Those who study and plan to work in architecture, design, or construction can learn a great deal and even get in a few laughs by viewing these best 100 architecture lectures, most of which are delivered free of charge.

Frank Gehry Lectures for Architects of the Future

This famous American architect is known for such works as the Guggenheim Museum in Spain, Experience Music Project in Seattle, Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, and even his own Santa Monica home.

1. Nice Building. Then What?: In this TED lecture, Frank talks about the power of failure, his recent work, and the “then what?” factor. Watch for architectural insights, laughs, and more.
2. A Vision For Architecture: Also recorded for TED, this lecture took place in 1990. The not-yet famous Frank Gehry takes on architecture.

3. IAC Building: In this lecture, Frank comments on the IAC building. Over an hour long, you can also get other architectural insights.

4. In The Studio: This is a clip taken from a DVD entitled “Sketches of Frank Gehry.” See the master at work in this short video.

5. Conversation with Barbara Isenberg: The New York Public Library has a short segment on an interview with Frank Gehry. In it, he discusses his appearance on an episode of “The Simpsons,” a misquote, and more.

6. Advice on Art: Every architect, artist, and person will enjoy the inspirational words of Frank Gehry in this 90 second video. Watch to hear his secret message.

7. Walt Disney Concert Hall: This celebrated architect discusses the impressive new Walt Disney Concert Hall. Get images and commentary in this short video.

8. New Art Gallery of Ontario: This 300 million dollar gallery took seven years to build and was designed by the man himself. Get images of the architecture, along with commentary from the architect.

9. Hockey Arena: In this twelve minute video, Frank talks about hockey arenas, Wayne Gretzky, and his new art gallery. Audio is choppy, but still playable.

10. Frank O. Gehry, Architect: A fan made video, it highlights his accomplishments and quotes. It is three minutes long, set to Jimi Hendrix, and will delight architecture students.

11. Lehi Development: See one of Frank Gehry’s projects by watching this short video. It is a news piece dedicated to a building to be constructed in Utah.

TED Lectures for Future Architects

A growing phenomenon on the internet, the goal of TED is to share ideas worth spreading. With many architecture entries, you can download the MP3, MP4, or listen to the lecture simply by visiting the site – all for no charge.

12. Kevin Surace: He is an engineer who focuses around climate crisis. In this lecture, he rethinks basic construction and gives architects a whole new way to design.

13. Cameron Sinclair: The co-founder of Architecture for Humanity, Cameron leads this nonprofit that seeks architectural solutions to global crises. In this lecture, he shows how architects can help in the world housing crisis.

14. Daniel Libeskind: He designs incredible and out-of-the-box buildings. In this lecture he shares 17 words of architectural inspiration.

15. David Rockwell: Architect David Rockwell talks with journalist Kurt Anderson on his love of drama and spectacle to create fantastic works of architecture. In this video, he discusses his plans for Ground Zero after 9/11.

16. James H. Kunstler: He is described as “the world’s most outspoken critic of suburban sprawl.” In this lecture, he outlines his view for America, with the occasional explicit word.

17. Joshua Prince-Ramus: He is the architect behind the Seattle Central Library. Get a closer look at this project, as well as the Museum Plaza in Louisville and the Charles Wyly Theater in Dallas.

18. Liz Diller: She is part of the maverick firm DS+R, which brings a groundbreaking approach to big and small projects in architecture, urban design, and art. In her lecture, she discusses the more unusual aspects of architecture.

19. Moshe Safdie: He has designed buildings from libraries to apartment complexes. Moshe looks back on his career with a focus on four projects in this lecture.

20. Nathaniel Kahn: Although he is an award winning film maker, Nataniel’s father, Louis, was a legendary architect. In this lecture, Nathaniel shares clips from his documentary “My Architect.”

21. Reed Kroloff: This architect has worked on projects in New York, along with New Orleans. His lecture centers around the difference between modern and romantic architecture.

22. Ron Eglash: He is one of the world’s few ethno-mathematicians. In this lecture he studies how aspects of African design, including architecture, are math based.

23. Thom Mayne: Thom is the founder of Morphosis and a prize winning architect. He takes you through his creations and shows how architecture can connect people.

24. William McDonough: He believes that green design can prevent environmental disaster and drive economic growth. In this lecture, he discusses how buildings would look if we all had a green frame of mind.

