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About The Program
SCI-Arc’s Architectural Technologies program offers an intensive focus on artificial intelligence and platform technologies as drivers of design innovation. Students explore three core territories:
- Sensing / Analysis
- Generative / Automation
- Interface / Mediation
Led by a team of faculty experts, the fall semester builds foundational skills and conceptual frameworks across these territories through a shared design brief that anchors the cohort’s work. In this semester students develop architectural projects entirely through AI-driven and intelligent-agent pipelines, responding to 3D-scanned real-world sites to test new approaches to authorship, automation, and spatial reasoning.
During the spring and summer semesters, students advance individual applied research projects, synthesizing technical, conceptual, and architectural exploration. The research projects range from creating cutting edge software platforms, to innovative design solutions only possible through the development of custom tools. The projects are developed for real-world application upon graduation, serving to launch each student’s new career.
In addition to studio work, students participate in seminars and workshops in robotic fabrication, investigating the relationship between AI, automated design tools, and material production.
Students in the Spring 2024 VS Figure/Figurative course taught by M. Casey Rehm developed Robotic 3D printing pipelines for furniture scale objects utilizing text to 3D AI models. Student Group shown here: Haiming Wang, Matteo Ferraro, Elena Tseng, Sissi Zhang, Jeffry Acra.
Skills Acquired
From theory to code: students master the tools of intelligent design.
- Research Practices
- Dissemination (Decks, Social Media)
- Cybernetics and Complex Systems Theory
- Art and Cultural Theory in relationship to the contemporary context
- Speculative economics (FALC etc)
- Coding Fundamentals (Python, Java, C#)
- ML Behavior Simulation (Unity, Python)
- Generative AI Software Development
- Analytical AI Software Development
- Hardware Sensing (LIDAR, RGB Camera, Drones, Audio)
- Video Production (Unreal Adobe)
- AI Assisted/Augmented Production
- Robotic Fabrication
- XR App Development
A Team of Expert Faculty and Guest Advisors
Practitioners redefining how AI transforms design.
M. Casey Rehm
Architectural Technologies Coordinator and Partner in Studio MMR. Rehm has been at the cutting edge of AI and Architecture for over a decade.
Case Miller
Partner of Special Projects. A creative director and AI consultant operating across a broad spectrum of works from music video production to UI/UX for future hardware.
Elim Pan
UI developer Special Projects. UI/UX designer specializing in the integration of AI in mobility projects.
Anthony Tran
Web Developer and Artist. Creates web applications and interfaces utilizing artificial intelligence and novel forms of interaction.
Learning from the Visionaries
Recent design collaborators include leading voices from Google, Amazon AWS, Snap, MVRDV, Bureau Spectacular, and The Bratton Institute.
Tech + Emerging Platforms
- Kenric MacDowell and Betty Chen, Google — known for AI, creative machine learning, and speculative tech research
- Kellan Cartledge, Amazon AWS — cloud infrastructure and generative AI for creative industries
- Alessio Granci, Snap — AR and immersive platform innovation
- Spencer Sterling, Runway ML — forefront of generative video and AI for creatives
- Gwyllim Jahn, Fologram — mixed reality design tools, major figure in computational fabrication
- Jose Sanchez, Plethora Project — leading thinker in game design, procedural systems, and education crossover
Architecture + Creative Practice
- Leo Stuckhardt, MVRDV — internationally renowned design firm at the intersection of data and urbanism
- Marcelo Spina, PATTERNS — influential Los Angeles architect and educator
- Gilles Retsin, AUAR — pioneer in computational design and robotic fabrication
- Jimenez Lai, Bureau Spectacular — acclaimed architect and theorist exploring narrative design
- Dwayne Oyler, Oyler Wu Collaborative — award-winning architect merging craft and advanced geometry
- Volkan Alkanoglu — known for experimental digital fabrication and public art installations
- Michael Rotondi, Roto / SCI-Arc Co-Founder — one of the most respected architectural educators in Los Angeles
Theory, Art, and Critical Practice
- Benjamin Bratton — global theorist on AI, planetary-scale computation, and design philosophy
- Alice Bucknell — artist and writer working across world-building, gaming, and ecological futures
- Lucy McRae — internationally exhibited artist and “body architect” exploring the human–technology interface
- Natasha Sandmeier — UCLA professor, known for design theory and media-based pedagogy
Alumni Success
Our graduates apply advanced technologies in top companies, research labs, and studios around the world.
- Andrew Depew — Additive Manufacturing Research, Nike Innovation
- Wendy Zhang — Creative Director, Invisible North
- Yu-Ting Chang — R&D, Blue Revolver / Cyun
- Astha Kapila — XR Lead, Google
- Kai Johnson — R&D and Pipeline Development, Arktura; SCI-Arc AT
- Jimmy Cheng — Full-Time Faculty, Carnegie Mellon University; Exhibitor, Taiwan Design Week
- Jonathan Penvose — Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania
- Evangelos Koutsioumpas — Development Team, Fuser
- Yi-An Yang — Computational Architect, Cove
- Ade Ayoade — Founder, T’Kei (XR Startup)
- Manuel Escalante Rincon — Designer, Gehry Partners; Part-Time Faculty, Instituto Superior de Arquitectura y Diseño
- Tianxiao Peng — Architect and R&D, Populous
- Eva Besmerti — Designer, Brooks + Scarpa
- Sanghyun Suh — Designer, PATTERNS