Since its founding in 1977, The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP has always been an industry leader in providing a workplace environment with an equitable gender mix, but we recognize there are still not enough people of color in architecture — especially women of color. Architecture is now a recognized part of STEM-based fields, so the role of architects is to help make the profession more accessible. In 2017, this conversation within Miller Hull led to the development Open Studio in 2018.

​

Through outreach and education, the goal of Open Studio is to provide BIPOC students the opportunity to identify a career in architecture at an early age so they can successfully navigate toward an architectural education in college. Between the end of their 8th grade year and first year of college, students can participate in Open Studio in three ways:

​

​

OPEN STUDIO INTERNSHIP
One full-time, paid internship is offered to a high school student who has completed their junior or senior year. For 8 to 9 weeks, this student will have an opportunity to tour construction sites, attend team meetings and work in a professional environment. Over the course of the summer, a portfolio of the intern’s work will be assembled and will culminate in a brief presentation on their last day. Transit expenses to get to our studio are covered.

​

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, we unfortunately will not be offering an Open Studio internship in 2020. Please check back for information about the internship for 2021.

​

​

OPEN STUDIO SUMMER INTENSIVE
A free, week-long educational opportunity at our Seattle studio, open to 24 students who want to take a deeper dive into the design process. For two hours each day, they will learn how to sketch and draw, think through a design problem with a teammate and present their work to a group, while receiving individualized feedback and counseling. One of the two-hour sessions will be used to take a field trip to enhance the participants’ understanding of the project.

​

2020 Session:

The 2020 Summer Intensive will be occurring virtually via Zoom August 10 – 14, 2020, from 3 – 5 p.m.

​

2020 Application:
Click here to download the 2020 Open Studio Summer Intensive Application.
Applications will be accepted until the session is full.

​

​

OPEN STUDIO SUMMER BRIDGE
In conjunction with the University of Washington Women’s Center and Making Connections Program, Miller Hull hosts a two-hour introductory session for 20 to 30 students. Included in this session is a studio tour, detailed presentations of various architectural projects, a creative activity and a question-and-answer discussion.

​

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, we unfortunately will not be offering our Open Studio Summer Bridge program in 2020. Please check back for information about the program for 2021.

​

​

Open Studio was conceived to be a replicable model, so we invite and encourage other architecture firms to join us. Let us know if you want to get involved. 

 

​

​