Puerto Rico's third architecture school, established 2009 in historic downtown Ponce with state-of-the-art facilities.
The school's principal program is a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree. It also offers an Associate Degree in Digital Graphic Design (established 2020) and an Associate Degree in Interior Design (launched 2024). The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary education, preparing architects, planners, thinkers, and entrepreneurs with advanced technologies and sustainable design practices. The school is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
Located in the historic Forteza Building on Atocha Street in downtown Ponce, the school occupies a $14 million renovation project featuring approximately $4 million in high-tech equipment. The 2010 renovation by architect Segundo Cardona won an Honor Mention from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Puerto Rico Chapter. Students benefit from the university's fitness facilities, weight training, jogging track, basketball courts, and outdoor pool, plus Ponce's rich architectural heritage spanning several centuries.
The school's mission is to educate architects and designers who understand territorial and urban complexity, regional and global economic dynamics, and sustainable development. In 2010, it received the Southern Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce award for Valor del Año en Educacion (Courage of the Year in Education). As a semi-autonomous professional college of PUCPR, it operates alongside the School of Law in Ponce.