The Master of Architecture program trains students to become leaders in the professional practice of architecture with innovative methods of design research and inquiry.
Students: Sophy Feldman & Rowan Price Instructor: Alexandra Barker SP23 Studio 4
Info Sessions
Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 6:00-7:30 ET (Zoom) Thursday, November 7th, 2024 12:00-2:00 pm ET (in-person) Monday, November 25th, 2024 6:00-7:30 pm ET (Zoom)
Master of Architecture at Pratt
The MARCH curriculum embraces an integrative approach to design that weaves together technical knowledge and creative practice, building science and environmental stewardship, and professional responsibility and equity. We actively engage the pressing climatic and social challenges of our era through rigorous inquiry. Through case studies that leverage the city as our classroom, students develop innovative design strategies that convey a thorough understanding of the way in which architecture shapes the built environment and its communities. As architects, our inquiry extends across all scales of the built environment, from individual buildings to neighborhoods, cities, and all the way to global systems and ecosystems. What connects our intervention across this broad range of scales is our deep commitment to design work that prioritizes the well-being and safety of all life forms.
The Master of Architecture (M.Arch) is a three-year NAAB-accredited, STEM-certified professional program. Our 84-credit, three-year track is designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree, including majors other than one of the architectural design professions. The program is also available in a 56-credit, two-year Advanced Standing track for students with bachelor’s degrees from four-year Architecture or Engineering programs.
The M.Arch program is structured with a core curriculum of design, history-theory, technology, and media courses, followed by an advanced curriculum of applied research and elective courses. The entire curriculum is designed to equip students with the professional knowledge required for becoming a successful architect.
We believe in an integrative approach to architecture. Our curriculum is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the diverse practices and modes of inquiry that converge in the architectural discipline and profession.
In the first three semesters, the core curriculum is structured to coordinate learning across design, technical, historico-theoretical, and media courses. In the fourth semester, this coordinated learning culminates in the Integrative Studio. Unique to the GAUD, the Integrative Studio combines the teaching of architectural design, building systems, and regulatory compliance into a single course. Collaboration is a fundamental aspect of the Integrative studio: students work on a single architectural project in teams, supported by GAUD faculty and a cohort of technical consultants from leading New York City firms. During the last two semesters, our M.Arch program further compliments the Integrative Studio with an advanced curriculum of studio and elective courses. In these advanced courses, students engage in directed research projects alongside a diverse group of faculty members from Pratt Institute and the architectural profession at large.
Our integrative approach begins, does not end, with our program. By integrating different modes of architectural knowledge and practice, and engaging audiences both within and outside the architectural professions, our M.Arch program equips graduates with the unique ability to intervene in the complex systems shaping the building and living environment.
Integrative Design:
Our M.Arch students are trained to make complex design decisions that integrate architectural ideas with structural, building, and regulatory systems. Their integrative thinking advances environmental stewardship, social equity, and community resilience in all aspects of design work.
Environmental Design Practice:
Our M.Arch students are trained to embrace their responsibility as stewards of the environment. Their work reflects a deep awareness of architecture’s impact on the living and building environments by integrating research on fragile ecosystems, ecologically responsive technologies, and sustainable materials.
Inclusive and Equitable Design:
Our M.Arch students are trained to view equity, diversity, and inclusion as an integral aspect of design. They understand their responsibility to consider diverse needs, values, and physical abilities in design practices, and act on that understanding by integrating an ethos of equity and inclusion in their architectural solutions.
Design Knowledge:
Our M.Arch students are trained to think critically about architecture’s role in the world. They use cutting-edge design methods, media, and technologies to advance architectural knowledge within the discipline and in culture more broadly.
Collaborative Design:
Our M.Arch students are trained to practice creative leadership that benefits their clients, communities, and society at large. Their design work builds relationships, from collaborations with consultants and industry experts to outreach with community partners and stakeholders.