M.I.T. Lectures for Architects of the Future

Get the best of architecture from this Ivy League school through their infamous open course ware. Lectures are available in video and documents.

25. Experiencing Architecture Studio: Get a ton of lectures from this undergraduate class. They include counterdefining relation, border relation, and SketchUp design.

26. Building in Landscapes: The goal of this course is to help students establish continuities between the built and natural world. Video lectures are on the space between, deskside critiques, and more.

27. Architecture Design, Level II: Cuba Studio: Get an introduction to the architecture of Cuba in this open course. You can also get a video from the instructor on architecture.

28. Sensing Place: Photography as Inquiry: Get a feel for architecture through this photography class. There are also video lectures by various faculty members and even an image gallery.

29. Furniture Making: Learn architecture in a more micro sense in this course. It includes video demonstration of many of the techniques taught to students.

30. Introduction to the Visual Arts: Architecture students at M.I.T. commonly take this course to get an artistic view of their craft. You can get sample classes as videos and an image gallery.

31. Dialogue in Art, Architecture, and Urbanism: This course examines the urban environment of Boston’s Big Dig. The student projects are featured as in PDF form and video.

32. The Production of Space: Art, Architecture, and Urbanism in Dialogue: Advanced architecture students will enjoy this course for its discussion of space and departures. There are various lectures in PDF, streaming, and downloadable video forms.

33. Advanced Projects in the Visual Arts: This course will show you how to incorporate video and imagery into your architecture projects. Student projects are also available in video.

34. Studio Seminar in Public Art: This course focuses on the production of projects for public places. Four artists visited the class to speak on their work and the videos can also be found in iTunes and YouTube.

35. Interrogative Design Workshop: This course encourages “fearless speaking” through design. Video lectures are from various artists who specialize in just that.

36. Religious Architecture and Islamic Cultures: Get a focus on architecture from an Islamic point of view. In addition to the introductory video, you can also get a gallery of images.

37. Stories Without Words: Learn how to capture images of your own architecture and the works of others with the help of this course. You can even get videos, images, and documents of student’s works.

Architecture Lecture Series

The Department of Architecture at M.I.T. sponsors lectures on the craft of architecture. They are then archived and free to the public to view.

38. Fall 2006: Architects include Olafur Eliasson, Nicholas Negroponte, Rern Koolhaas, and Petra Blaisse. They discuss The Relativity of Reality, Structure or Revolution, Lagos, and Shifting Position.

39. Spring 2007: Massimo Carmassi, Zaha Hadid, and Cecil Balmond are all videotaped. They speak on Time and Architecture, Total Fluidity, and Re-Novated Space.

40. Fall 2007: Architects featured are Ackbar Abbas, Vicente Guallart, Saskia Sassen, and others. Topics include the Chinese City as Decept, Sociopolis, and The Global City.

41. Spring 2008: Visit here to listen to Seung H-Sang, Frank Barkow, Hailim Suh, Werner Sobek, and more. Titles of lectures are Landscript, Trans/Baukultur, Recent Work, and High Eco-Tech.

42. Fall 2008: Videos are expected to be posted soon and center around climate change. Lecturers include Adrian Smith, Matthias Sauerbruch, Christoph Ingenhoven, and more.

Rice University Lectures for Future Architects

Located in Houston, TX, this university has a prominent architecture school. It also archives its webcasts, many of which are on architecture.

43. De Lange Conference VII: This year’s conference was entitled “Transforming the Metropolis: Creating Sustainable and Humane Cities.” View the event in 14 multiple parts by stopping here.

44. Architecture and Occupation in the West Bank: Eyal Weizman, an architect from Tel Aviv and London, discusses his research and map-making project. This project focused on the human rights organization B’Tselem on violations of human rights by architecture and planning in the West Bank.

45. Medieval Architecture and the New Media: Get a dose of old school architecture blended with the latest technologies in this lecture. Stephen Murray demonstrates a range of productions, from the presentation in virtual reality of the traditional way, to his current project, which involves the interaction of hundreds of Romanesque churches in a fully databased medium.

46. A Walking Tour of the Campus: Rice Professor James Morehead was the resident expert on campus architecture and lectures on the subject. Get a view of this campus from the architectural point of view in this video.

47. Building Better Cities: Strategies of Hope: Cameron Sinclair is the co-founder and executive director of Architecture for Humanity and gives the welcome and opening keynote on day two. You can also get links to the rest of the conference.

