Projects & Research

Design for underserved communities, travel abroad, and build for the community and the world in courses that will inspire you to design for the common good.

Projects

I learned details and how to read drawings better. With Prof Wachtel and his classes, I was able to develop my professionalism as we interacted with clients around the US and the world. With the Professional Practice class, I got my internship which became my job today."

Pablo Vilas, '23

International Projects

group of architecture students on field trip at Mission San Miguel

Provide design assistance to international underserved communities while gaining real-world experience in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning. In this course you understand and appreciate contextual and cultural needs while you acquire professional skills. Projects designed in this course have been built worldwide.

International Outreach Immersion

a student give a field presentation for an architecture project

In this summertime fieldwork seminar, travel to locations such as Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico, and Zambia. Work with international NGOs alongside community members to assist with design and building projects.

Community Design Outreach

student drilling a pole for an architecture project

Get involved in real architecture design/build projects for nonprofits, schools, and municipalities in the Bay Area and internationally. In this studio class, you take on a larger urban or rural design problem. Through extensive fieldwork, you learn the role of community design in underserved communities. Projects designed in this course have been built worldwide.

Sustainable Design

ARCD Students Constructing Worker's Break Shelter - Colombia

A historical and contemporary overview of ecological living practices through lecture, readings, guest speakers, and field trips. Topics include bioregion assessments, sustainable communities, environmental and social justice, permaculture, native science, biomimicry, urban gardens and food security, ecoliteracy and primary education, global economies, environmental preservation and restoration vs. development, and more.

Construction Innovation

Partner with teams to do real world design/build projects in local and international underserved communities. Develop your knowledge of the partnering community’s cultural life patterns and indigenous building methods and materials. Work to blend traditional approaches to construction with modern methods and technologies. Develop you cultural competency while gaining professional practice.

Our Work In The Community & World

Bridgeview Learning Garden

This prizewinning community garden in Bayview, SF was designed and built by USF Architecture students in collaboration with neighborhood nonprofit Quesada Gardens Initiative.