Southern California Institute of Architecture
960 E. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
School Description
Provided by Southern California Institute of ArchitectureFounded in 1972, SCI-Arc was as a radical alternative to the conventional system of architectural education. Architect and educator Ray Kappe-formerly the chair of Architecture at Cal Poly Pomona, and director of SCI-Arc until 1987-leased an industrial building in Santa Monica, and, with a group of six faculty members and 75 students, started what they initially called the "New School," based on the concept of a "college without walls." Shelly Kappe, Ahde Lahti, Thom Mayne, Bill Simonian, Glen Small and Jim Stafford were among the founding faculty.
United by their commitment to an alternative to the more rigid, hierarchical structure they had encountered at other institutions, they established SCI-Arc as a mechanism for invention, exploration and criticism. The school grew rapidly and quickly developed an international reputation, ranking among the best schools of Architecture in the country. SCI-Arc attracted motivated students and faculty from all over the world who were interested in pursuing their own independent ideas about the built environment and who enjoyed SCI-Arc's emphasis on process-the synthesis of thinking, analyzing and making.
In 2000, SCI-Arc moved to the historic Santa Fe Freight Depot building in Downtown Los Angeles, where it plays an important cultural role in the area while engaging at various levels with the local community. The school continues its energetic commitment to experimentation and to examining the social and formal aspects of architecture.
Southern California Institute of Architecture
From Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaThe Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), was founded in 1972 by Ray Kappe. Thom Mayne was among its founding instructors and Michael Rotondi among its first students. It is an independent institute granting undergraduate and graduate degrees in Architecture. Originally located in Santa Monica, the school moved in the 1990s to an area of Los Angeles situated among Marina del Rey, Westchester, Culver City, and what would become Playa Vista. In 2000 the school relocated again, this time to the Arts District (formerly the Toy District) east of Downtown Los Angeles. The move was overseen by the then director of the school, Neil Denari.
SCI-Arc is widely regarded as one of the most avant-garde U.S. architecture schools, with a reputation for pushing the boundaries of academic study. Historically, the school has close links with the wider community and conducts numerous projects that engage with the most under-privileged members of the city.
The school now occupies the 1907 Santa Fe Freight Depot building designed by Harrison Albright in the industrial area just east of Downtown Los Angeles.
History
Founded in 1972, the school dedicated itself to the pursuit of architecture as a tool for both artistic and social experimentation. Originally called the New School, and based on the concept of a “college without walls,” the institute started in a leased industrial building in Santa Monica, California. In 1976, the B.Arch and M.Arch received initial accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). The same year, Ray Kappe received an Excellence in Education Award from the California Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (CCAIA) and the students and faculty received an Honor Award for their renovations on the original building. By 1980, the school received full accreditation from NAAB. After many years of growth and changes, US News & World Report lists SCI-Arc as 12 out of 20 top M.Arch programs in the country.
Quick Facts
- Location:
- Southwest
- Setting:
- Large City Setting
- Type:
- Private
- Size:
- Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad)
Students & Campus Life
- Undergraduate Enrollment:
- 204
- On Campus Housing:
- Unavailable
- Full Time Students:
- 99%
- Athletic Programs:
- Unavailable
Degree Programs at Southern California Institute of Architecture
Bachelor's Level Programs
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Arts & Humanities
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Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
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Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
These four, six, or eight year programs allow individuals to practice architecture and conduct research in architecture. Topics covered include architectural design, history, and theory; building structures and environmental systems; project and site planning; construction; professional responsibilities and standards; and related cultural, social, economic, and environmental issues.See more schools with programs in Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
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Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
-
Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
Master's Level Programs
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Arts & Humanities
-
Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
-
Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
These four, six, or eight year programs allow individuals to practice architecture and conduct research in architecture. Topics covered include architectural design, history, and theory; building structures and environmental systems; project and site planning; construction; professional responsibilities and standards; and related cultural, social, economic, and environmental issues.See more schools with programs in Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
-
Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)
-
Architecture
See more schools with programs in
Architecture
Students
General
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Full-Time vs. Part-Time
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Race/Ethnicity
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Geography
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In State vs. Out-of-State
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Top States for Incoming Freshman
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| Percent of Students International: | 21% |
Housing
| On-Campus Housing Available: | No |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 19,296 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 120 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,811 | 61% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 11,121 | 12% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 3,491 | 18% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 10,514 | 66% | |
Any Aid: |
69% |
Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)
| Acceptance Rate: | 100% (Open Admissions) |
Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)
| Application Fee: | $ 60.00 |