Design Learning:
Our M.Arch students are trained to ask thought-provoking questions throughout their careers and their lives. They value forms of inquiry and collaborative exploration that deepen their understanding of architecture’s connections to complex systems, including bodies of historical-theoretical knowledge, socio-economic forces, environmental dynamics, and cultural contexts.
Take A Look At How Our Courses Advance Design Research And Thinking
Our faculty are leading practitioners, scholars, and educators, including a distinctive cohort of PhD candidates from top universities who share a common desire to develop each student’s potential and creativity to the fullest. Bringing different views, methods, and perspectives the faculty provide a rigorous educational model in which students make and learn. See all GAUD faculty and administrators.
Pratt’s department of Graduate Architecture and Urban Design (GAUD) balances knowledge and understanding, enhancing your individual capacities to ask often difficult and challenging questions facing the profession and discipline, specifically through design and with audiences outside of architecture and urban design. This program is intended for students holding a four-year undergraduate, nonprofessional degree in any field. Applicants with degrees from a four-year BSc in Architecture or BScEng in Architecture may qualify for advanced standing.
Integrative Studio
Unique to the GAUD, the Integrative Studio is a combined design and integrative building-systems course and brings together a number of related disciplines into a single project, which students develop in teams. An ensemble of technical consultants from world-leading firms in New York City work directly with GAUD faculty and students on their design projects engaging in facade design, structural design, energy design and more.
Directed Research
In your final two semesters, the advanced curriculum is focused on Directed Research studios and electives. Among the studios, you might apply to participate in the Studio of Experiments, which is an opportunity to work closely with a visiting faculty member on a directed research topic set by the department chair. Learn more about Directed Research.
Seminars, Lectures & Events
Immersive seminars, lectures and events accompany each semester. They explore contemporary issues in architectural practice and research, and foster discussion between students and prominent scholars. Exhibitions spotlight exceptional faculty and student work, and the student publication offers students opportunities to engage in theoretical, editorial, and writing activities.
Study Abroad
Immersing yourself in another culture is an incredible experience that can extend the boundaries of creativity. Study abroad programs are an integral part of the university experience, and Pratt has deep connections with university partners around the world. In the first, second, or third year, students may elect to participate in one or both of our international programs. See where you can go.
Learning Resources
We develop disciplinary fluency in our program of study and we celebrate the interdisciplinary nature of design critical to address the plurality and complexity of the environments in which we operate. Learn about resources.
Our Alumni
Pratt’s distinguished alumni are leading diverse and thriving careers, addressing critical challenges and creating innovative work that reimagines our world.
Career Opportunities:
Graduates from the M.Arch program go on to work in leading architectural firms and other creative fields, both nationally and internationally. Take a look at where some of our recent graduates work:
Where They Work
Architect – Morphosis
Junior Designer – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group
Architectural Designer — Foster + Partners
Director – KPF
Senior Associate – SHoP Architects
Architect – Woods Bagot
Lead Designer – Zaha Hadid Architects
Architectural Designer – UNStudio
Assistant Chair, Interior Design – Pratt Institute
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.
You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.
ARCH 805 | ARCH 805 Advanced Design Research I: The Rise of Hyperbuildings | Fall 2024 | Instructor: Peter Trummer | Fifth Semester M.Arch Students
This studio challenges students to redefine urban architecture through the lens of “hyperbuildings”—massive, complex structures that merge existing urban artifacts with new forms and functions. Led by Peter Trummer, the course explores how buildings in densely populated cities can adapt and evolve, transforming from isolated entities into integrated urban networks. Students investigate both historical and contemporary precedents, from Vienna’s social housing superblocks to innovative mixed-use structures in Asia, studying how these formations serve as self-contained cities within cities.
The course places a strong emphasis on independent, research-driven design, pushing students to consider the social, environmental, and technical aspects of their projects. Through intensive workshops, mini-seminars, and 3D modeling, students develop advanced design methodologies, culminating in detailed representations like axonometric and sectional renderings, along with 3D-printed models. This studio encourages students to engage critically with the changing role of architecture in urban life, fostering a new vision for how we might build and inhabit our cities in a rapidly transforming world.
