Open Studio 2024 Kicks off Career Week with Cacophony of Potential

On Friday, January 31, SCI-Arc’s corridors were brimming with student work and the hum of new connections. The school held its annual event Open Studio as part of Career Month, which brought established architecture and design firms and SCI-Arc students together to interact and form bonds with the potential for future employment.

Departing from a traditional career fair, Open Studio is a showcase of student work, as well as an opportunity for students and employers to meet, mingle, and network. With a total of 162 students having pinned-up their most exciting and noteworthy in-progress projects, 81 visiting employers were able to peruse, inquire, and discuss with Open Studio participants about their work and interests at SCI-Arc and beyond.

Taking advantage of the excitement and energy flowing through the event students and employers alike seized the opportunity to interact with one another in an atmosphere of curiosity and engagement that lends to genuine connections being forged. While students gained experience sharing their projects, crafted resumes, and developed thoughts on their work, visiting professionals gained a view into SCI-Arc’s community of burgeoning architects and designers who will shape the future of the discipline.

"I enjoyed being given the space to talk about my work when traditionally job fairs are about the employers work," remarked one SCI-Arc student of the event.

"Loved the event,” shared another. “[It] was fun being able to chat with both employers and classmates—got a lot of business cards, and hoping it leads to an internship.”

Notable attending firms and companies at this year’s Open Studio included Woods Bagot, Gehry Partners, Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign, Populous, Gensler, Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Foster + Partners, and many more.