Great Buildings: Classical Architecture in Washington D.C.

The ICAA announces the Great Buildings program, a five-day advanced course in classical architectural composition for students in undergraduate or graduate-level university programs. The course offers students an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of important exemplars of classical architectural composition. This year's program, hosted at the Catholic University of America focuses on the classical architecture of Washington, DC.

The great classical buildings of Washington DC demonstrate extraordinarily sophisticated and ingenious adaptations of the classical language in designs for most every conceivable modern building type and function. This course focuses on discovering the innovative compositional strategies and design techniques deployed by the architects of these buildings. Subjects of study will include civic, institutional, religious, commercial, and residential buildings, monuments, and memorials. Many of the buildings that will be investigated date from between 1890 and 1940 - a period of work that remains largely unstudied yet forms the bulk of civic expansion from this period. These buildings show how classical conventions evolve to address contemporary design problems and offer time-tested solutions to design challenges facing architects today. This course uncovers the lessons these buildings offer for enriching architectural design and city making.

We are now accepting applications to the 2025 Great Buildings program. Should you have any questions, please contact the ICAA at [email protected].

Course Format

The course is centered around learning through observation and drawing. It is structured in a studio and field study format. Each day includes presentations, on-site study, and analytical drawing in sketchbook. Studio sessions are held at the at the Catholic University of America's School of Architecture & Planning. Field study occurs at locations throughout Washington DC.

As a reference for what to expect, you can view the schedule from the 2024 program here; please note that the Great Buildings schedule changes every year and therefore the instructors, topics, and time allotted for each content area are subject to change for 2025.

Prerequisites

The course is designed for university level students who have completed coursework in drawing the classical orders and a classical design studio project through their university or a program such as the Summer Studio in Classical Architecture.

Accommodation

The registration cost for the program includes tuition, on-campus accommodation at the Catholic University of America (evening of July 14 - morning of July 18), and a meal plan.

Sponsors

Presented as part of The Richard H. Driehaus Curricula for the Built Environment at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. The ICAA is very grateful to The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation for its generous support of this program.