The mission of the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco is to enhance the awareness and appreciation of architecture and the design process in the local Bay Area community and beyond. Our core programs are: The Annual AFSF High School Design Competition, the Saturday Design Studio and the Summer Design Institute.

2025 Summer Design Institute Enroll now for early bird pricing!!! The AFSF Summer Design Institute is a fun and fast-paced 3-week summer program for high school students interested in design & architecture.

56th Annual AFSF High School Design Competition! All High School students in both public & private schools in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and globally are encouraged to participate.

Combining a rigorous academic program with professional mentorships, Build SF is a unique community educational partnership involving AFSF, the San Francisco Unified District (SFUSD) and more than two dozen major San Francisco architecture, engineering, and related firms.

If you have design skills to help with instruction and are interested in participating in one of our programs as a volunteer, a mentor, or a resource please contact us: [email protected].

The AFSF Build San Francisco - Mayor's Youth Employment & Education Program (Build SF-MYEEP) is an after-school internship program that provides eligible high school students with STEAM job-readiness skill training, paid work experience and personal development support.

A unique aspect is that each participant receives individualized mentoring by a local design professional. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, all AFSF programs are conducted on-line and are open to youth around the world.

AFSF involves elementary and secondary students in a mentored appreciation of architecture, engineering, construction and the design process. Our programs are unique, combining architects, engineers, designers and business leaders with expertise in the practical world of design and development with teachers’ knowledge of their academic ...

The Architectural Foundation of San Francisco enthusiastically announces the 56th annual High School Design Competition! Teen designers from around the Bay Area and across the globe are invited to submit their designs for v ibrant, diverse public realm along the Market St. corridor as part of Downtown San Francisco’s post-pandemic revitalization efforts. Check out this year’s …

The AFSF Saturday Studio attracts students from around the Bay Area and across the globe. All our students learn high-tech skills which they demonstrate through creating and presenting original design solutions to real-world design challenges.