sci arc thesis projects

Learning from SCI-Arc Graduate Thesis

This collection of videos traces the evolution of Graduate Thesis at SCI-Arc through a series of selected lectures, symposia, and final reviews held in the past 10 years of Graduate Thesis at SCI-Arc, curated by Elena Manferdini, currently the Graduate Programs Chair at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles and former Graduate Thesis Coordinator.

Convinced that nowadays architectural academic discourse emerges from buzzing conversations and online feeds between students and professors as well as practitioners and theorists, Elena Manferdini has selected these videos as a useful guide for the students that embark into the personal project of thesis. The collection attempts to evoke this present-day architectural conversation and offer a snapshot of a particular strain of cultural production at SCI-Arc.

Curated by Elena Manferdini, SCI-Arc Graduate Programs Chair

2019 Graduate Thesis Weekend

SCI-Arc’s 2019 Graduate Thesis Weekend included reviews of the thesis projects with over 50 critics including SCI-Arc faculty and invited guests. Critics included Ellie Abrons, Frances Anderton, Johan Bettum, Edward Eigen, K. Michael Hays, Thom Mayne and Amanda Reeser-Lawrence among others.

SCI-Arc Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition 2019

Highlights from the 2019 SCI-Arc Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition. The show featured award winning Graduate Thesis projects in the SCI-Arc Gallery. Graduate Thesis represents the culmination of the Graduate curriculum at SCI-Arc.

SCI-Arc's Gehry Prize Winners

SCI-Arc’s Gehry Prize is awarded annually to Graduating students in the school’s M.Arch programs for the Best Graduate Thesis. The prize, established in 2012, is generously endowed by Frank Gehry, FAIA. Five recent recipients of the Gehry Prize speak about how the prize was instrumental in launching their careers as young professionals in the field of architecture.

Brett Steele and Hernán Díaz Alonso: Thesis? (March 27, 2009)

Brett Steele discusses the architectural thesis project with Hernan Diaz Alonso. Steele begins with a survey of significant projects from the past, arguing that these projects are more interesting for their new ways of making an argument than for their designs.

Thesis Prep Symposium (March 6, 2012)

Elena Manferdini moderates a discussion between Eric Owen Moss, Hernan Diaz Alonso, Jeffrey Kipnis, and Peter Eisenman regarding the relevance of thesis in architecture school.

Todd Gannon: Thesis Research lecture (February 16, 2015)

Todd Gannon proposes five general guidelines to graduate students embarking on their thesis:

Privilege Difference Over Similarity Avoid Cliché Making Privilege How Over What Develop New Vocabularies Enfranchise New Constituencies

2017 Grad Thesis Prep Symposium (March 3, 2017)

SCI-Arc students Connor Covey, James Kubiniec, Sasha Tillmann, and Nithya Subramaniam present drafts of their in-process graduate thesis proposals. Stan Allen, Florencia Pita, Marcelyn Gow, and Todd Gannon critique the proposals.

2018 Graduate Thesis Weekend

SCI-Arc’s 2018 Graduate Thesis Weekend included reviews of the thesis projects with over 60 critics including SCI-Arc faculty and invited guests.

SCI-Arc Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition 2018

Highlights from the 2018 SCI-Arc Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition.

Graduate Thesis Weekend 2017

Watch highlights from SCI-Arc’s 2017 Graduate Thesis Weekend

Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition 2017

Join Graduate Programs Chair Elena Manferdini and Graduate Thesis Coordinator Florencia Pita for an in-depth look at SCI-Arc’s Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition 2017, a juried exhibition of exceptional thesis projects by 2017 graduates.

Graduate Thesis Weekend 2016

Watch highlights from SCI-Arc’s 2016 Graduate Thesis Weekend. The weekend’s events included reviews of the 81 thesis projects with over 50 critics including SCI-Arc faculty and invited guests.

Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition 2016

Graduate Programs Chair Elena Manferdini and Graduate Thesis Coordinator Florencia Pita give an in-depth look at SCI-Arc’s Selected Graduate Thesis Exhibition 2016, a juried exhibition of exceptional thesis projects by 2016 graduates.

SCI-Arc Channel Presents Grad Thesis Weekend 2015

Grad Thesis Weekend, the school’s biggest annual event, is a culmination of up to three years of study and coursework leading toward Master of Architecture degrees.

2014 Selected Thesis Exhibition (September 15, 2014)

Eric Owen Moss opens the 2014 exhibition of selected thesis projects, encouraging current students to view the work not as models but as starting points for new explorations. Faculty advisors comment on the three Gehry Prize-winning projects: Moss on”Puzzling” by Hannah Pavlovich (M.Arch 1), Hernan Diaz Alonso on”Glass House” by Jeffrey Halstead (M.Arch 1), and Elena Manferdini on”I Am Out of Focus” by Mustafa Kustur (M.Arch 2).

2014 Grad Thesis Prep Symposium (March 19, 2014)

After Elena Manferdini explains the history and format of the symposium, six students present their thesis proposals: Taryn Bone, Scotty Zane Carroll, Mustafa Kustur, Hannah Pavlovich, Julian Ma, and Yu Li. To begin the panel discussion, Manferdini reviews some of the key ideas that have shaped thesis at SCI-Arc over the last eight years. Marcelyn Gow, Hernan Diaz Alonso, and Andrew Zago debate what is needed now to keep thesis at SCI-Arc relevant, the crucial transition from thesis research to design, and plausibility.

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Sci-arc in the 70s, women’s history, black history, queer architecture.

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SCI-Arc Media Archive

The SCI-Arc Media Archive is a continuously-expanding online showcase with over 1000 hours of video, featuring the world’s most significant architects, designers, and theorists—including 11 Pritzker Prize winners—from 1972 to now, offered to the public unedited, for students, scholars and anybody with an interest in architecture, Los Angeles and experimental design.