48. Houston Air Conference: The Shell Center for Sustainability held this conference to address the air quality of major cities. Learn how architecture can effect this by watching the webcast.

49. Evolving the x86 Architecture: Phil Hester is senior vice president and chief technology officer at AMD and is responsible for setting its architectural and technology strategies. View this event on Windows Media or Real Player.

University of Southern California Lectures for Architects of the Future

USC has a few architectural entries on their YouTube channel, which can be found here.

50. This Land Is Our Land Greening Architecture: Ian Ritchie is a UK-based architect, artist, environmentalist and innovator. In this lecture, he discusses his pioneering work and issues of sustainability.

51. Architecture, Design, Art: This was a conversation among Teddy Cruz, Marjetica Potrcˇ, and Krzysztof Wodiczko that took place on April 6, 2009. They discuss exactly what the title promises in this two hour video.

52. Art and Architecture in the Public Sphere: Joshua Decter, director of the Master of Public Art Studies Program at USC, moderated this event exploring art and architecture in the public sphere. Several different panelists weigh in on their views.

53. Creativity at a Crossroads: Art and Architecture in China: Three of Chinas most influential figures in the global contemporary arts came together in this discussion. Independent curator Ai Wei Wei, conceptual photographer Chi Peng, and USC School of Architecture dean Qingyun Ma talk about their work.

54. Body Computing Slam: The first presentation in this contest was The Hall of Fragment. It was made by Tucker Viemeister who presented a recent sensory-immersion project he had worked on for the Venice Architecture Biennial.

California College of the Arts Lectures for Architects of the Future

Founded in 1907, this college is one of the largest regionally accredited, independent schools of art and design in the western United States.

55. The REFRACT House: Students entered a competition to design eco-friendly houses. See the project, details, and more in this video.

56. Kyle Belcher: He is a young architecture student and is interviewed. He discusses what he was looking for in a school and in architecture.

57. About: Learn more about the college in this promotional video. Architecture is featured, along with other arts.

CCA Lectures for Architects of the Future

The Centre Canadien d’Architecture, or Canadian Center of Architecture, is a research center and museum founded in 1979 and centering around architecture. Below are some of their videos from YouTube. Ideal for those who speak both English and French.

58. CCA 2009: This playlist features eight videos pertaining to the goings on at the center. You can hear from experts from the Guggenheimer Studio, Harvard University, and more.

59. Peter D. Rose: A professor from Harvard, he discusses architecture and the CCA. This video is in two parts.

60. Mirko Zardini: He is the director of the CCA. In this two part series, he discusses his work in both languages.

61. Lars Müller: He discusses exhibitions, architecture, and ideas on living. This video is a clip from a lecture entitled “If this was not the End, what is the Future of Print?”

62. Exhibition Installation: The exhibit was entitled “Some Ideas on Living.” You can see the installation process from beginning to end on this video.

63. Sorry, Out of Gas: This is an architecture exhibit from 1973 at the CCA. Get film of the exhibit itself including a lecture pertaining to it.

The American Institute of Architects Lectures and Tools for Future Architects

Founded in 1857, the AIA is the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners. It is full of resources for the future architect such as education, a knowledge base, and much more.

64. Amory Lovins: He is the co-founder, chairman, and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. In this internet entry, he discusses inspiration carbon off-sets, sustainability, and more.

65. Craig Dykers: He is the cofounder and principal designer of Snøhetta. In his lecture he discusses alternative architecture and it is available as an XML, MP3, or on iTunes.

66. Design: The AIA features a ton of podcasts on architecture design. Episodes include contemporary architecture, credibility, and many others.

67. Leadership: Another category of the AIA, this one focuses on architects at the top of the game. Episodes include the 2030 Challenge, the citizen architect, and many more.

68. Practice: Learn how the expert architects and design professionals accomplish their work with these podcasts. They focus on strategies, diversity, outlook, and more.

69. Building Performance: See how the completed projects are holding up and the goals for the future by stopping here. Topics include construction, housing choices, ADA requirements, and many others.

70. AIArchitect This Week: An online newsletter, this is a useful tool for future architects to learn what is going on the business right now. Available online for free, or you can subscribe.

71. AIA YouTube Channel: Get a variety of clips from the AIA by visiting here. You can even get clips from leading professionals such as Meggan Lux, Mike Rodriguez, and more.