Student work:
1. Digital Model | Liya Fysel
2. Digital Model | Zachary Fisher
3. Digital Model | Skylar Kouril
4. Digital Model | Ranisha Sharma
5. Digital Model | Liya Fysel
6. Digital Model | Jonathan Lee
7. Digital Model | Charlie You Dong
8. Digital Model | Cadyn Chien
9. Digital Model | Ava Liu
10. Digital Model | Adam Vernon
#Architecture #PrattMArch #PrattInstitute #Design #StudentWork #PrattGALAUD #PrattSOA #UrbanArchitecture #FutureCities #UrbanMorphology
INFO SESSION | Pratt GA/LA/UD programs | Monday, November 25th | from 6pm to 7:30pm ET | Online
Graduate Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Design (GA/LA/UD) is hosting an online information session on Monday, November 25 at 6:00 PM ET. This event will give prospective students an opportunity to learn more about the programs and application requirements. The event will also include a Q&A.
WHEN: MON NOV 25, 2024 @ 6:00 - 7:30 PM (ET)
WHERE: Online
RSVP required, see link in the bio.
Programs:
Master of Architecture (First Professional)
Master of Landscape Architecture (First Professional)
Master of Science in Architecture (Post-professional)
Master of Science in Urban Design (Post-professional)
The MARCH, MLA, MSARCH, & MSUD programs are dedicated to the pursuit of design inquiry across complex and evolving fields of study. Our goal is to cultivate our students’ ability to ask challenging questions that deepen their understanding of building and living environments. Together, we work across design practices, professions, and disciplines to meet the challenges and opportunities of our times.
Priority application deadline for Fall 2025 admission: January 5, 2025.
Click the link to learn more about the info session and how to apply.
@pratt_galaud
@pratt_m.arch
@pratt_mla
@prattmsarch
@prattmsurbandesign
#Pratt #PrattInstitute #PrattSOA #PrattGALAUD #PrattArchitecture #PrattMARCH #PrattMSARCH #PrattMLA #PrattMSUD #infosession #apply #gettoknowus
ARCH 805 | Advanced Design Research I: Imprints | Fall 2024 | Instructor: Florencia Pita Co-Teacher: Sophy Feldman | Fifth Semester MArch Students
This studio focuses on ‘imprints’, using this word conceptually as a noun and also as a verb. As a noun, an imprint is an action on a material object that can be coded with markings and textures. These impressions can refer to images or figures; they might be illustrations that serve as remembrances of things.
The focus of this class is nature; students question what nature is from an environmental and aesthetic point of view. Today, it is impossible to detach our ethical debt to nature from our aesthetic feeling for nature. Through both theoretical exploration and hands-on projects, students will interpret natural textures, patterns, and memories, experimenting with materials to create imprints that speak to this dual responsibility. The class culminates in projects that explore how architecture can both respond to and respect the natural world.
Student work:
1-2. Digital and Physical Model | Jeter Vasquez and Emily Peres
3-4. Digital and Physical Model | Rachel Guo and Kaitlyn Rainville
5-6. Digital and Physical Model | Luiza Garavelo and Kazeka Mbekeni
7-8. Digital and Physical Model | Sophia Alagoa and Dae Kyoung Kim
9-10. Digital and Physical Model | Ankit Muhury and Emily Sardo
11-12. Digital and Physical Model | Hanme Cho and Venessa Cardiel
#Architecture #PrattMArch #PrattInstitute #Design #StudentWork #PrattGALAUD #PrattSOA #NatureinDesign #EthicalDesign #NatureInspired #ArchitecturalImprints
ARCH 601 | Design I: Media and Methods | Fall 2024 | Instructors: Poyao Shih, Olivia Vien, Hart Marlow, Micheal Zimmerman, MJ Sieira and Phil Parker | First Semester MArch Students
In this Design I studio, students are engaging with the unique setting of Governors Island, using its landscape as a foundation for innovative architectural exploration. This semester, the course centers on designing mixed-use housing that promotes sustainable, community-focused living within the island’s urban context. Through physical models, site-specific mapping, and dynamic massing studies, students examine how architecture can enhance the island’s accessibility and foster resilient, inclusive public spaces.