From the beginning, SCI-Arc has actively engaged the community with public programs, including a lecture series, which started in 1974 and still happens Wednesday nights. Most of these videos document public events held at SCI-Arc. Support for the Media Archive was provided by The Getty Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Exploring SCI-Arc’s M.Arch 1 Program: A Distinctive Approach to Architectural Education

• Published on August 05, 2024

For over 50 years, SCI-Arc has driven students to advance design stewardship in new directions. Renowned for its avant-garde approach and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of architecture, SCI-Arc's Master of Architecture 1 (M.Arch 1) program exemplifies these qualities through a uniquely structured and forward-thinking curriculum. Fostering technical expertise and critical discourse, the M.Arch 1 program propels graduates to lifelong success in not only architecture but also in leading creative fields like AI, gaming, virtual reality, and film-based world building.  

A Three-Year Journey of Architectural Exploration   

SCI-Arc's M.Arch 1 program is tailored for individuals who hold an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than architecture. This three-year program immerses students in a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum that balances foundational architectural principles with cutting-edge design technologies and methodologies. The curriculum is meticulously designed to cultivate a profound understanding of architectural theory, technical skills, and creative exploration. 

Year One: Building a Strong Foundation   

The first year of the M.Arch 1 program focuses on establishing a robust foundation in architectural design and theory. Students engage in a series of studio courses that emphasize spatial thinking, design processes, and the development of fundamental skills. These studios are complemented by coursework in architectural history, digital representation, and environmental systems, ensuring a holistic introduction to the discipline. The emphasis on both analog and digital techniques equips students with a versatile toolkit for their design explorations. 

Year Two: Advancing Design and Research   

In the second year, students delve deeper into complex design challenges and begin to develop their unique architectural points of view. The curriculum encourages experimental and speculative design approaches, fostering a culture of innovation. Advanced studio courses are paired with seminars in technology, material systems, and contemporary architectural theory.  

Year Three: Integration and Thesis   

The final year of the M.Arch 1 program is dedicated to the synthesis and application of knowledge through a comprehensive thesis project. This year also introduces students to SCI-Arc's renowned vertical studios taught by world-renowned faculty, where they collaborate with upper-level students and engage with diverse design perspectives. 

To develop their thesis projects, students select a research topic of personal interest, which they explore in depth under the guidance of SCI-Arc's esteemed faculty. This culminating project challenges students to demonstrate their mastery of architectural design, research, and critical thinking. The thesis process is rigorous and rewarding, providing a platform for students to make significant contributions to architecture. 

Innovative Facilities and Resources   

SCI-Arc's state-of-the-art facilities and resources play a crucial role in the M.Arch 1 program's distinctive approach. The campus features an expansive fabrication lab, advanced digital modeling tools, and cutting-edge technology that supports experimental and computational design. These resources enable students to translate their conceptual ideas into tangible prototypes and explore new frontiers in architectural practice. 

A Culture of Innovation and Experimentation   

One of the hallmarks of SCI-Arc's educational philosophy is its emphasis on innovation and experimentation. The institution encourages students to question conventional paradigms and explore radical design solutions. This culture is fostered through a dynamic and collaborative learning environment, where students and faculty engage in continuous dialogue and critique. The diverse backgrounds and perspectives of the student body further enrich the academic experience, promoting a global and inclusive approach to architectural education. 

Distinguished Faculty and Visiting Lecturers  

SCI-Arc's faculty comprises leading practitioners and theorists who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the M.Arch 1 program. The school also hosts an impressive roster of visiting lecturers and critics, providing students with exposure to a wide range of architectural voices and perspectives. This engagement with prominent figures in the field enhances the academic experience and offers valuable networking opportunities. 

Apply Today   

SCI-Arc's M.Arch 1 program stands out for its innovative curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and a culture that champions experimentation and critical thinking. By offering a comprehensive education that bridges foundational principles and advanced design techniques, SCI-Arc prepares its graduates to become leaders in the ever-evolving field of architecture. For those seeking an architectural education that challenges conventions and inspires creativity, SCI-Arc's M.Arch 1 program is an unparalleled choice.  

For more information visit the SCI-Arc M.Arch 1 program page .

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SCI-Arc spotlights ten architecture and design projects

Dezeen School Shows: a "living machine" that conserves the water runoff from surrounding cities and a project that explores the application of AI to create new ways of designing landscapes are included in Dezeen's latest school show by students at SCI-Arc .

Also featured is a design that uses real-time motion capture to create animated performances and an "interactive debris field of virtual objects".

Institution: SCI-Arc Course: Center for Advanced Studies Tutors: David Ruy, Thom Mayne, Marcelyn Gow, Casey Rehm and Liam Young

School statement:

"SCI-Arc Edge, Center for Advanced Studies in Architecture is a platform for speculative scholarship and specialised training, offering five postgraduate programmes that culminate in a Master of Science degree.

"Focused on expanding the frontiers of architecture in the 21st century, each one-year three-semester programme challenges students to confront a distinct territory among emerging disciplinary milieus and define how their ideas will influence the construction of future worlds."

Zero per cent Water To The Ocean by Ricardo Rodriguez, Artem Panchenko, Charlie Allen, and Henry Chu

"Los Angeles imports 85 per cent of its water supply. In contrast, most of the San Gabriel Valley region water is supplied from local groundwater.

"If we capture and infiltrate the San Gabriel River water runoff to the ocean, Los Angeles can become self-sufficient.

"This project reimagines Irwindale as a prototype city that minimises building footprints to allow the rest of the city to go into reforestation.

"Irwindale is transformed into a 'living machine' that infiltrates and conserves the water runoff from its surrounding cities and ecosystem."

