City School of Architecture

The City School of Architecture (CSA) with a history of over 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. 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.

CSA is an accredited School of the Board of Architectural Education ( BAE), of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects ( SLIA). It received The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 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 t o ap p l y f or RIBA International Membership.

The School offers two course of study leading to professional qualifications.

The three year full time part I leads to the CSA Diploma in Architectural Studies and gives the option of a Bachelor of Architecture ( Hons) degree from the University of the West of England (UWE) UK.

The three year part II course has a part time work and study component built into it and leads to the CSA Higher Diploma in Architecture with the option of a Master of Architecture and Environmental Design Degree from the UWE, UK.

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 from 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 800 students have registered with the school; and of the twenty 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.

www.csacolomo.edu.lk