By integrating Governors Island’s distinct ecological and historical elements, students are crafting housing solutions that prioritize adaptive reuse, environmental sustainability, and spatial connectivity. Each project reflects a thoughtful investigation of how architecture can transform urban sites like Governors Island into vibrant, multifunctional environments that serve diverse communities.
Student work:
1. Floor Plan | Nichapha Lumpikanont | Instructor: Olivia Vien
2-4. Floor Plan, Axonometric and Physical Model | Eli Lange | Instructor: Poyao Shih
5-6. Floor Plan and Physical Model | Evan Johnson | Instructor: Poyao Shih
7-8. Elevation and Section | Ashley Zhong | Instructor: Olivia Vien
9-11. Physical Model, Section and Floor Plan | Nichapha Lumpikanont | Instructor: Olivia Vien
12-13. Elevations | Kyle Tan | Instructor: Hart Marlow
14-15. Digital Models | Nandini Satheesh | Instructor: Micheal Zimmerman
16. Field Drawing | Issy Clancy | Instructor: MJ Sieira
17. Sections | Deepali Venugopal | Instructor: Phil Parker
18. Floor Plans | Zou Wenxuan | Instructor: Phil Parker
#PrattInstitute #MasterofArchitecture #DesignStudio #PublicSpace #Architecture #StudentWork #AdaptiveReuse #PrattGALAUD #MArch
UD 901 | Urban Design I: Media and Methods | Fall 2024 | Instructors: Oliver Schaper and Valeria Cedillos | First Semester MS. UD Students
This semester, students are exploring urban environments through diverse mediums, focusing on how urban design methods shape public spaces and influence community interactions. Through site analysis, mapping, and experimental drawing, students are investigating the complexities of spatial relationships, infrastructure, and the integration of ecological elements within dense cityscapes. The course encourages a critical examination of urban challenges, from environmental sustainability to the creation of inclusive, accessible public realms.
As they present their conceptual models, layered diagrams, and urban intervention strategies, students demonstrate a nuanced understanding of spatial dynamics and the transformative potential of urban design. From tactile models to digital visualizations, each project reflects a thoughtful engagement with contemporary urban issues, pushing the boundaries of design thinking within real-world contexts.
Student work:
1. Zoning Map | Aisha Shaikh
2-5, 8. Zoning Maps and Digital Model | Ann Abraham
6. Digital Model | Renata Luna
7. Physical Model | Falguni Sakpal
9. Zoning Map | Aisha Shaikh
#PrattInstitute #UrbanDesign #UrbanDesignStudio #PublicSpace #SustainableCities #SpatialAnalysis #UrbanEcology #PrattGALAUD #MSUD
ARCH 703 | Design III: Urban Qualities & Materialities Integrated Studio | Fall 2024 | Instructors: Stephanie Bayard, Thomas Leeser, and Erich Schoenenberger | Second Year M. Arch Students
Through months of rigorous design exploration, students have developed bold proposals for mixed-use housing at Bushwick Houses, with a focus on site-responsive and community-driven solutions. This semester, they are tasked with integrating contemporary challenges of affordability, density, and sustainability into multi-story structures, balancing the architectural demands of urban living with local needs. Each design incorporates layered strategies around vertical circulation, material use, and varied housing typologies, addressing both the practical and visionary aspects of resilient urban dwelling.
As they present their site models, sectional drawings, and massing concepts, students demonstrate an advanced grasp of zoning regulations, accessibility standards, and the urban fabric of Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood. From digital renderings to hands-on models, each project reflects a deep engagement with the complexities of New York City’s housing needs.