Students: Ricardo Rodriguez , Artem Panchenko , Charlie Allen and Henry Chu Course: Design of Cities Tutors: Thom Mayne, Karen Lohrmann and Eui-Sung Yi Email: ricardo.rdzh[at]outlook.com; henrychu1122[at]gmail.com; artempanchenko[at]gmail.com

Point Nemo by Luis Garcia Grech

"Nemo is a given name, nickname and surname that is Greek for nobody and Latin for no one. Point Nemo is the farthest place on Earth from any landmass. It is the farthest place from human presence – an underwater spacecraft graveyard.

"This is a story about Nemo, a story about No One. It is a story about forgotten people in a forgotten place in a forgotten world.

"Twenty years from now, orbiting spacecrafts represent one of the few sources of rare earth metals. Point Nemo has become a hot spot and golden site for rare earth mining, where hundreds of sunken artifacts shape an underwater graveyard, which signals a 'new dawn of discovery'. It is a extreme frontier of metal and water ready for the taking.

"In this future, the scarcity of rare earth metals on the surface has shifted the focus to the deep sea. Large mining corporations have a monopoly on the ocean floor, using high-end digital technology to control it.

"Against them, deep-sea scavengers rely on analogue technology to plunder the deep, the last of a breed that employs human dives to salvage sunken space artefacts."

Student: Luis Garcia Grech Course: Fiction and Entertainment Tutors: Alexey Marfin, Liam Young Email: lgarciagrech[at]gmail.com

Artificial Imagination-Owl by Jimmy Wei-Chun Cheng

"Project Owl is a Human x AI cooperation 3D modelling plugin that provides real-time ideation feedback to the user.

"Owl accelerates the speed of concept design, assisting the designer to produce a stylised design based on the curated dataset.

"It can assist designers to create inconsistent multiple options expediently. The plugin proposes an alternative model to existing applications of AI and procedural methods, privileging collaborative high-speed interaction with AI in the design process over complicated or fixed workflows."

Student: Jimmy Wei-Chun Cheng Course: Architectural Technologies Tutors: Casey Rehm, Soomeen Hahm and Damjan Jovanovic

Does AI Dream of Landscape? by Kazuki Masaki

"This project experiments with the application of AI techniques to establish a new way of designing landscapes. The starting point of this project is to collect images to prepare datasets for an AI model. These datasets consist of four types of images – cities, toys, machines and waste.

"The AI technique synthesises images that have both a sense of familiarity and a kind of weirdness. In order to articulate a new ecological aesthetics, a new way to short-circuit habits of seeing is necessary.

"Using these images as a digital template, four gardens are created on Inujima. The gardens have a relationship to the traditional Japanese garden, which is to be viewed and enjoyed mentally rathered than entered.

"Additionally, a different AI model is used to develop the picturesque, perspectival views of these gardens. The composition is reduced to an abstract segmentation map that is used by a pre-trained model to post-process the renderings.

"In a sense, the images of the gardens are being re-rendered with digital debris harvested from the internet."

Student: Kazuki Masaki Course: Synthetic Landscapes Tutor: David Ruy Email: kazuki.dc.ks[at]gmail.com

Projected Illusion by Yutao Fang

"Centered on questioning anthropocentric metaphors, this project uses dramatic images to suggest a conflict between life and death, while emphasising that every living thing in the biosphere cannot be held on to.

"Ideas are borrowed from pre-modern myths that support pantheism and animism to break down the traditional rigid, masculine narrative in the hopes of providing a non-human perspective that represents everything from plankton to whales in the biosphere.

"Projected Illusion works with real-life footage and images generated by artificial intelligence, which Fang describes as 'the noise' in their project."

Student: Yutao Fang Course: Synthetic Landscapes Tutor: David Ruy Email: scia[at]yutaofang.org

Beta by Richard Mapes

"Beta is an immersive environment as well as a performance. In the project, volumetric environments are mapped to a mixing board, including objects, environmental controls and post-process filters.

"In challenging our surrounding environments to be the performers in place of the people inhabiting them, we can begin to highlight what we only incidentally notice about our surroundings at any given time.

"Beta seeks to better understand the architect's role in making room for stories through organisational rationales and increased awareness of their relationship to aesthetics.

"When we close our eyes and imagine the dream home we wish to own someday, what objects populate that scene? This becomes a question of profound importance when we remember that all the elements that stage that vision have origin stories of their own.

"In this sense, we can begin to think of staged worlds as visions of the lives we wish to live. Beta asks: how do we both individually and collectively imagine, or make room for different futures?

"Beta was staged as a live performance at SCI-Arc and remained as an interactive installation following the one-night performance. It was awarded the Hsinming Fung and Craig Hodgetts Thesis Award, which acknowledges a postgraduate project each year that tests the limits of architectural thought and contributes to architectural discourse."

Student: Richard Mapes Course: Design Theory and Pedagogy Tutor: David Ruy Email: r.mapes89[at]gmail.com

Reorienting Knowledge in the Pedagogical Debris Field by James Piccone

"dtpdebris.xyz is an interactive debris field of virtual objects that were documented, collected and produced by students studying SCI-Arc's Design Theory and Pedagogy programme.

"From left to right, the x-axis delineates a spectrum of didactic-dialectical, factual-fictional, or critical-speculative models of architectural pedagogy that are mapped onto a y-axis timeline starting from 7 September 2021 at the top, to 7 September 2022 at the bottom.

"As you navigate the space, you will encounter various constituencies, floating aphorisms, representations, histories, and narratives that can either reinforce or challenge the pedagogical landscape of architecture today.

"Rather than immediately try to pick up these pieces, now may be the time to appropriately acknowledge their nonlinearity, fragmentation, and incompleteness as representing what is actually a debris field of many voices, ideas and values."

Student: James Piccone Course: Design Theory and Pedagogy Tutor: Marcelyn Gow Email: james_piccone[at]sciarc.edu

Harmony for the Dead by Aunnop Kaewphanna

"Harmony for the Dead – a city without inhabitants but not deserted – is an attempt to challenge the perception of death to maximise the capacity of cemeteries and crematoriums that normally result in underutilisation of the land, especially the greenery of the city.

