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July 16-August 3, 2012 Apply Now for the 2012 embARC Summer Design Academy >
Lecture Series. Students will examine the history and theory behind current and traditional ideas of public space and sustainability. Students will learn how the environmental design professions bring concrete form to abstract concepts and make neighborhoods and cities lively and vibrant.
With the mentorship of CED faculty, graduate students and alumni, the studios stress the value and reward of working on real-world design challenges and providing guidance to policy makers on critical urban planning issues, while developing the skills necessary to achieve success at the university level in both as an individual and in a team environment. Students who fulfill the program requirements will receive a Certificate of Completion. All classes are held at the College of Environmental Design at Wurster Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. Classes will meet Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Why Should I Attend?
Eligibility
embARC Academic Leads The Architecture and Urban Design Studio and the Environmental and Community Development Studio will be led, respectively, by Kim Suczynski Smith, M.C.P. and M.Arch., and Michael Mendez, M.C.P, Chancellor’s Fellow and Ph.D. student at the College of Environmental Design.
Summer Tuition and Fees The program fee for the embARC Summer Design Academy is $2,900. The enrollment fee also covers computer lab fees, field trips, some transportation costs, a print card, minimal supplies and a closing party to celebrate final presentations. Any additional supplies will be available for purchase on or near campus. Program enrollment and payment of all fees must be completed by June 25, 2012. Course Cancellation and Refund Policy CED reserves the right to cancel any course for which there is insufficient enrollment for a full refund, and to withdraw or modify course offerings. To Apply To be considered for the embARC program, you must submit the following:
Use the following links to apply for the program and pay your application fee: Contact If you have additional questions or require assistance, please contact: Erica Mohar, College of Environmental Design |
embARC is an intensive three-week summer design academy for high school students held at the College of Environmental Design (CED). The program allows students to explore the fields of environmental design and city planning, experience the culture of the design studio, connect to top CED faculty and professionals, and build a portfolio for their college application. embARC brings together Bay Area high school students from diverse backgrounds to study architecture, urban design and sustainable city planning at CED through a series of lectures, field trips and design studios. True to the UC Berkeley’s public mission, embARC will include an overall theme of civic responsibility by partnering with the California Natural Resources Agency, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, and the California State Legislature in Sacramento. Working with these agencies, students will employ the tools they learn in studio and lectures to help solve real-world community development and design issues.
Architecture and Urban Design Studio. Students will experience what it is like to work on their own design projects in a studio environment. With a project based in downtown Berkeley, students will have the opportunity to make first-hand observations of the area through numerous guided site visits, which will help inform the individual design proposals for the city. Instruction on freehand sketching, drafting, model building and digital representation will teach students how to create and share two and three-dimensional design ideas. The studio will also contain a final design review, where students will exhibit, present, and discuss their work with CED faculty, graduate students and alumni.
Sustainable Cities Studio. Students will engage as genuine stakeholders and participants by developing solutions to an authentic urban planning question for key state policy leaders in Sacramento. The Environmental and Community Development Studio is based on Y-PLAN (Youth — Plan, Learn, Act, Now!), an award-winning curriculum of UC Berkeley’s Center for Cities and Schools. The students will also take inspiring site visits to nationally recognized models of sustainable urban development. Additional trips will include visiting Sacramento to meet with state policy makers, learn about current state policy, and share evolving ideas for helping cities and regions adapt to climate change.
Kim Suczynski Smith, LEED-AP, is an experienced professional specializing in architecture and urban design. Kim currently works as a designer at Pyatok Architects in Oakland and is a founding member and designer with Recess, an interdisciplinary design collaborative in Oakland. She received her M.C.P. and M.Arch. from UC Berkeley and B.S. in architecture from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Kim has worked at Gensler and at Asian Neighborhood Design in San Francisco, and at Young + Wright Architectural in Buffalo, New York.
Michael Mendez has over 10 years of legislative and governmental relations experience in the public and private sectors, including working for the California State Legislature. Michael most recently served as the legislative director for the University of California, Office of the President, focusing on environmental policy, technology transfer and University-industry relations. He holds two degrees in environmental planning and community economic development, including a graduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Michael also serves on several local boards and commissions, and is Vice Chair of the Sacramento City Planning Commission. He is currently a Ford Foundation and UC Chancellor's Fellow and Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley in the Department of City and Regional Planning focusing on science and technology studies (STS), environmental policy and community economic development.