Imagine Architecture
Imagine Architecture is a career exploratory studio for grade 10-12 students who are interested in design, architecture, and urbanism, and would like to gain experience in creative design thinking and making.
The fun and intensive workshops are taught by instructors from Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism. They introduce students to the creative culture of design studio, which is at the core of the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) curriculum.
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Dates for 2026
On-Campus
LAB 101 On-Campus: July 6-10 — $730 + HST
LAB 102 On-Campus: July 13-17 — $730 + HST
LAB 103 On-Campus: July 20-24 — $730 + HST
Three labs (with discount) = $2,040 + HST
Online
LAB 101 Online: July 27-31 — $600 + HST
Scroll down for more details about the LABs, testimonials, and FAQs.
How will this help my application portfolio?
The program aims to give students the tools they need to represent their ideas and develop their creative skill set.
These skills will help them develop a portfolio for any design program in Canada.
Students attend sessions on choosing content for portfolios, illustrated with examples from successful applications.
Discussion includes what admission committees look for, how to approach the written requirements of a good portfolio, and effective organization of graphics.
Imagine Architecture is more than a preparatory course for admissions. It aims to give participants insight into a university experience — what it’s like to be a student in a school of architecture.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING DESIGN SOFTWARE
Access to specific design software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign, will be required to participate in Imagine Architecture.
Licenses for this software will need to be obtained by the participant. Rates range from 7-day free trials to $137.99/month.*
Instructions on when and how to purchase these programs will be communicated to participants before the first class.
*Available prices and discounts mentioned are subject to change by Adobe.
Cancellation Policy
A refund (minus a $45 service charge) will be issued for cancellations up to 14 days before the start of the LAB for which you are registered. Unfortunately, there is no refund for cancellations made less than 14 days before the start of the LAB for which you are registered.
Imagine Architecture FAQ
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Imagine Architecture is a career exploratory studio for grade 10-12 students who are interested in design, architecture, and urbanism and would like to gain experience in creative design thinking and making.
The fun and intensive workshops are taught by instructors from Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism. They introduce students to the creative culture of design studio, which is at the core of the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) curriculum.
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Students who have completed grade 10 – 12. There is no application process. Receipt of your registration form and payment will guarantee your spot in the program.
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Each stand-alone LAB can be completed independently and requires no previous training. For those who want a more fulsome experience, LABs 101, 102, and 103 are designed as a sequence that builds successively on knowledge, confidence, and skills. You can register for any one or two of the LABs, or you can register for all three. There is a $150 discount for the three-lab option. See the LAB descriptions and decide based on interest and the dates that work best for you.
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The tuition fee for on-campus labs includes instruction, all materials, and a daily hot lunch. It does not include accommodation. The tuition fee for the online lab includes instruction.
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Registration and payment is done online. Click here to register.
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We accept registrations until all spots are taken. Space is limited. You are advised to register early to avoid disappointment.
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Registration and payment must be completed at the same time. Your spot is not reserved until we receive payment. If you enter your information but do not complete the payment process, you will have to redo the whole registration process again the next time you come back to pay.
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A refund (minus a $45 service charge) will be issued for cancellations up to 14 days before the start of the LAB for which you are registered. There is no refund for cancellations that take place less than 14 days before the start of the LAB for which you are registered.
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You will receive an auto-response with a copy of your registration and receipt. This is the the official confirmation of your registration and it guarantees your spot in the program.
Three weeks before the start of the program, you will receive a welcome package with all the logistical details.
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Imagine Architecture on-campus tuition includes a hot daily lunch and all materials, but it does not include accommodation. Out-of-town students arrange their own accommodation. A limited number of spots are available in the student residence on campus. Reservations will open in February 2026. Students under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult to stay in residence. Some families choose hotels or short-stay rentals. Other participants stay with relatives or friends in Ottawa. Carleton University is served daily by OC Transpo bus routes 7,10, and 111 and Line 2 of the O-Train. Contact Maria Cook at mariacook3@cunet.carleton.ca for details about the on-campus residence option.
Do you know a high school student interested in architecture?