"Harmony for the Dead is located on the north bank of the Los Angeles River and north of Griffith Park. Being a means of honouring the dead, three musical apparatuses – wind organs, steam whistles and wind chimes – are embedded in the ceremonial space to evoke emotions and blend together a concert hall, cemetery, and crematorium.

"Instead of underutilising the land for graves, the design of Harmony for the Dead's graves gives space back to other public uses by eliminating the headstone and front portion of the grave used to display flowers and memorabilia.

"The ceremonial space's geometry is designed to direct and accelerate the wind traveling through the project into the wind organs and the steam whistles store water from the nearby river. Through subterranean pipes, the heat given off from a cremation will steam up the water and activate the steam whistles and wind organs.

"The entrance to the ceremonial space embraces darkness and placidity to soothe the users' moods upon arrival. Representing the spirits of the dead, vertical lighted bolts bring safety to the plaza area during nighttime, while the Los Angeles River's embankment is utilised as an outdoor theatre screen to invite people's attention.

"As a result, a normally abandoned place is revived, turning it into a publicly inviting space."

Student: Aunnop Kaewphanna Course: Design of Cities Tutors: Thom Mayne, Karen Lohrmann and Eui-Sung Yi Email: aun.kaewphanna[at]gmail.com

Part2Part Network by Andrew DePew

"Part2Part Network is a tool for developing heterogenous programme layouts for large-scale multi-use buildings. Rather than a top-down organisation, individual programme elements are arranged according to local part-to-part relationships that can be quickly defined and altered by the designer.

"This allows for fast iterative planning for megastructure-scale buildings, in which the designer can define programme adjacencies and site constraints to create high quality of life for residents and occupants.

"In contrast to emerging neural net AI models that require massive databases of existing architecture, Part2Part Network's focus on site and programme-specific goals allow designers to develop entirely new building organisation strategies.

"With Part2Part Network, rulesets for desired adjacencies can be quickly iterated upon, helping designers tackle the immense complexity required of a public megastructure. It can be applied to any site and adapted to the considerations of different types of programmes or desired massing.

"Being able to continually alter the ruleset for the software resists the reduction of personal human needs in the design of large-scale buildings. The interweaving programme ensures high quality of life for residents by creating a series of small, overlapping micro-communities throughout a building."

Student: Andrew DePew Course: Architectural Technologies Tutors: Casey Rehm, Soomeen Hahm and Damjan Jovanovic Email: andrewldepew[at]gmail.com

Skin Suits by Breanna Browning

"Skin Suits is a series of self-portraits and real-time motion capture performances exploring the misuse of technological tools to highlight the softness of the human form.

"Through the manipulation of technologies engineered to digitise physical information, cartographic textures are stitched, draped, flattened, and animated.

"Showcasing the slippery overlap of 'both/and" rather than "either/or', the project confronts the tensions between soft and hard, digital and physical, wrapped and unwrapped, information and flesh."

Student: Breanna Browning Course: Fiction and Entertainment Tutors: Alexey Marfin and Liam Young Email: breannabrowning[at]gmail.com

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and SCI-Arc. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here .

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SCI-Arc’s Undergraduate Thesis Students Elucidate Their Final Projects

Each year, Undergraduate Thesis at SCI-Arc prepares students to articulate, propose, and defend their ideas and positions on architecture as well as engage with professionals as peers and colleagues. As acknowledged by Undergraduate Program Chair Tom Wiscombe , “While part of our role at SCI-Arc is to produce new conceptual frameworks for our time, I would argue that in 2021, ideas without strategies for implementation are no match for the unprecedented ideological frameworks being literally built up around us. It is for this reason that Undergraduate Thesis is positioned precisely between ideas and how they ‘land.'"

SCI-Arc conducted an open discussion with its graduating undergraduate students to learn about their work and experiences during their final year. Together they reminisce and share how their time at the institution has provided them with an architectural outlook that has prepared them for what lies ahead.

SCI-Arc's widely anticipated UG Thesis Weekend took place on April 23-24. The graduating thesis students presented and shared their final projects during a virtual event for all to see. Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator Jenny Wu commented, "since our move to remote teaching a year ago, our students have used this opportunity to be inventive about how they work on their thesis, by transforming their digital work into compelling narratives and turning their own living spaces into creative laboratories for unconventional model building.”

SCI-Arc conducted an open discussion with 14 students to learn about their takeaways and experiences while studying at SCI-Arc. Each was asked a series of questions diving into how reviews went, their favorite elements of their thesis, what matters in architecture today, and how SCI-Arc helps each student find their own design perspectives.

How were reviews —what were comments that resonated for you?

Takin Daneshmir and Yizhan Zhong: The review went pretty great! The discussion which opened up between the jury members brought up issues of monumentality, history, and how we want architecture to behave in the environment. Marrikka Trotter's comment on how the building goes beyond just a building and resonates as a Thesis in its fullest meaning was inspiring to us. Hearing Marion Weiss describe our progress since the Midterm in bringing the Urban narrative to our thesis as a relevant issue resonated with us as it gives a personal dimension to the project. John Enright's comment on how our design attacks the Monumental was a pleasant surprise seeing how our project operates on multiple fronts creating an "anti-monument monument" through the voids which go beyond set boundaries.

Liu Lu and Tianao Xu: During the review, there are so many good points. What impressed us most was the discussion about urban strategy. Although we’ve already aware of the surrounding building environment influenced by our new methodology, the urban strategy has much more potential to explore, such as extend this new design methodology to the whole city and continue to examine people’s daily life in this new city.

