City School of Architecture

The City School of Architecture (CSA) with a history of twenty five years, offers a path in architectural education towards a career in the building industry with a broad based teaching and learning process, rooted in the real world of practice.

Talented individuals who possess three passes at the advanced level examination in one sitting and an aptitude for architecture, are selected through an aptitude test and an interview, and given an opportunity to pursue an academic programme that leads to a career in architecture. Its structured curriculum, design studios, theoretical and technology based education and the experiences of the practice of architecture within the learn and work, “sandwich concept” of the course, enables students to form working relationships and establish direct links with the construction industry.

The School offers two courses of study. The three year full time Part I Course and the three year Part time Part II Course prepares students towards the Parts I & II of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Professional Practice Examinations. The City School of Architecture confers a Diploma in Architectural Studies and a Higher Diploma in Architecture as academic qualifications to students, on successful completion of the Part I & II Courses and Examinations respectively.

CSA is a Listed School of the Board of Architectural Education (BAE) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA). The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) granted CSA “Candidate Course Status” in 2009, and full accreditation for its Parts I & II Courses in January 2011. CSA students successfully completing the Parts I & II Courses and Examinations will receive the internationally reputed exemption of the RIBA Part I & II Professional qualifications. This qualification will enable students to apply for RIBA International Membership. CSA is in academic partnership with the University of West of England (UWE) to award degrees in BSc (Hons) Architecture and Master of Architecture (MArch). CSA advocates an equal opportunities policy and encourages participation of male and female students. The diversity in age, cultural and social backgrounds in every batch of students, broadens students’ views and brings together diverse personalities to create a wholesome environment for higher learning.

Design is the core focus of the course and is conducted as interactive studios. An atmosphere of critical debate, innovative design thinking and a quest for creative design is encouraged through the faculty, tutors, critiques and resource persons drawn form the practice and academia, giving balanced teaching inputs. Peer interaction and reviews are also encouraged.

Theory subjects, site and field visits, local and international visits experiencing architecture, joint study programmes with foreign universities, participation in local and foreign student conventions, apprenticing in a trainer practice – all offer the CSA students the necessary peripheral inputs to reinforce their design thinking and design skills to enrich them to become tomorrows’ Architects.

Over 700 students have registered with the school and of the eighteen batches that have gone through the portals of the school, many have established individual practices, whilst others have continued their education in academic institutions abroad, reading for Masters and Doctoral Degrees. Many Architects produced by the school have received awards and accolades locally and internationally.

For further information refer the City School of Architecture website: www. csacolombo.edu.lk