new heights
New Heights is an arts-in-education program, conceived by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, to expose middle and high school students to the classical architecture all around them in cities and neighborhoods across America. Exposing young people to architecture inspires creativity and strategic thinking, invites them to reflect on and learn from the past, and promotes an understanding of human culture, which fosters a more global worldview.
The program consists of in-class lectures and drawing classes taught by ICAA educators and architects on architecture, history, place-making, building practices, plaster molding, stone carving, etc. The program leads students through city
and neighborhood architectural walking tours to experience local architecture and field trips. New Heights will also provide a valuable introduction to the many career opportunities in the fields of architecture and the allied arts.
The benefits of incorporating the arts into secondary school education programs are numerous and well-documented. Architecture is a particularly unique and applicable art form as it utilizes many disciplines at once and is already apparent in students’ everyday lives. This program was well received at Alamo Heights in San Antonio.
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learn moreRegional Intensives
The ICAA Regional Intensive is an eight-day immersive program that introduces students and professionals to the core curriculum of classical architecture.
Designed for those with limited time but a strong interest in the classical tradition, the program provides a structured and methodical introduction to classical design principles through drawing, analysis, and studio work.
Participants study topics including:
- Classical elements and composition
- Architectural proportion
- Drawing and rendering techniques
- Study of architectural precedent
- Literature of classical architecture
The program culminates in a studio project in which participants design a small building using the classical canon. The design process follows the Beaux-Arts system, beginning with an esquisse and developing through a charrette into a final proposal reviewed by a panel of distinguished architects.
Participants in the Intensive are eligible to receive 64 credits toward the ICAA Certificate in Classical Architecture.
Recent Texas programs have included the Regional Intensive at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio (2025) and Rice University in Houston (2021).
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learn moreUniversity Weekend Workshop
The ICAA Weekend Workshops introduce university students and emerging professionals to the vitality of the classical tradition in contemporary architectural design.
Workshops are taught by practicing architects and combine presentations with guided drawing exercises focused on the principles and language of classical architecture.
Students participate in exercises such as:
- Drawing a classical order
- Completing measured drawings of architectural elements from historic buildings
- Studying precedents as a means of informing contemporary design
Each workshop emphasizes three key areas of study:
Architectural Literacy
An introduction to the grammar of classical architecture and the underlying principles of composition and building.
Study of Precedents
Measured drawing as a tool for understanding historic buildings and translating those lessons into new design solutions.
Application in Practice
Presentations from architects who incorporate classical principles into contemporary work, demonstrating the continued relevance of the tradition today.
Workshops range from one full day to two half-day sessions and may be hosted by universities, design studios, or regional institutions. Participants receive credit toward the ICAA Certificate in Classical Architecture.
Past workshops in Texas have been hosted by Texas State University in San Marcos (2022) and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth (2019).