The review was both nerve-wracking and exciting. The jury I had for my review was amazing and the entire conversation felt really meaningful [...] I was also so happy with how many of the comments were centered around the social/political in relation to the formal. I am proud that the project was read as having an equal footing in both territories and not just in the realm of the formal. - Corie Yaguchi

Corie Yaguchi:  The review was both nerve-wracking and exciting. The jury I had for my review was amazing and the entire conversation felt really meaningful. One comment that stuck with me was that the project felt authentic, and a lot like me. I loved this comment and I hope this is something I can continue in my future work. I was also so happy with how many of the comments were centered around the social/political in relation to the formal. I am proud that the project was read as having an equal footing in both territories and not just in the realm of the formal.

Grigori Khachatryan and Riya Patel:  Our review brought up multiple interesting conversations about the project. The comments made by the jurors were parallel to the argument of sensory oscillations, something that was imperative for our project. To build onto this idea of sensory oscillations, we encouraged the disorientation one would experience when they are inside the building. This was pointed out by one of the jurors when they said that even the habitable spaces inside the poche bewilder one by creating confusion of whether they are in the poche of the building or outside.

Aliberk Senbas:  My review triggered conversations about language, objects, and space, which are fundamental concepts in architecture throughout history. Ideally, I like my reviews to have intense debates rather than instructive advice, so the intense debate on these subjects by the jurors was a great achievement for me. Especially Brett Steele’s comment stating that “recently we have taken pictures of black holes here UCLA—maybe it is time for architects to think about these concepts deeply: deep space, deep program, deep tectonics, and the deep object."

What are your favorite parts of your thesis project; what elements are you most excited about—now and/or for the future?

Yeonho Cho: I was interested in how very different programs like Courthouse, Museum, and Observation Deck juxtapose one another and create new types of experiences. And material research using Magnet and Iron Shaving start to suggest fuzzy boundaries between spaces. And I want to explore more how these conditions can be introduced in architecture.

Liu Lu and Tianao Xu:  It is the experience of examining the methodology that uses architecture to create architecture by re-seeing to get new forms and possibilities. For future design, it is better for us not only to think about the project itself but also think about the relationship between our position and precedents. When the new design inherits the DNA of the prominent typology, the constructed personal designing system will make future designing more powerful and efficient.

Grigori Khachatryan and Riya Patel:  Our thesis emphasizes how dissimilar ideologies can manifest themselves through architecture producing a double life of forms, inhabiting a realm between the world of the ancients and that of a future not yet realized. We aimed to create an ambiguous monolith in order to clearly portray that our massing is neither a representation of a mountain nor a clearly man-made structure. Rather it oscillates between the forces of man and the forces of nature. It also produces an uncertainty between the processes of addition and subtraction.

Leo Wan, Jessie Pan, and Tony Tang: Expanding Loop is a megastructure, based on the characteristics of our project, every part of the loop can be seen as an individual program. The loop naturally tied up our programs together. Based on the scale, we created an urban project which combines residential, commercial, and city infrastructure in one. The result is a large project involving various communities and the speculation of the future architecture within an idea of ‘city in the city.’

My favorite part about the thesis was exploring and expanding the notion of queer aesthetics in architecture [...] There is a strong legacy that comes from these explorations that is directly linked to fashion and the arts, however, it is severely lacking in the built environment. Developing projects that directly reflect those principles, radical, nonconforming, is what excites me the most going forward. - Santiago Alvarez Santibañez

Santiago Alvarez Santibañez:  My favorite part about the thesis was exploring and expanding the notion of queer aesthetics in architecture. The fact that there isn’t only one predetermined aesthetic outcome that comes from queer culture suggests a range of possibilities that can imagine alternatives to challenge normative views in the discipline. There is a strong legacy that comes from these explorations that is directly linked to fashion and the arts, however, it is severely lacking in the built environment. Developing projects that directly reflect those principles, radical, nonconforming, is what excites me the most going forward.

Malvin Bunata Wibowo:  Unlike the usual presentation, we allowed ourselves to perform and let loose while delivering a serious topic into the discourse. I am most excited about how queerness in architecture can be developed further in the future. It is still an ongoing conversation that many people are not aware of or choose to ignore. I am interested in how new queer tactics and aesthetics can emerge in architecture.

What matters in architecture today?

Yeonho Cho: Today, America is more divided than ever and I believe that not many architectures tackle the problem with the division in communities. And I wanted my thesis to be able to communicate architecturally that everyone is not segregated by communities; instead, it’s one big community.

Corie Yaguchi: As Evan Douglis stated in the review, I think it is important that architecture reacts to the state of society today and does not just carry on with business as usual. The field we are in requires such a large amount of resources and capital, while also being deeply embedded into people’s everyday lives. I believe this means we need to pay attention to the things happening around us and how we, as a field, can respond to them.

Santiago Alvarez Santibañez:  Expanding the agency of architecture. It is not just the process of designing and constructing buildings, but more of a way of thinking, seeing, and questioning our world and our place in it.

Instead of thinking about architecture as a physical building from one singular perspective, the idea of urbanism and landscape should also be considered in architecture design [...] Thinking above and beyond what is expected in today’s architecture. - Leo Wan, Jessie Pan, and Tony Tang

Malvin Bunata Wibowo:  The architecture discourse is a multifaceted field. We cannot talk about architecture only in one way, but we will have to push forward every other aspect: cultural, social, political, etc. Given the circumstances that we have been through recently, it is essential to highlight repressed voices and perspectives. Architecture has always been looked at through the cis-het lens. We should tackle the discourse with what has been pushed to the background. The minorities' experience in architecture should be represented and talked about in the discourse.

Leo Wan, Jessie Pan, and Tony Tang:  Instead of thinking about architecture as a physical building from one singular perspective, the idea of urbanism and landscape should also be considered in architecture design. In our thesis project, we wanted to incorporate the ideas of urban ecology with echoing on the existing landscape and infrastructure to facilitate the growth of the neighborhood. Thinking above and beyond what is expected in today’s architecture.

How does studying at SCI-Arc allow you to address what matters in architecture?