Testimonials from 2025 Participants
My experience at Imagine Architecture was amazing. It helped me to get a better insight into architecture courses and the things that are needed when applying to certain schools, how to use digital apps, and make many different physical models. It really helped provide insight into whether I want to study architecture in the future and I do!
I had a lot of fun, the instructors were amazing and very supportive, and the feedback was amazing! I loved the space and activities that were given. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in architecture or wants to learn more about it!
Imagine architecture Lab 102 was an insightful and rewarding course. This was my second year participating in Imagine Architecture (previously completed lab 101), and it continued to deepen my understanding of architecture through new challenges and opportunities. This week pushed me to think beyond architecture as four walls, challenging my creativity and conceptual thinking. Overall, this program solidified my interest in architectural studies, and I could not be more satisfied with my experience.
it was truly a unique experience that exposed me to this completely new world, in a comfortable and exciting way. I learned a great deal that I can definitely carry with me into everyday life and my future career. Overall, it was a wonderful way to start my summer and I can’t wait to go back next year.
It was a truly enriching experience for (my son). I witnessed genuine growth in his confidence, curiosity, and creativity in just a few short days. He came home excited each evening to share what he had learned and built— clearly inspired by the environment, the instructors, and the thoughtful programming. It was a memorable and meaningful experience for him. (Parent of 2025 participant)
I loved everything about it and I would recommend it to others.
About the LABs
LAB 101
Emphasis on human scale, multi-media drawing techniques, architectural conventions, and some physical modeling
This week-long workshop will include thought-provoking lectures and hands-on design thinking and making activities. You will be immersed in a culture of creativity, inspired motivation, and related skills-building techniques, methods, and projects.
Each day will be dedicated to a specific theme that will culminate in a final exhibition of your projects. There will also be an opportunity to learn about Carleton University’s application process and a workshop on portfolio preparation.
| 2026 Dates | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| July 6-10 (On-Campus) | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | $730 + HST (On-Campus) |
| July 27-31 (Online) | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm | $600 + HST (Online) |
Pencil Drawing/Sketching
Architecture Photography
Architecture Drawing Sets
Materiality in Architecture
Model Making
Creative Writing
Observing One’s Environment
Curation (Exhibition)
LAB 102
Emphasis on emerging technology: 3D modeling and visualization techniques. Workshop on how to lay out a strong design portfolio.
LAB 102 offers a series of unique, engaging workshops that introduce essential, abstract, and creative skills, linked to new technologies used in contemporary practice. Like LAB 101, this workshop includes inspiring lectures and new ways of design thinking and making. In LAB 102, you will build models using Rhino 3D and visualize your work through the Adobe Creative Cloud. These skills connect to advanced fabrication and physical model-making, turning conceptual ideas into real objects.
| 2026 Date | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| July 13-17 (On-Campus) | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | $730 + HST (On-Campus) |
Form Finding
The Role of the Digital
Rendering
Digital Composition
3D Modeling
LAB 103
Emphasis on abstract architectural thinking, model-building, and portfolio preparation
LAB 103 is a week-long immersive multi-media workshop, introducing participants to techniques of drawing, small model-building, and architectural representation. A series of choreographed exercises will focus on drawing by hand, three-dimensional thinking, and abstract visualization. Topics include concepts of line drawing, plan, and section, perspective, cut-and-fold, and composition.
Particularly appropriate for those who want to study architecture at university, LAB 103 places emphasis on abstract and conceptual thinking as well as understanding the kinds of graphic representations suitable for a portfolio.
| 2026 Date | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| July 20-24 (On-Campus) | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | $730 + HST (On-Campus) |
Drawing Techniques
Abstract Spatial Thinking
Studio Culture
Mixed Media
Portfolio Graphics
How We Deliver Imagine Architecture Online
The online program provides participants with tools and support for portfolio-worthy graphic results, as well as an interactive design studio experience.
Instructors use accessible digital platforms to create a virtual studio space in which students can interact, share their work, and receive one-on-one instruction.
Students receive a list of supplies to purchase or scavenge throughout the house.
