Photo of High School Students on Fallingwater terrace

High School Residencies

A program of the Fallingwater Institute

When Fallingwater was constructed, Edgar Kaufmann, jr. was a young man who had explored several potential career paths ranging from studio art to architecture at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Fellowship. His trial and error approach to career exploration combined with time spent at Fallingwater led him to his successful career as a curator and professor of art and architecture history.

High School Residencies at Fallingwater honor Kaufmann’s legacy by providing opportunities for students to participate in immersive studio-based learning, career exploration, creative expression and self-discovery in a collaborative, supportive environment at Fallingwater’s remarkable site.

For additional details, please see the Fallingwater Institute’s Student Handbook.

Features

  • Live and work at High Meadow and the fully equipped Cheteyan Studio at High Meadow.
  • Airport shuttle to and from Pittsburgh International Airport
  • Architecture and design exercises with hands-on drawing and design projects inspired by Fallingwater
  • In-depth, scholarly discussions and applications of Wright’s principles of organic architecture
  • Career exploration

Program Sessions

Eligibility

High school students entering grades 9-12 and gap year students are eligible to participate in High School Residencies. No previous design experience is required. Students curious about careers in creative fields, such as architecture, design, and visual art are strongly encouraged to register. Enrollment is limited.

Scholarships

A limited number of full and partial, need-based scholarships are available for tuition to High School Residencies. Please complete this application to be considered for a scholarship.

Please note that scholarships are available to cover the cost of tuition only. Tuition includes housing, meals, materials, and instruction. Scholarships do not cover the cost of travel or other expenses.

Program Sessions

Course Full

High School Residency: Drawing + Model Making

June 23 - June 27, 2025

High School Residency: Drawing + Model Making is for students in grades 9 through 12 who are curious about careers in design, architecture or the visual arts. Program activities include individual and collaborative projects, drawing, model-making exercises, and drawing sessions in and around Fallingwater. Led by professional teaching architects and artists, High School Residencies provide an opportunity for students to examine and explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s ideas while living and studying at Fallingwater’s remarkable site.

Unable to travel to Fallingwater this year? Consider Virtual Summer Camp: Drawing by Hand!

This course is currently full, you can join our waitlist here.

HIGH SCHOOL RESIDENCY: INTERIOR DESIGN

July 7 - July 11, 2025

Fallingwater’s interiors reflect both Frank Lloyd Wright’s design philosophy and the Kaufmann family’s impeccable taste. Spend a week studying interior design while drawing inspiration from Fallingwater, its collections, and its beautiful landscape. Join Fallingwater Institute’s team of teaching designers and teaching artists for a week-long studio intensive where you will create original work that’s worthy of your portfolio.

Register Now
Course Full

High School Residency: Portfolio Prep

July 14 - July 18, 2025

A successful portfolio is a compilation of work that conveys your creative vision and skill while also serving as an expression of your identity and ideas. Learn how to assemble and present a portfolio that communicates your unique skills, personality, and point-of-view. Spend a week immersed at Fallingwater and its beautiful site while creating original, portfolio-worthy pieces in a collaborative studio environment. High School Residency: Portfolio Prep is for students in grades 9 through 12 who are considering college and careers in creative fields. All ability-levels are welcome.

Unable to travel to Fallingwater this year? Consider Virtual Summer Camp: Portfolio Prep!

Course Full

HIGH SCHOOL RESIDENCY: SUSTAINABILITY AND ARCHITECTURE

July 21 - July 25, 2025

Fallingwater has inspired generations of architects to design in harmony with nature. Discover how Wright’s philosophy has inspired today’s architects to think about the natural world as they respond to climate change and embrace environmentally friendly design practices. A teaching architect will lead activities at Fallingwater, in the studio, and outdoors (hiking shoes are a must) as students create portfolio-worthy drawings, models and more.

This course is currently full, you can join our waitlist here.

Course Full

High School Residency: Biophilic Design Studio

August 4 - August 8, 2025

Biophilic design is a present-day concept that strives to bring people closer to nature through architectural design. Today’s architects, designers, and artists continue to draw inspiration from Fallingwater and Wright’s innovative ideas about designing in harmony with nature. Discover how Wright’s philosophy continues to inspire present day architects’ ideas about innovation, sustainability, and biophilic design.  High School residents will participate in hands-on, studio-based exploration of Fallingwater and create portfolio-worthy work during this immersive education program.

Course Full

High School Residency: Design + Build

July 28 - August 1, 2025

High School Residency: Design + Build is for students in grades 11 or 12 who are preparing for admission to an architecture, design or art school. During the five-day intensive skill-building program, students will create original, portfolio-worthy work. This course is led by a licensed teaching architect, who will guide studio explorations that are comparable to a first-year studio foundation course, which is a typical requirement in undergraduate programs in architecture, design and visual art. Students will enjoy access to Fallingwater and opportunities for reflective writing and sketching from observation.

Unable to travel to Fallingwater this year? Consider Virtual Summer Camp: Drawing by Hand!

For more information, contact fallingwaterinstitute@paconserve.org.

This course is currently full, you can join our waitlist.

For more information, contact fallingwaterinstitute@paconserve.org.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel your registration for a one-day workshop any time up to 30 days before the day of the program, you will receive a refund minus a $25 processing fee.

If you cancel your registration for a multi-day program (residencies, Insight/Onsite, etc.) any time up to 30 days before the first day of the program, you will receive a refund minus a $50 processing fee and a $150 cancellation fee.

If you cancel less than 30 days before the first day of a Fallingwater Institute program, refunds are not available.