Student work:
1. Digital Model | Noah Spivak | Instructor: Thomas Leeser
2. Site Plan | Ethan Royal | Instructor: Stephanie Bayard
3. Digital Model | Lanling Shen | Instructor: Stephanie Bayard
4. Section | Kerry Richardson | Instructor: Stephanie Bayard
5. Floor Plan | Joji Kawamura | Instructor: Thomas Leeser
6. Physical Model | Colin House | Instructor: Thomas Leeser
7. Digital Model | Noah Spivak | Instructor: Thomas Leeser
8. Digital Model | Nadiri Wilson | Instructor: Erich Schoenenberger
9. Floor Plans | Mateusz Wos | Instructor: Erich Schoenenberger
10. Floor Plans | Jack Daley | Instructor: Erich Schoenenberger
#PrattInstitute #PrattGALAUD #ArchitectureStudio #UrbanHousing # AffordableHousing #BushwickHouses #SustainableArchitecture #MArch
ARCH 813 | Architectural Mediums: Multimedia + Computer Methods | Fall 2024 | Instructor: Jeffery Anderson
The representational tools used by designers, planners, and architects have vastly changed over the last few decades due to new digital technologies. While only a century ago, we relied on purely analog tools,in recent years, novel digital tools have allowed for an acceleration of representational and fabrication techniques.
How can we bridge old and new techniques to craft a fresh dialogue in architecture? Imagine blending 2D with 3D, the tangible with the intangible, the realistic with the surreal. What would it look like to explore these timeless contrasts—ordinary vs. romantic, material vs. abstract—in today’s digital landscape?
Student work:
1. Digital Model | Karn Parekh
2.Physical Model | Karn Parekh
3-5. Digital Model | GyuBeom Kim
6. Digital Model | Bumsuk Kim
7-8. Physical Model | Bumsuk Kim
9. Physical Model | Bhavya Prajapati
10. Digital Model | Bhavya Prajapati
#Architecture #MLAStudents #MArchStudents #MSArchStudents #MSAUDStudents #PrattMArch #PrattInstitute #Design #StudentWork #PrattGALAUD #PrattSOA
ARCH 805 | Design V Advanced Design Research 1: Sea Ranch | Fall 2024 | California | Instructors: Jeffrey Inaba and Co-Teacher Emily Lawrason
This studio challenges students to tackle contemporary issues in urban design and architecture, particularly in response to the ongoing climate crisis. This fall, students will engage in intensive design research, focusing on how architecture can contribute to large-scale environmental solutions. The studio encourages creative approaches to addressing climate change through design, considering elements like infrastructure, weather patterns, and vegetation to propose innovative buildings and urban spaces that adapt to unpredictable conditions.
In this course, students will work collaboratively to explore regenerative strategies, rethinking the relationship between architecture and landscape in fire-prone environments. Using the Sea Ranch community in Northern California as a case study, students will develop building proposals that integrate topography with architecture to create climate-resilient designs. The aim is to envision a new generation of structures that not only mitigate wildfire risks but also demonstrate how architecture can enrich daily life in a changing world.
#Architecture #SiteVisit #MArchStudents #PrattMArch #PrattInstitute #Design #StudentWork #PrattGALAUD #PrattSOA
ARCH 901 | Intro to Mediums & Methods Studio | Fall 2024 | Instructors: Alex Tahinos & Erich Schoenenberger
In today’s cultural landscape, where social media, artificial intelligence, and DIY fashion dominate, we are witnessing a paradigm shift in what defines relevance. It is no longer about creating something purely for its novelty but rather about drawing on familiar references. These referential trends permeate every level of culture, from TikTok music videos to Hollywood remakes, reflecting a collective desire for comfort and recognition. This studio will explore the intersection of these familiar references with emerging technologies. Can we blur the boundaries between the unknown, potentially unsettling future and the comfort of the past?
Student Work:
1-5: Render | Gyu Beom Kim | Instructor: Alex Tahinos
6-10: Render | Bumsuk Kim | Instructor: Alex Tahinos
11-15: Render | Karn Parekh | Instructor: Alex Tahinos
#Architecture #MLAStudents #MArchStudents #MSArchStudents #MSAUDStudents #PrattMArch #PrattInstitute #Design #StudentWork #PrattGALAUD #PrattSOA
