Architectural Foundation of San Francisco
Project Location: San Francisco, CA
Number of Participants: 200+
Age of Participants: 15-18
Team Members: Alan Sandler (AFSF), Will Fowler (AFSF), Julia Jones (SFUSD)
The Architectural Foundation of San Francisco has created the Build San Francisco Institute, a half day high school program for students interested in design and architecture. The Build San Francisco Institute is a unique community educational partnership, involving AFSF, San Francisco Unified School District and more than two dozen major San Francisco firms. The program combines a rigorous academic program with mentorships in the partner firms, so that students not only gain new knowledge, but also have the immediate experience of applying that knowledge in a real world setting. Students work on real world architectural problems in San Francisco and have studied the building of ATT Park, the renovation of the San Francisco Ferry Building, The Rincon Towers and other significant landmarks.
Outcomes and Evaluation of the Project
Build San Francisco is a fully accredited academic program. Students receive approved grades on their high school transcripts for completion of the architectural design challenges posed by our instructor. Passing rate for students is above 90%, and many of our students enter architectural programs in colleges and universities.
Additional Information
Build San Francisco has won recognition from the American Architectural Foundation, the George Lucas Education Foundation, The Mott Foundation and other organizations. It is currently a State of California Department of Education Career Education Demonstration Site.