Takin Daneshmir and Yizhan Zhong: SCI-Arc allows us to explore many different relevant topics in architectural discourse by giving us the opportunity to learn and practice our design along with influential figures in the field. By seeing the work of other students throughout the school, one gets a holistic understanding of education at SCI-Arc and is given the freedom to pursue a specific interest.

Santiago Alvarez Santibañez:  Expanding the agency of architecture. It is not just the process of designing and constructing buildings, but more of a way of thinking, seeing and questioning our world and our place in it.

Being at SCI-Arc has always allowed me to interact with important thinkers and exposed me to cutting-edge concepts about technology, the future, and architecture in general. I am certain that I am graduating from SCI-Arc with the intellectual and technical ability to produce world-class work. - Aliberk Senbas

Aliberk Senbas:  SCI-Arc not only evolved my worldview numerous times and gave me a skillset beyond imagination, also provided me with an environment of brilliant and passionate colleagues and instructors with whom I had the chance to work. Being at SCI-Arc has always allowed me to interact with important thinkers and exposed me to cutting-edge concepts about technology, the future, and architecture in general. I am certain that I am graduating from SCI-Arc with the intellectual and technical ability to produce world-class work.

Corie Yaguchi: SCI-Arc has given us a lot of room for creativity and pursuing a path that we are interested in. While our advisors/instructors have provided us with ample guidance, they have also allowed us to figure out where we want our work to sit. In my experience, I was encouraged to think about the larger implications of architecture in relation to the projects I was doing. In the past year, I think the school has also made an effort to raise awareness around issues our society is facing. This helps us realize that the work we do and things happening in the world cannot and should not be separated.

---  Student Profiles ---

Yizhan Zhong holds a diploma in Interior/Exhibition Design from Nanyang Academic of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore ('13), prior to joining SCI-Arc where he recently completed his B.Arch thesis, advised by Marcelo Spina. He has worked for First Office, an architecture firm founded by Anna Neimark and Andrew Atwood, as well as on installation work for SCI-Arc exhibition  Rough Coat  by Mira Henry.

Takin Daneshmir was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. While at SCI-Arc, he helped organize several Spring Show exhibitions. After completing his degree, he joined in assisting Fluidmotion Architects as a partner.

Yeonho Cho was born in South Korea, spending most of my childhood there but also in China, later studying in the United States. While at SCI-Arc, he took part in an Art Basel project, as well as interned at Factory of Smoke and as Eisenman Architects.

Throughout his undergraduate studies at SCI-Arc, Tianao Xu has  formed a habit of thinking of a methodology as a designing system when designing a single project. Meanwhile, he has learned to think more about social and philosophical issues, as well as how buildings might shape people’s behavior, as well as how architecture should connect to a range of sustainabilities including social, cultural, technological, and environmental.

Lu Liu is in her final year of the B.Arch program at SCI-Arc. As an architectural designer who enjoys using critical thinking to contribute to the exciting work that happens every day at the school, she looks forward to exploring more aspects in the field of architecture in her next stage as a designer.

Santiago Alvarez Santibañez is a Guatemalan architect and designer interested in the intersection of political activism and architecture. During his time at SCI-Arc he participated in the vertical studio “The Architecture of Activism” lead by Gordon Kipping,  and later went to develop the thesis: “Queer Comfort: Transplant center in Romania” alongside Malvin Wibowo, advised by Kristy Balliet. He was recently awarded the Dean's Scholarship to attend Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) for the fall.

Malvin Bunata Wibowo recently completed his undergraduate degree at SCI-Arc, and also has a background in the performing arts. Throughout his studies at SCI-Arc, Wibowo served as TA for first- and second-year studios, worked on SCI-Arc installations  Rough Coat  and  No More Rooms , and contributed to SCI-Arc's Youth Outreach Program.

Corie Yaguchi was born and raised in Los Angeles. After attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she transferred to SCI-Arc, where she completed her B.Arch thesis. Over the past few years, she has worked for Current Interests, a collaboration between Mira Henry and Matthew Au. She has also served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for STUN and the Senior Writing Editor for  Underscore , a SCI-Arc student publication.

Grigori Khachatryan was born and raised in Armenia. As a child, he was enamored by the sculptures his grandfather made. While he couldn’t understand them then, they signified a sense of freedom—the ability to express oneself without barriers. He knew somewhere in his heart that design would be central to his life.

Riya Patel been inspired by the grand architectural heritage of India ranging from ancient times, medieval Mughal period, Victorian period, to modern day contemporary architecture. She is fascinated by the interplay of history, design, mathematics, engineering, and material science in the design of architectural structures. Patel’s architectural inspiration is driven by the urge to explore this fascination coupled with the hope that the buildings she designs would make a difference in people’s lives.

Aliberk Senbas is an architecture student from Istanbul, Turkey and recently completed his Bachelor of Architecture degree at SCI-Arc. He has worked for offices such a Pita & Bloom and Tom Wiscombe Architecture, and participated in numerous cutting-edge projects such as the Powder Mountain House by TWA. He will be pursuing a post-professional Master of Architecture degree at Princeton University.

Leo Wan’s interest in design has oscillated tightly between technology and multi-medium exploration. Through his studies, he has amassed a solid set of skills in expression and representation. His work experience has enabled me to work on refining considerations in design that can sometimes be overlooked, such as a sound theory, a relation between forms and concepts, and a capacity for more multidimensional thinking and practice. As a recent graduate from SCI-Arc’s B.Arch program, Wan believes that thinking and learning by doing in architecture allow us to interrogate many contemporary problems in a more critical manner, such as the housing crisis, environmental issues, global health, racial reckoning, and LGBTQ+ equality.

