Center for Architecture Design Scholarship

Single or multiple awards up to $5,000.

Merit-based scholarships that support deserving students acquiring their first professional degree in architecture, design, engineering, planning, or a related discipline in a program within New York State.

Students seeking their first professional degree in architecture or related design discipline from an accredited school within New York State. The dean or chair of the architectural school or accredited design program shall invite up to two students from their respective college or university to apply based on their high level of academic performance and evidence of financial need. Financial need of the student shall be determined by the guidelines of the Financial Aid Officer of the school nominating the candidate.

Note: Students cannot be nominated for both the CFA Design and Allwork awards. Students in their final year of school are not eligible to apply. Students must be nominated by their dean or chair of their accredited program that they are currently studying in order to apply for this award.

Eligible Engineering Programs
Architectural, Civil, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical, Structural

Eligible Design Programs
Architectural, Environmental, Furniture, Industrial, Interior, Landscape, Sustainable, Urban

Note: A graduate student is eligible if his or her undergraduate degree is in a field other than architecture.

Financial aid for students seeking their first professional architectural degree from a NAAB accredited school (Allwork) or first professional design degree (CFA Design) with a high level of academic performance and financial need. Student portfolios, each containing three projects, should be judged in terms of the following additional criteria:

Concept: Demonstrates a clear and focused line of inquiry

Artistry: Demonstrates a sensitive aesthetic ability

Skill: Demonstrates an a high level of aptitude

This scholarship aims to broaden the purview of the award program to include students studying in design related fields including engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, etc.

A complete application includes the application, a portfolio and two letters of recommendation. All aspects of the application must be submitted both electronically (PDF) and in hardcopy. Visit the Submission Instructions section for details.

Application Form
The Cover Page Form must be placed on the front of hardcopy submissions.

Portfolio
The portfolio should include three student projects as examples of work. Submissions of collaborative projects where the applicant’s role is not clear are discouraged. As with all aspects of the application, the portfolio must be submitted in hardcopy and as a PDF document. PDF documents may not exceed 5 MB.*

*Applicants may choose to submit an additional PDF that is larger than 5 MB. This second PDF MUST be zipped. Do not submit slides.

Two Letters of Recommendation
All letters of recommendation, both electronic and hardcopy versions, must be signed and on letterhead.
One letter must be written by the nominating dean or chair. This letter will serve as the Dean’s official nomination. Students cannot be nominated for both the CFA Design and Allwork scholarships.

One letter must be written by a faculty member familiar with the applicant’s work.

Optional: The applicant may submit up to two more academic or professional references from an educator and/or design professional testifying to achievement and professional promise demonstrated through academic or professional work in an office environment.

Note:
• There is no entry fee.
• A self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) is required if applicants would like work samples returned. If a SASE does not have correct postage, the submission will not be returned. For students in New York City, the portfolio will also be available for pick-up.

Electronic Submission (PDF)
In addition to mailing a hard copy submission, all aspects of the submission (application, portfolio, and two letters of recommendation) must be submitted electronically.

Application and Portfolio
The application and portfolio should be saved in the following:

Application: CFA Design Application – Applicant’s Last Name
Portfolio: CFA Design Portfolio – Applicant’s Last Name

Applicants should email the application and portfolio in one message to scholarships@centerforarchitecture.org. Write in the subject lined “CFA Design Application” followed by the applicant’s last name. [Example subject line: CFA Design Application – Smith] PDFs may not exceed 5 MB.

Letters of Recommendation
Recommender should save letters in the following manner:

Letter of Recommendation: CFA Design Recommendation – Applicant’s Last Name

All letters of recommendation, both electronic and hardcopy versions, must be signed and on letterhead. Recommenders should email letters to scholarships@centerforarchitecture.org. Write in the subject line “CFA Design Application” followed by the applicant’s last name. [Example subject line: CFA Design Application – Smith] PDFs may not exceed 5 MB.

Hard Copy Submission
In addition to submitting electronically, all aspects of the submission (application, portfolio, and two letters of recommendation) must be submitted in hard copy.

Application, Portfolio and Letters of Recommendation
Applicants are strongly advised to send a complete submission (application, portfolio, and two letters of recommendation) in one package. Recommenders may send letters separately. Print out the application and the portfolio. Staple these documents together with the Cover Page Form on the front. Mail these documents along with letters of recommendation to:

Center for Architecture
ATTN: CFA Design Application – Applicant’s Last Name
536 LaGuardia Place
New York, NY 10012

Submissions may be hand-delivered to the Center for Architecture. Hand-delivered submissions should be addressed in the following manner:

Center for Architecture
ATTN: CFA Design Application – Applicant’s Last Name

1. Do applications need to be post-marked by the deadline?
All applications must be submitted both electronically and in hardcopy and both versions of the complete application must be received March 15th by 5:00pm EST on the due date in order to be considered. No exceptions. Refer to the Submission Instructions section for further details.

