page_title: Southern California Institute of Architecture
section_title: School culture
hierarchical_section_title: Southern California Institute of Architecture / School culture
caption_attribution_description: English: finals presentations at sciarc
context_page_description: Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private university focused on architecture and located in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1972, SCI-Arc was initially regarded as—both institutionally and artistically—more avant-garde than traditional architecture schools based in the United States. It consists of approximately 500 students and 80 faculty members, some of whom are practicing architects. It is based in the quarter-mile long former Santa Fe Freight Depot in the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles, and offers community events such as outreach programs, free exhibitions, and public lectures.
context_section_description: SCI-Arc attracts students from nearby and throughout the world in pursuit of the educational programs that the school offers. Most students have already completed some college level work; some already hold professional architectural degrees. SCI-Arc is serious about educating and challenging its students—but does it so in an unconventional atmosphere. It is not uncommon to see a student using his or her skateboard to get from one end of the building to the other, or to be working on a model with his or her dog napping nearby.  Students actively engage in preparing the SCI-Arc Gallery exhibitions, help fellow graduating students in setting up their models for thesis presentations, and contribute to workshops that result in projects throughout the school, such as the graduation pavilion and other unique structures.  Students have access to their SCI-Arc studio spaces 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
caption: Normal scene during SCI-Arc's finals weeks
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