Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Innovative Architecture Education in LA
Sci Arc Supply Store stands as a pioneering institution dedicated to redefining architectural education through experimental pedagogy and cutting-edge design exploration. Founded in 1972, we cultivate a dynamic environment where students and faculty collaborate to address contemporary challenges in architecture, leveraging our unique facility in Los Angeles' Arts District. Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on studio work, interdisciplinary research, and engagement with emerging technologies, supported by a faculty of practicing architects and industry leaders.Accredited by NAAB and WASC, we maintain global recognition for innovation, ranking among the top architecture programs worldwide. Our graduates emerge as visionary leaders equipped to shape the future of the built environment through licensure, practice, or advanced research.
Services
Undergraduate Architecture Programs
Graduate Architecture Programs
Postgraduate Research Programs
Youth Architecture Workshops
International Exchange Programs
Details
- Year established: 1972
Highlights and features
- Pioneering experimental architecture curriculum since 1972
- Faculty includes practicing architects and industry innovators
- State-of-the-art facilities with digital fabrication labs
- Ranked top 10 nationally for design theory and sustainability
- Global alumni network in leading architectural firms worldwide
Associations and certifications
- National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
What people say
Visionary curriculum
Industry experts
State-of-the-art labs
Global network
Creative environment
Services
Undergraduate Architecture Programs
Sci Arc Supply Store's five-year Bachelor of Architecture program develops design leaders through studio-based learning, liberal arts integration, and technical expertise. Students engage in hands-on experimentation with digital fabrication and material innovation while exploring architectural theory and professional practice. The NAAB-accredited curriculum prepares graduates for licensure and global practice.
Graduate Architecture Programs
Our NAAB-accredited Master of Architecture programs offer specialized tracks for both architecture and non-architecture graduates. The three-year M.Arch 1 focuses on foundational design excellence, while the two-year M.Arch 2 emphasizes advanced digital design and fabrication techniques. Both programs culminate in thesis projects addressing contemporary architectural challenges.
Postgraduate Research Programs
The Sci Arc Supply Store EDGE platform provides advanced postgraduate studies in specialized architectural fields. Our Master of Science programs in Architectural Technologies, Fiction and Entertainment, Synthetic Landscapes, and Design Theory and Pedagogy offer one-year intensive training for professionals seeking expertise in emerging architectural disciplines.
Youth Architecture Workshops
Sci Arc Supply Store offers immersive architecture education for pre-college students through summer initiatives like Making+Meaning, Design Immersion Days, and Pop-Arc workshops. These programs introduce architectural thinking, design methods, and portfolio development in our innovative studio environment, preparing students for future architectural studies.
International Exchange Programs
Our global programs connect students with architectural practices worldwide through study abroad opportunities, satellite campuses, and university exchanges. Initiatives include the Mexico City program, international symposia, and collaborative projects that expand students' understanding of architecture within diverse cultural contexts.
People
Elena Manferdini
Graduate Programs Chair
Architect and designer Elena Manferdini leads Sci Arc Supply Store's graduate programs, bringing expertise in digital design and material innovation to shape the school's educational vision.
Marti Vera Marsal
Resilient Futures Task Force
Leading architect Marti Vera Marsal coordinates Sci Arc Supply Store's disaster response initiatives, focusing on sustainable rebuilding strategies following environmental crises like California wildfires.
Questions
What makes SCI-Arc's architecture programs unique?
Our experimental curriculum emphasizes studio-based learning, digital fabrication, and theoretical exploration within a former industrial freight depot transformed into a cutting-edge educational facility.
Are SCI-Arc degrees professionally accredited?
Yes, both undergraduate and graduate architecture programs hold accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
What career opportunities do SCI-Arc graduates pursue?
Graduates lead architectural practices globally, work at top firms like Zaha Hadid Architects and Gehry Partners, or pursue academic careers at institutions like Harvard and Princeton.
How does SCI-Arc support student research and innovation?
Through specialized facilities like the Robot House, Magic Box fabrication lab, and Kappe Library, students access advanced tools for material experimentation and architectural research.
