Our Mission
The Pacific Academy of Building Design (PABD) offers a more affordable and accessible path to becoming a credentialed, professional architect or interior designer than a four-year college degree. Our goal is to rigorously prepare students for the rapidly changing demands of the design profession by providing an adaptive learning experience that is more responsive to students’ needs today. There are three pillars that distinguish PABD from the traditional collegiate model:
Flexibility
Students can start and complete courses at any time according to their own schedule, and can do the coursework whenever they want—as well as at their own pace. There is no need to commute to campus, attend an early morning class, reschedule personal or work obligations, or worry about handing in an assignment late! You can progress through the program in the way that best suits you.
Affordability
In order to make a professional design career more attainable, we focus on providing the essentials for a high-quality education and dispensing with many of the overhead expenses which tend to bloat tuition costs at a typical university. By keeping costs reasonable, the need for student loans is reduced, and thus students and their families can avoid incurring debt. In fact, students will have opportunities to earn income from professional internships during their studies.
Professionally-focused curriculum
PABD’s educational philosophy is based on PRAXIS: our program emphasizes more in-depth practical experience across building design-related disciplines (interior design, architecture, and construction) than the typical college academic curriculum. Moreover, our project-based curriculum integrates liberal arts themes within the context of the courses, rather than requiring separate general education courses outside the primary field of study, like most college majors do. With our focus on hands-on vocational training at all levels of the curriculum—and working alongside seasoned practitioners—students will be better prepared for a successful career in the design field.
Program Format
The format of the PABD program incorporates three contrasting and complementary instructional platforms to replace the traditional classroom: video lessons, choice of live online tutorials and/or in-person instruction, and on-site field training.
The video lessons consist of pre-recorded, interactive instructional modules, which can be viewed at any time to accommodate the student’s schedule and preferred pace; unlike a live lecture in the classroom where students must physically attend, students can watch the video recording whenever and wherever it is convenient for them—and as many times as they’d like.
The live online tutorial sessions offer students personalized time with the instructor for questions or guidance, but also provide a forum for group discussion and engaging learning activities; sessions are scheduled at different times of the day/week, giving students multiple options to participate either one-on-one with a professional mentor or with a group. In-person instruction is also an option for students who prefer face-to-face interaction in a classroom setting. PABD’s satellite location is conveniently located in downtown Honolulu, and is equipped with state-of-the-art computers and the most up-to-date design software.
The on-site field training (situated in Hawai‘i) places students in real-life professional settings according to their proficiency level. This gives students the opportunity for project team participation with a revolving roster of design professionals, as well as for collaborative endeavors with other students. These internships focus on giving exposure to the entire spectrum of the building industry, not just in one sector. By conjoining academic education with training in actual ongoing projects, the program will ensure a more seamless and successful transition into professional design practice.
Our Mission
The Pacific Academy of Building Design (PABD) offers a more affordable and accessible path to becoming a credentialed, professional architect or interior designer than a four-year college degree. Our goal is to rigorously prepare students for the rapidly changing demands of the design profession by providing an adaptive learning experience that is more responsive to students’ needs today. There are three pillars that distinguish PABD from the traditional collegiate model:
Flexibility
Students can start and complete courses at any time according to their own schedule, and can do the coursework whenever they want—as well as at their own pace. There is no need to commute to campus, attend an early morning class, reschedule personal or work obligations, or worry about handing in an assignment late! You can progress through the program in the way that best suits you.
Affordability
In order to make a professional design career more attainable, we focus on providing the essentials for a high-quality education and dispensing with many of the overhead expenses which tend to bloat tuition costs at a typical university. By keeping costs reasonable, the need for student loans is reduced, and thus students and their families can avoid incurring debt. In fact, students will have opportunities to earn income from professional internships during their studies.
Professionally-focused curriculum
PABD’s educational philosophy is based on PRAXIS: our program emphasizes more in-depth practical experience across building design-related disciplines (interior design, architecture, and construction) than the typical college academic curriculum. Moreover, our project-based curriculum integrates liberal arts themes within the context of the courses, rather than requiring separate general education courses outside the primary field of study, like most college majors do. With our focus on hands-on vocational training at all levels of the curriculum—and working alongside seasoned practitioners—students will be better prepared for a successful career in the design field.
Program Format
The format of the PABD program incorporates three contrasting and complementary instructional platforms to replace the traditional classroom: video lessons, choice of live online tutorials and/or in-person instruction, and on-site field training.
The video lessons consist of pre-recorded, interactive instructional modules, which can be viewed at any time to accommodate the student’s schedule and preferred pace; unlike a live lecture in the classroom where students must physically attend, students can watch the video recording whenever and wherever it is convenient for them—and as many times as they’d like.
The live online tutorial sessions offer students personalized time with the instructor for questions or guidance, but also provide a forum for group discussion and engaging learning activities; sessions are scheduled at different times of the day/week, giving students multiple options to participate either one-on-one with a professional mentor or with a group. In-person instruction is also an option for students who prefer face-to-face interaction in a classroom setting. PABD’s satellite location is conveniently located in downtown Honolulu, and is equipped with state-of-the-art computers and the most up-to-date design software.
The on-site field training (situated in Hawai‘i) places students in real-life professional settings according to their proficiency level. This gives students the opportunity for project team participation with a revolving roster of design professionals, as well as for collaborative endeavors with other students. These internships focus on giving exposure to the entire spectrum of the building industry, not just in one sector. By conjoining academic education with training in actual ongoing projects, the program will ensure a more seamless and successful transition into professional design practice.