We offer LAB 101 online as an alternative to attending the program in person. We look forward to welcoming participants from across Canada and the world.
Imagine Architecture Academic Team
Jerry Hacker, Faculty Advisor
Assistant Professor Jerry Hacker teaches at the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism. He is a registered architect and founder of hACT, an ideas-based practice employing research through design to investigate, situate, and construct architecture as infrastructure. Previously, Jerry spent 13 years as a senior associate and design leader with the critically acclaimed firm MBAC. During his time with MBAC, the practice was recognized with over 30 national and international peer-reviewed awards for design excellence. His experience in weaving together design intention, building construction, and practice motivates his teaching philosophy in courses such as design studio, advanced building systems, and structures.
Artistic, technical, and socially embedded within complex networks, architecture as a career is equal parts demanding and rewarding! Imagine Architecture strives to open doors into the creative problem-solving process and working methodologies of the design professional through a hands-on, intensive, and fun workshop-based learning environment. By challenging preconceptions and asking important questions about the built environment that surrounds us, the workshops will enrich your critical thinking skills and allow you to begin building a portfolio of spatially imaginative investigations — an essential part of the future application process to architecture schools worldwide!
Daphne Stams, Coordinator and LAB 101 Instructor
Daphne Stams is in the final year of the three-year Master of Architecture program at Carleton University. With a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of British Columbia, Daphne is curious about how space is organized and its impact on social and environmental structures. Critical analysis drives Daphne’s approach to design, and her background inspires her to actively consider different disciplines and perspectives. Daphne’s designs are also informed by her passion for making, in which she experiments with mixed media to create complex visual presentations in both 2D and 3D. Daphne regularly engages in model-making, photography, geographic information system representations, collage, and analogue illustration.
Adonis Lau, LAB 102 Instructor
Adonis Lau is a 2025 graduate of the Master of Architecture program at Carleton University, where he also earned a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Design.) Adonis is a Research Associate and Head of Digital Software Exploration and Digital Fabrication at the CSALT Lab. Here, he works in the hybrid space of digital design and fabrication with a focus on the integration of industrial robotic workflows into architectural processes. Adonis approaches the design-to-fabrication workflow using a range of software and state-of-the-art hardware tools to turn designs into reality. He also has experience working in institutional and community-focused architecture.
Sam Lane-Smith, LAB 103 Instructor
Sam Lane-Smith is a multidisciplinary designer and maker who brings the joy of craft into his work. He is a 2025 graduate of the Master of Architecture program at Carleton University. His studio design work has won awards and has been featured in Building 22 – Carleton’s architecture design publication. Sam’s research revolves around how we know through making and its relationship to architectural design. Alongside his architecture design work, Sam has an art practice making copper tree sculptures, one of which was recently presented as a ceremonial gift from the Government of Canada to the Haida Nation. His knowledge of making and physical design complements the range of technical drawing and abstract thinking skills required in architecture.
Rashida Leslie, Senior Studio Assistant
Rashida Leslie is in the second year of the Master of Architecture program at Carleton University. She completed her undergraduate studies in architecture at the University of Toronto. With a strong interest in mentorship, Rashida is excited to engage with Imagine Architecture and help introduce students to the creative and critical thinking that architecture demands. Her approach to design is grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and a belief in architecture’s potential to foster inclusive, meaningful spaces.
Noah Chatel, Junior Studio Assistant
Noah Chatel is in the third year of the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Design) program at Carleton University. He is passionate about learning and developing his design skills. He enjoys sharing knowledge as an assistant in the school’s Fab-Lab, where he helps print student work. When he was in high school, Noah attended all three weeks of Imagine Architecture. “I loved my experience,” he says. “It completely solidified my interest in architecture. In return, I would love to offer the same kind of experience to the next generation and provide a clear perspective on Carleton’s BAS program.”
How to Register
Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration will remain open until all spots are taken. If the registration link is still active, then there are still spots left in the program. Register early as space is limited.
Your spot is not guaranteed until payment has been received. Payment by Visa or MasterCard only.
For more information, email Maria Cook (mariacook3@cunet.carleton.ca).
