Architecture & Sustainable Design
About this program
When you define your future at Penn College, you’re investing in yourself. With a degree in Architecture and Sustainable Design, you’re taking that impact to a whole new level. Explore alternative building methods and technologies that promote energy efficiency, preserve natural resources, and reduce negative environmental impacts.
The architecture labs have been newly and completely renovated. Check out the details. →
Next steps...
You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
Graduate School Pathways
24/7
Access to Design Studios
Sustainability Careers are Rapidly Growing
Careers
- Sustainable designer
- Sustainability contractor
- Detailer
- Architectural project team member
- Graduate school
Courses
At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.
Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.
- ACH101Introduction to Architecture
- ACH111Architectural Graphics
- ACH112Architectural History
- ACH119Building Materials I
- ACH135Architectural Computer-Aided Drafting
- ACH129Building Materials II
- ACH139Construction Documents - Residential
- ACH141Building Codes & Accessibility
- ACH181Architectural Design Studio I
- ACH211Architectural Graphics II
- ACH239Construction Documents - Commercial
- ACH243Structural Principles
- ACH261Architectural Design Studio II
- ACH262Sustainability: Building & Living Green
- ACH264Computers & Estimating
- ACH240Environmental Systems
- ACH253Structural Applications
- ACH281Architectural Design Studio III
- ASDELCSpecified Architecture and Sustainable Design Elective
- BSD332Architectural Design Studio IV
- BSD340Detailing & Applications
- BSD410Historic Preservation
- ACH272History of Modern Architecture
- BSD322Sustainable Community Planning & Design
- BSD352Architectural Design Studio V
- BSD420Renewable Energy Technologies
- BSD432Architectural Design Studio VI
- BSD442Architectural Theory
- BSD450Sustainable Rating Systems
- BSD452Architectural Design Studio VII
Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.
Guaranteed Momentum
Pursue your Master of Architecture at RIT
Penn College and Rochester Institute of Technology have established an articulation agreement that grants students in the Architecture & Sustainable Design major advanced placement into the second year of RIT's master's program. And the best part? RIT will offer up to three annual scholarships equivalent to at least 25% of tuition costs.
Facilities
Collaborative Studio Space
Mixed use studios carve out space for design presentation, computer work, and layout table with designated model-building areas.
Maker Profiles
Student
Alejandro Huaman
Architecture & Sustainable Design
He's an aspiring architect, guitarist, soccer player, runner, and self-taught barber. What's next?
Student
Megan Bugbee
Architecture & Sustainable Design
She's driven to succeed on the field and in the classroom.
Faculty
Naim Jabbour
Architecture & Sustainable Design
He's a true tomorrow maker who is determined to change the future for the better.
Tour Schedule
Seeing is believing.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.
Feb 21
Undergraduate Open House
Saturday, February 219 AM - 3 PM
Apr 26
Undergraduate Open House
Sunday, April 269 AM - 3 PM
Tomorrow is in the Making
The Dr. Welch Workshop
The makerspace is an open workshop for all students. Take hands-on learning to the next level. Explore your creativity. Bring your ideas to light. Collaborate with other students, faculty and staff, or work independently to test theories, explore ideas, and gain real-world skills to power your career.
Internship
Your knowledge in practice
Internships are key for career preparation. Apply your know-how in the workplace and learn about the industry first-hand.
Industry Partners
Work with experts to become an expert
Penn College's strong corporate partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.
Industry
JENA Engineering, Corporation
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Civil Engineering
Construction Management
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Industry
The Tri-M Group
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Building Automation Engineering
Building Construction
Construction Management
Electrical
Engineering & Industrial Design Technology
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Workforce Development
Industry
Allan Myers
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Building Construction
Civil Engineering
Collision Repair & Restoration
Construction Management
Diesel Truck, Heavy Equipment & Power Generation
Heavy Equipment Operations
Industry
Outdoor Illumination & Irrigation Management
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Building Construction
Construction Management
Electrical
Landscape/Plant Production
Industry
Murray Associates Architects, PC
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Industry
Clark Associates, Inc.
