Senior Ana Schluth had never been to New York City before the summer of 2024. Originally from Bavaria, Germany, the Big Apple was always a bucket list item for her, and thanks to the ICAA Summer Studio, she was able to finally cross it off.
Ana Schluth realized her love for architecture when she was in the fifth grade; a school book report inspired her to create a full model of the book’s setting. Her parents encouraged Ana to pursue architecture as a career path, “Fun fact, before moving to Germany, my parents went to CUA for architecture and engineering; they did the dual program. They really wanted me to apply to Catholic [University], and I chose it because it gave me the most opportunities to study what I want.”
Ana got an internship position at McCrery Architects working under faculty member James McCrery, but had heard about the ICAA Summer Studio through peers and professors who said it was an excellent experience. Some of her classmates have attended in previous years and praised the program, so Ana applied and attended from June until July.
The ICAA Summer Studio in Manhattan is a four-week intensive design program located in the center of New York City. It is an experience open to students of all levels, with participants ranging from those who had just completed their freshman year to those who had already graduated.
A typical day for a student in the program starts at nine in the morning and ends in the evening. Classroom sessions and studio time is structured within a classical design based curriculum. The curriculum is designed to cater to students at all levels, starting at a basic level of knowledge and working up. As someone who has started at square one before, Ana got a new perspective that has allowed her to broaden her understanding of the core components of architecture.
All work in the studio is done by hand. They began by reconstructing the orders from the American Vignola while also studying their history and structural functions. This is an excellent exercise for deepening understanding of possible architecture terminology in the various elements involved.
The program features tours at nearby firms, among them having been Ferguson and Shamamian Architects. “We saw all of the projects they were working on. They do beautiful, high end residential spaces, it was insane… When we walked down to the different studios, it was a big open floor plan. Everyone was talking to each other and collaborating. It was a nice environment. It was an incredible firm.”
Moving onto the design studio, Ana and her peers designed a pavilion for Prospect Park using the École des Beaux-Arts method, a technique Ana has never used before. “There was a lot that I had never experienced before, which definitely prepared me for the rest of the summer working in a professional firm and for my semester studying abroad.” Ana and her fellow students hand-drafted their drawings, watercolor their final design and constructed clay models of their design for the pavilion.
“I loved the program. It was incredible; I don’t think I can pick a favorite part but I really did enjoy learning from a new perspective and learning from a diversity of backgrounds. Also, their library is really amazing.”
Applications for the 2025 ICAA Summer Studio are currently open and due on February 24, 2025. For more information on how to apply or about the program, head to their website!
Co-authored by Ana Schluth