Architecture Student Life

A dynamic studio environment is at the core of Wentworth's architectural education. Students work intensively in small groups under the guidance of a faculty member. They invent and test ideas, discover new ways of thinking, and explore conceptual methods and emerging technologies. The studio also creates an engaging climate where friendships are formed and lifelong professional relationships are fostered. Outside the studio, Wentworth students participate in a wide range of activities, including professional organizations such as the Wentworth Architecture Club (WAC), the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), and the student-run journal, Wentworth Architecture Review (WAr). They also benefit from Institute-wide activities, events in the Colleges of the Fenway, and experiences living in a vibrant neighborhood of Boston. 

Studio Culture

Since the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in the eighteenth century, architecture schools have developed a special way of teaching design within the studio setting. Studios are working places where students spend a significant amount of time developing their design projects with professors and other students, often creating a vibrant learning environment, a sense of community, long-term professional relationships, and lasting friendships. The creation of a positive and respectful working and learning environment has been an integral part of Wentworth’s educational model since the Institute’s founding. The Department of Architecture has been continually developing its guiding principles since 2005. Based on discussions with the studio culture committee that are ongoing and feedback from a recent survey, it is clear that Wentworth's original policy remains vibrant and relevant to students, faculty, and staff. More than a policy document, studio culture at Wentworth is a set of values shaping a productive environment within which the academic and civic growth of students and faculty occurs. 

Community Learning

The architecture department collaborates with Wentworth’s Center for Community and Learning Partnerships to enrich students’ learning experience by applying their professional training in a service environment. Community learning opportunities are available at Wentworth through work-study and co-op, service learning, alternative spring break programs, scholarships, and through department clubs. 

The architecture program features studios where students work directly with local communities. For instance, fourth-year students have collaborated with several Boston neighborhood organizations to develop urban proposals for Allston, the Fenway, East Boston, and Roslindale. These plans have made a measurable difference in people’s lives by helping communities understand development options and the potential for new commercial hubs and housing sites. 

Beyond Boston, the department has been involved in serving communities in need. For instance, a sustained initiative was developed in response to Hurricane Katrina, occurring over the course of the five years after the storm. Students and faculty worked in conjunction with groups and institutions in New Orleans, contributing through design studio research and hands-on construction during trips to the city. Such experiences train students in urban and community involvement, encouraging a focus on real-world problems and demonstrating the power of design to offer effective real-world solutions. 

Architecture Co-op

The architecture curriculum at Wentworth includes two terms of cooperative education where students work and learn in a professional setting. This experience typically fulfills requirements for a portion of the Intern Development Program (IDP), which regulates professional licensure in the United States. The co-op experience offers an invaluable introduction to professional practice during a student’s education. 

The architecture department and Wentworth’s career services office guide students in their search for employment with firms that match their particular area of professional interest. The extensive alumni network of well-placed professionals and Wentworth’s strong reputation for skilled students have historically led to high employment rates among those seeking co-op jobs. 

In turn, this experience outside the academic environment shapes the ways in which students engage with their studios and courses based on a broader understanding of the demands of the profession. Students develop meaningful relationships with the professional community and foster a sensibility about practice that informs their education. They often graduate with job offers in hand from firms first introduced to them during their co-op.