2. Can I hand-deliver my application?
Applicants who are in the New York area may hand-deliver their complete application to the Center for Architecture. Hand-delivered submissions should be addressed in the following manner:

Center for Architecture Foundation
ATTN: CFA Design Application – Applicant’s Last Name

3. Is it possible to extend the deadline based on personal extenuating circumstances?
All applications must be received by the due date in order to be reviewed. No exceptions.

4. Do letters of recommendation need to arrive by the deadline?
Yes.

5. Can letters of recommendation be sent separately from the application?
Applicants are strongly advised to mail complete applications (application, a portfolio and two letters of recommendation) in one package. Letter of recommendation may be sent separately, either electronically and in hardcopy. Refer to the Submissions Instructions section for further details.

6. Can the letters of recommendation be emailed?
Yes, letters of recommendation must be emailed. Refer to the Submissions Instructions for addressing instructions.

7. What is the schedule of notification?
Applicants will be notified by the end of May.

8. Is it possible to review the submissions of past recipients?
It is not possible to review the submissions of past recipients. It is possible to view the portfolios of Past Scholarship Recipients.

9. Does Center for Architecture sponsor individual students pursuing an architectural education in need of financial aid?
Center for Architecture supports students through our scholarship program. At this time it is not possible for the organization to give financial aid above and beyond this program.

10. I am a high school student seeking scholarships for an undergraduate degree in architecture. Am I eligible for the CFA Design Scholarship?
No, in order to be considered for the CFA Design Scholarship, applicants must be nominated by the Dean or Chair of the Architecture program they are currently attending.

11. I am applying to an architecture program at a school in New York State. Am I eligible for the CFA Design scholarship?
No, in order to be considered for the CFA Design Scholarship, an applicant must be nominated by the Dean or Chair of the Architecture program the applicant is currently attending.

12. I am a graduate architecture student, but my undergraduate degree is not in architecture. Am I eligible for the CFA Design scholarship?
Yes, graduate students are eligible as long as the applicant’s undergraduate, professional degree is in a field other than their professional graduate degree. Applicants must be working towards their first professional degree in the field.

13. Do applicants need to submit documentation of financial need?
No, financial need is determined by the Dean or Chair who nominates you.

14. Does the Dean or Chair need to mention a student’s financial need in the nomination letter?
The Dean or Chair is not required to address a student’s financial need in the nomination letter. However, the Dean or Chair should only nominate students that have a demonstrated financial need. They should confer with the Financial Aid Office at their school if necessary.

15. Does the Dean or Chair need to write a letter of recommendation in addition to nominating each of the three students?
The Dean or Chair must write a letter of recommendation for each student he or she nominates. This letter of recommendation will be act as the formal nomination.

16. Can applicants submit an electronic portfolio that is more than 5 MB?
Applicants must submit a portfolio in PDF format that does not exceed on 5 MB. Applicants may choose to submit an additional version of their portfolio as a PDF that is larger than 5 MB. PDFs that exceed 5 MB must be zipped.

17. Are students in their final year of school eligible to apply?
No, students must have at least one year left of school.

2019 Recipients of the Center for Architecture Design Scholarship

Sonya Feinstein
Pratt Institute
Merit Award

Emmet Sutton
Pratt Institute
Merit Award

2018 Recipients of the Center for Architecture Design Scholarship

Vahhab Aboonour
Pratt Institute
Merit Award

Stav Eilam
The Cooper Union
Merit Award

Sarah Chikh Ousman
City College of New York
Merit Award

Benjamin Sather
New York Institute of Technology
Merit Award

Mayrah Udvardi
Columbia University
Merit Award

2017 Recipients of the Center for Architecture Design Scholarship

Patchariya Kate Jirasitham
City College of New York
Merit Award

Zara Tamton
City College of New York
Merit Award

2016 Recipients of the Center for Architecture Design Scholarship

Christopher Brockhoft
Columbia University
Merit Award

Clara Puglsey
The Cooper Union
Merit Award

2015 Recipients of the Center for Architecture Design Scholarship

Lester Li
City College of New York
Merit Award

Caleb Sillars
Parsons School of Design
Merit Award

Brendan Vogt
Columbia University
Merit Award

2014 Recipients of the Center for Architecture Foundation Design Scholarship

Magdalena Checo
City College of New York
Merit Award

Kyle Sullivan
Columbia University
Merit Award

2013 Recipient of the Center for Architecture Foundation Design Scholarship

Hyatt Tortorella
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Merit Award

2012 Recipient of the Center for Architecture Foundation Design Scholarship

Roberto Jenkins
Pratt Institute
Merit Award

2011 Recipient of the Center for Architecture Foundation Design Scholarship

Yinery Baez
City College of New York
Merit Award