Jessie Pan sees the rubric of spiritual architecture under the cultural context as a framework for tackling the challenges of architecture and urbanism in the twenty-first century. As a millennial, Pan experiences the decay of Chinese traditional culture and architecture alongside rapid technological development. While the increased integration of digital technologies in architectural design often comes with the promise of efficiency, they also sometimes lead to a deficiency of "spirit" in architecture. Pan’s training at SCI-Arc fostered a deep fascination with contemporary problems in architectural representation, and she aimed to develop studio projects that could challenge both her interests in representation and public urban spaces.

Tony Tang has always been amazed by the infrastructure projects that create a continuous space crossing and connecting different parts in the city. His interest in architecture and design started with thinking that the building circulation can perceive more than just a connection to different programs. Studying at SCI-Arc has allowed him to challenge the existing boundaries in architecture and urbanism.

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Why don't we just call Sci-Arc what it is. A glorified concept art academy. There's no actual architecture being taught here. Pound for pound blow for blow, the actual concept art students at Art Center in Pasadena would probably actually out design the average Sci-Arc student (and they at least can put their skills to use designing movies, theme parks and video games). Half those thesis projects displayed aren't even recognizable as buildings, completely impractical to any real world program and if I had to review one of their portfolios to, I don't know, perhaps hire one of them at my firm I wouldn't even know where to start. Listen to all the jargon in those interviews. The "agency" or architecture, expanding its horizons, architectures tackling the problem of division (WTF does that even mean? Like seriously?). Sci-Arc is basically setting kids up to fail in the profession because being able to come up with cool morphologies is not the same as being a good architect and most of what's being displayed is in actually incredibly tone deaf irresponsible design. That first design would be so overwhelmingly intrusive to that context it wouldn't matter how many logical leaps and jargon was thrown at it to justify it. Rather than taking student's ideas and creativity and honing it to create something greater, these programs seem to just promote vanity.

I don't have an issue with people wanting to pontificate on the more esoteric aspects of the built environment I have an issue with that masquerading as Architecture school. If schools like this (because lets face it Sci-Arc is hardly the only culprit here) were more honest in their intentions of being an Conceptual Architecture program, or Architectural Theory or whatever so that 18 year old kids didn't go there with the idea that they were going to come out on their way to becoming architects then it would be less of an issue. Lots of other creative programs do that (and Sci-Arc is a bit more transparent here). There's film and cinema studies programs, like the one at Yale, which is very good, but not meant for people who want to be filmmakers, and then there's the real film schools like USC, NYU and AFI which are. But you know that going in. And I think our field would be much better served to make that clear. These kids here or at Columbia or any number of other schools are going to graduate and be worse off than they would've been had they just taken some drafting classes at a community college. And $200,000 poorer. So we will have put a bunch of kids through "Architecture School" who won't actually be able to become architects. After spending How does that move our profession forward. Can we please get over this idea that the trick to moving things forward socially is ever increasingly exotic geometry? Like unless a building's Grasshopper node tree looks like an Italian dish a building can't address today's issues. How about just having thoughtful competent practitioners first?

@pnj02c ... very much in agreement:

furthermore, how about the profession in general giving a damn about HSW issues... with the exception of Archinect that has put up one free-lancer piece from someone in the UK regurgitating main-stream media highlights (sorry kid, i just have a general gripe about our society's low measure of quality journalism), i have seen no mention of the Surfside collapse on the online 'architecture' media i periodically glance at.  but they have plenty of headlines about 3d printed huts, small-house design awards, and academic appointment announcements. AIA put out a short blip about 'mourning with Miami' that basically amounted to Hallmark sympathy card. 

No one yet has a firm grasp on the collection of factors that contributed to the ongoing Surfside tragedy, but there are still too many repeat issues in architectural design having to do with moisture management and durability that do not protect building structures as they should.

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Thesis and Culminating Project Information

Culminating Activities

A main degree requirement on all students in graduate programs in the College of Liberal Arts is the completion of a culminating project, such as a thesis and oral defense thereof, a final comprehensive examination, a portfolio, or a non-thesis project.

Master's theses are original academic disquisitions on a problem or issue of disciplinary interest. Compositionally, they explain the significance of the undertaking, normally by stating the major assumptions and reviewing the relevant literature, and then elaborate on the methods of data collection and analysis of evidence, develop and critique the appropriate logical inferences and argumentation, and offer conclusions or recommendations for future work. The average length of the body of a Master's thesis is around 70 double-spaced pages. 

A non-thesis project is an artistic or technical endeavor that is appropriate for the fine and applied arts or to more professional or vocational fields. Examples could include an ethnographic film, a novel or body of creative writing, or a significantly original software program. Non-thesis projects should include a project report. The average length of the body of a project report is around 30 double-spaced pages. Non-thesis projects need not be submitted for college review.

Students may not enroll in thesis or exam coursework until advanced to candidacy . For further information about theses, course units, and committee membership, including chairpersons or directors, please review the university thesis requirements . For further information about comprehensive examinations, portfolios, or non-thesis projects, please review the university exam requirements. For information about enrollment in GS700B, please review AS policy 18–03 and contact the Director of Graduate Studies with any additional questions.

Oral Defense

By Title V §40510 , an oral defense of the thesis is required of those students who pursue the thesis option for their culminating activity. For students who pursue the non-thesis project option, an oral defense is recommended but not required.

Thesis Deadlines

All theses from the College of Liberal Arts must ultimately be approved by all thesis committee members and Professor Sarah Schrank, Director of Graduate Studies, before being submitted to the University's Thesis Office. Theses submitted to the college for review must be in their finalized form, with all copyediting and formatting completed. The theses and signature pages are to be sent to Professor Sarah Schrank, Director of Graduate Studies ( [email protected] ). The college deadlines for theses submissions can be found here:

CSULB Thesis & Dissertation Office

The University's Thesis & Dissertation Office is housed on the 5 th floor of the CSULB Library in Room 501. There are numerous resources to help graduate students with the composition of their theses. Most importantly, please consult the University's formatting guidelines , as it details all formatting rules and requirements, and includes protocols for electronic submission . Various templates have also been provided, including the template for the thesis signature page , as well as Department-specific style guides . The Thesis Office also offers consultations for students prior to submission.

