life that you've been through.
the only degree you can pursue here is architecture with a variation in focuses depending on programs but overall, this school is just architecture so in that sense, all you hear about day-in and day-out is architecture
Alex P.
Feb 12, 2015
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The School that Changed a City
I write this review not as an alumni but as an Angeleno.
When the Sci-arc moved to its current location from Marina del Rey in 2000 the surrounding neighborhood was empty, desolate, and filled with crime and homeless. People say there are three things that fuel a thriving community: housing, dining, and schools. It has been almost over a decade since housing and restaurants slowly and carefully moved in, but it wasn't until Sci-arc finally purchased the build that it rented for so many years.
That catapulted the community into the fast lane. Housing sky
I write this review not as an alumni but as an Angeleno.
When the Sci-arc moved to its current location from Marina del Rey in 2000 the surrounding neighborhood was empty, desolate, and filled with crime and homeless. People say there are three things that fuel a thriving community: housing, dining, and schools. It has been almost over a decade since housing and restaurants slowly and carefully moved in, but it wasn't until Sci-arc finally purchased the build that it rented for so many years.
That catapulted the community into the fast lane. Housing sky
Anne A.
Nov 15, 2013
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Took a tour of the historic Sci-Arc building while an Arts District architectural tour led by docents. If you have the opportunity to walk through the school, you'll find it quite interesting if you're even a casual fan of architecture and design. Head up to library and you'll find a custom made conference table worth admiring and photographing.
Jeffrey E.
Oct 27, 2013
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Cheri A.
Mar 06, 2010
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I am having a hard time really writing this review because the news I just heard....but here is goes.
Wednesday I went to their Wednesday lecture series to hear Raimund Abraham http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FQbtB8N4gzuiA1feV7i0Ng?select=19anjMpn84iN4jnTx5B9xg . The school is amazing in so many ways. It is located in an old train depot. It is totally open with just walls separating some areas but you just walk right through people doing their presentations and people working in the studios.
During the lecture people had cans of beers and the professors didn't care. The lecture was great
Wednesday I went to their Wednesday lecture series to hear Raimund Abraham http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FQbtB8N4gzuiA1feV7i0Ng?select=19anjMpn84iN4jnTx5B9xg . The school is amazing in so many ways. It is located in an old train depot. It is totally open with just walls separating some areas but you just walk right through people doing their presentations and people working in the studios.
During the lecture people had cans of beers and the professors didn't care. The lecture was great
Eugenia C.
Feb 14, 2009
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I'm not a student here and my review is purely for their Wednesday night lecture series that is open to the public. They have some great guest lecturers and forward thinkers that come to speak about their industry and life experiences and you, yes YOU are invited to be a part of the dialogue. Next week Benjamin Bratton will be giving his lecture in his theory of computational theory which is said to be "mind-blowing." you can be the judge. http://www.sciarc.edu/lectures.php
the last lecturer i checked out was dan the automator. pretty cool imho.
the last lecturer i checked out was dan the automator. pretty cool imho.
Jason J.
Sep 30, 2008
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Review for Blobwall 2008 Exhibition 30 May 2008.
My friend and I went to see the Blobwall exhibition at SCIArc at the end of may this year. It was a great, although somewhat crowded exhibition, but a good opportunity to see the campus and get a feel for the kind and type of architecture being taught and practiced at the institute.
I understand they have exhibitions like this every so often, and I would be interested to see what other works they will be exhibiting in the future.
My friend and I went to see the Blobwall exhibition at SCIArc at the end of may this year. It was a great, although somewhat crowded exhibition, but a good opportunity to see the campus and get a feel for the kind and type of architecture being taught and practiced at the institute.
I understand they have exhibitions like this every so often, and I would be interested to see what other works they will be exhibiting in the future.
Ai M.
Aug 24, 2008
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I have the poster for an old speaker series on my closet door. The lecturers are a well curated because they chose people who are critical, cross-disciplinary, and international. I like how they value engagement and innovation. In addition to making models, students have to have an opinion about the issues related to what they create. This is my current dream school, even if I have a different major.
N. C.
Oct 14, 2007
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Southern California Institute of Architecture, best known as "SCI-Arc".
This is not your average Architectural School. Instead of green campus, it's got concrete slab. Instead of organized metered parking structures, it's got an empty lot of parking. Instead of ivy league insignia, it's got.. hmm.. actually nothing. Instead of classrooms in glorious historic buildings, it's got sections of studio tables in this mile long abandoned freight depot. Seriously, how cool is that!
If you walk around the building, you'll find their seasonal Architectural/Design
This is not your average Architectural School. Instead of green campus, it's got concrete slab. Instead of organized metered parking structures, it's got an empty lot of parking. Instead of ivy league insignia, it's got.. hmm.. actually nothing. Instead of classrooms in glorious historic buildings, it's got sections of studio tables in this mile long abandoned freight depot. Seriously, how cool is that!
If you walk around the building, you'll find their seasonal Architectural/Design