Accounting & Business Administration
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Construction Management
Information Technology
Industry
Patterson-UTI
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Civil Engineering
Diesel Truck, Heavy Equipment & Power Generation
Electrical
Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology
Engineering & Industrial Design Technology
Heavy Equipment Operations
Industry
Lithko Contracting
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Building Construction
Civil Engineering
Construction Management
Industry
SitelogIQ
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Building Automation Engineering
Construction Management
Engineering & Industrial Design Technology
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Industry
JEM Group
Building Construction
Construction Management
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Industry
High Construction Company
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Building Construction
Construction Management
Industry
Oldcastle Infrastructure
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Automated Manufacturing & Machining
Building Construction
Engineering & Industrial Design Technology
Polymer Engineering
Industry
Weis Markets Inc.
Accounting & Business Administration
Architecture & Sustainable Design
Construction Management
Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology
Graphic Design & Art
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Student Life
Lead and put your skills to the test
American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) at Penn College
Appreciate architecture with friends and make connections that last a lifetime. This organization focuses on building leadership skills and community outreach.
Student Organizations at Penn College
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
Penn College News
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Lester receives Pennsylvania Impact Award
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Architecture students design ideas for net-zero youth center
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Architecture grads 'cap' studies with exhibition
Study Abroad
Gain global experience
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
Student Experience
Sitting idly by? Not these students!
Six teams of third-year students in Architectural Design Studio V pursued the literal “seat of knowledge” in fashioning functional furniture out of corrugated cardboard on each side of the recent Spring Break. Offered annually since at least 2016, the creative exercise gives the groups two weeks each to design and build full-scale chairs from sheets of the recyclable material that integrate the concepts of function, aesthetics, ergonomics and detail.
More Information
In addition to the transfer standards established by the College, students seeking transfer credit from another institution for architecture program courses may be asked to submit examples of coursework to the architecture department head.
Determination by the department head as to whether transfer credit is given will be based on alignment of the transfer course with Penn College course content.
View the Architectural Technology Tool List
Architecture Related Software and Computer Specifications
Students in the Architecture Department programs are required to purchase their own laptop computers for use during our courses and labs. The minimum computer specifications below are based on the hardware requirements needed to run the software that we utilize including:
- Autodesk AutoCAD®
- Autodesk Revit®
- Adobe Photoshop®
- Act-3D Lumion®
- Microsoft Office®
Minimum Laptop Computer Requirements
- 64-bit Windows 10 or higher (recommended).
- Multi-core Intel Core i7 or i9 CPU running at 2.5 GHZ or higher (recommended).
- 32+ GB RAM (required).
- 1+ TB M.2 NVMe Drive (recommended).
- Dedicated 8+ GB graphics card (required).
- Video Display Resolution 1920 x 1080 (could be higher, but will impact Lumion® performance).
- Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required).
- Laptop must include a wireless network card (required).
- Broadband Internet connection when working off campus.
- Additional plug-ins for software may be required (Information Technology Services Service Desk available for assistance).
- Multi-year support plan including accidental damage protection (recommended).
- The specifications above are based on requirements for Revit ® 2023 “Performance” system recommendations and Lumion® 12.5 “Recommended requirements”. Please review those sites to ensure your laptop meets the requirements.
- *Apple computers and Chromebooks are prohibited.
Tools are available for purchase through The College Store.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.
- Mr. Larry Basile, '91, Executive Vice President, Supply Source, Inc.
- Mr. David W Daneker, '81, Construction Project Manager, UPMC Susquehanna
- Mr. Robert J Gehr, AIA, NCARB, '86, Vice President, Retail Design & Buildings, Larson Design Group, Inc.
- Mr. Jeff A LeFevre, '75, President, LeFevre Wilk Architects, LLC
- Ms. Erica Schreffler, '12, Architecture Project Coordinator, Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates
- Mr. Brent A Stebbins, '88, Partner/Architect/Designer, RLPS Architects
- Mr. Anthony H Visco, Jr., '69, Owner, Anthony H. Visco, Jr., Architects
- Mr. Daniel Willis, Emeritus Professor of Architecture, Penn State University