Penn State | College of Engineering  

The Appalachian Regional Commission's $600,000 grant to Penn State's Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance will help fund training designed to build Pennsylvania's semiconductor workforce.  Credit: Adobe Stock.

Grant to help Penn State build semiconductor workforce in Pennsylvania

Aug 9, 2024

By Jamie Oberdick

Editor's note: This article originally appeared on Penn State News . 

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The  Appalachian Regional Commission  (ARC) has awarded $600,000 to Penn State’s  Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance  (SCIA) to develop a series of educational courses, workshops, and paid academic and industrial internships focused on workforce development in Pennsylvania for the growing semiconductor industry.  

The SCIA is a coalition of industry leaders, academic institutions and government support led by  Joshua Robinson , professor of materials science and engineering, of physics, of chemistry and of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State. The initiative aims to catalyze research and development of semiconductors, like silicon carbide (SiC), a semiconductor material valued for its ability to handle high voltages and temperatures.  

These properties make SiC ideal for use in power electronics, which refers to the technology of processing high voltage and currents to deliver electrical power, and high-performance devices and can enable improved energy conversion and longer-lasting, more reliable systems. Potential applications range from more efficiently delivering electricity from clean energy sources, such as solar and wind, to the next generation of electric vehicles.  

However, the United States is currently not producing enough of the material to meet demand, which is expected to be two to three times higher by 2030. Part of the solution is developing a strong American workforce in SiC research and production, which the ARC grant is designed to address by helping build this workforce in Pennsylvania. 

“The proposed project represents progress toward addressing a regional and national educational need for next generation workers in the semiconductor industry,” Robinson said. “Penn State aims to broaden impact by developing hands-on training in semiconductor characterization that can be developed into online workforce development content accessible to the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania across all levels of education.” 

The SCIA partnered in applying for the grant with  SEDA-Council of Governments  in Lewisburg, one of seven Local Development Districts developed in collaboration among local governments, the state of Pennsylvania, federal agencies and ARC to enhance the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. In addition, Robinson noted that SCIA worked with a variety of semiconductor industry partners.  

“Our industry partners include HORIBA, onsemi, Morgan Advanced Materials, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Coherent and Malvern Panalytical,” Robinson said. “Each partner will provide guidance and leadership in creating these workforce development assets and have committed cash and other resources to ensure the workshops and courses align with our state-of-the-art educational abilities and facilities.” 

One such facility at Penn State is the Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL), a laboratory that maintains a broad range of analytical instruments for characterizing the structure, chemistry and composition of materials from the macro to nanoscale. The MCL also conducts educational activities that fit well into the goals of the grant. 

"Each year the MCL supports researchers from more than 45 different academic departments at Penn State,” said  Josh Stapleton , MCL director and associate research professor. “Most often we support these researchers by training them to become independent operators of these instruments so that they can advance their research. The MCL specializes in providing training focused on the practical and hands-on skills our students need to be successful in their research.”  

The MCL also facilitates collaborations with industry, featuring an extensive list of enterprise partners including those in the semiconductor industry.   

“Additionally, we already work with more than 85 different companies each year,” Stapleton said. “The combination of knowledge of what industry needs and our decades of experience providing practical characterization training has us well positioned to support the training of Pennsylvania’s new semiconductor workforce.”  

The grant funds were matched with nearly $600,000 in industry cash, as well as a University cash match and in-kind equipment, for a total of more than $1.4 million over three years. Robinson said he envisions this money will enable the SCIA to become a hub for economic development and research innovation in the Appalachian region, primarily by establishing a workforce platform that will attract companies from around the nation and talented corporate and academic researchers and students.  

“This grant is a fantastic initial step for the University’s strategic efforts around building a semiconductor workforce and a win-win for both our region and America,” Robinson said. “The nation gets a strong resource in semiconductor research and development, and Pennsylvania gets a workforce development platform that will further strengthen our region’s talent pool in semiconductor manufacturing.” 

Along with Robinson, co-principal investigators on the project include  Suzanne Mohney , professor of materials science and engineering and of electrical engineering, and  Max Wetherington , assistant research professor of molecular spectroscopy.  

Editor's note: A version of this press release  first appeared on SEDA-COG's website . 

About the Appalachian Region Commission 

The Appalachian Region Commission (ARC) is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments including Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development partners with ARC to identify and support projects that will build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in the Appalachian counties of Pennsylvania to reach socioeconomic parity with the nation. 

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SCI-Arc Breadcrumbs Home

SCI-Arc Breadcrumbs Events

SCI-Arc Breadcrumbs Exhibitions

• October 07, 2016

SCI-Arc 2016 Graduate Thesis Projects

SCI-Arc will join the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) & Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) on Friday, October 7th to celebrate the official Grand Opening of the La Kretz Innovation Campus (LKIC) , designed by John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects. SCI-Arc will have an exhibition of Graduate Thesis projects on display as part of the opening day celebration.

LKIC is a world-class cleantech innovation facility where entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists and policymakers collaborate, innovate and contribute to the development of LA's green economy. The Grand Opening of the La Kretz Innovation Campus also marks the official kick-off of InnovateLA 2016, a three week celebration showcasing LA's technological achievements with a series of events, lectures and talks all over the city. Everyone is invited to attend this free grand opening event. Mayor Eric Garcetti will officiate the ribbon cutting ceremony along with LADWP representatives, philanthropist Morton La Kretz and notable local innovators. LACI cleantech companies will share their breakthrough sustainability solutions in fast pitch presentations and showcase their technologies at the solar-powered innovation expo. Then check out the flavor of LA with art, food and music that celebrates the Arts District's diverse and vibrant culture.

More info on the event can be found on eventbrite .