American Society of Civil Engineers Lectures and Tools for Future Architects

Founded in 1852, the ASCE represents over 133,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide, and is America’s oldest national engineering society. It has a ton of lectures and tools for the future architect.

72. Live Interactive Web Seminars: Choose by individual seminar or pay a one time registration fee to get unlimited participants. Some of the seminars include the five habits of highly successful managers, hydraulics, ethics, design, and much more.

73. Distance Learning: Starting at $125, future architects can take these distance learning courses designed just for them. Subjects include 60 Minutes to a More Successful Engineer, liability, managing employees, and many more.

74. P.E. Exam Review Courses on the Web: A common test taken by architects and engineers, students can find helpful materials here. Learn more about the courses and help they offer by visiting here.

75. Newsletter: Those who want to learn from the ASCE without spending money can sign up for one or all of their newsletters. Choose from the main, student, critical infrastructure, and many others.

76. Research Library: Get a ton of information on many architectural topics by stopping here. It contains over 40,000 full-text papers from ASCE Journals and Proceedings.

U.S. Green Building Council Lectures and Tools for Future Architects

The USGBC is centered around architects who want to build sustainable, green buildings. Get lectures, resources, presentations, and more by visiting the below.

77. Presentations: These PowerPoint displays are targeted towards architects with a green frame of mind. Choose from Building Impacts, Green Homes, Green Schools, LEED, and Existing Buildings.

78. GreenBuild Expo Media Library: Get information on past and upcoming speakers from this online library. They include architecture leaders, professors, and more.

79. Videos: You can get an archive of past speakers and lectures at the USGBC by stopping here. Take a tour, see a project profile, and more.

80. Podcasts: Hear interviews and lectures with some of the most prominent names in green architecture from this series of broadcasts. Episodes include LEED, commercial real estate, and schools.

81. Articles: Visit here to get articles written by architects to read at your own pace. Titles include “What Does Green Really Cost?,” “Schools for the Future,” and more.

Podcasts for Architects of the Future

Thanks to the internet, architect students can download or listen to lectures from across the globe at their leisure on their computer or iPod.

82. Kunstler Cast: By the famous James H. Kunstler, this award winning podcast discusses suburban sprawl and other architectural topics. Seventy episodes and counting include commercial art, public art, and historic preservation.

83. World Architecture News: A global source for architecture, they also offer regular podcasts on the practice. Recent episodes include Wimbledon’s Ace, Shattered Facades, and Future Schools.

84. Building Design: This architecture website is based in the United Kingdom. The BD podcasts are on architecture located in that part of the globe and beyond.

85. Microsoft Architecture Resource Center: In addition to the podcasts, you can get a solution center, journal, and even skyscraper.net. There is even an ARCast TV option.

86. ArchDaily: In addition to tons of resources for architects, you can also get numerous interviews. Recent episodes include Joseph Grima, Mehrdad Yazdani, and whY Architecture.

87. Architecture Talk: Kevin S. loves architecture and discusses it thoroughly in this short lived podcast. Eleven episodes include the design process, sustainability, art, and more.

88. Architect Roundtable: This short lived podcast centers around architecture. Six episodes cover communication, enterprise, and more.

Specialty Lectures for Architects of the Future

Get even more lectures, videos, resources, and more for future architects by checking out these sites.

89. How To Architect: This YouTube channel contains architecture videos for students of all levels. Get many how-to videos, along with humorous ones by visiting here.

90. Rodney Lehnertz: He is the director of University of Iowa Campus and Facilities Planning. In this lecture, he uses images, reflections, and history to discuss architecture.

91. Exhibitions: The Graduate School of Design at Harvard University often awards Loeb Fellowships. In this section, you can view the winning exhibits dating all the way back to 2003.

92. Architecture for Humanity: This non profit devotes itself to using architecture to better the world. See what they are working on now, watch a video, and much more.

93. The School of Architecture and Urban Planning: Located in the University of Wisconsin, this school lists a variety of projects as slideshows. Choose from graduate work, undergraduate work, XYZ projects, and more.

94. Interactive Architecture: Ruairi Glynn was part of the Europrix exhibition held in the Kunsthaus, Graz. Get the idea behind interactive architecture in these two video lectures.

95. Birth of the Cool: This architecture lecture series is offered by the University of Texas’s Continuing Education program. Get a single lecture for $30 or the entire series for $130.

96. iPhone Application Development Course: This new online non-credit iPhone Application Development course is open to the general public. It teaches content similar to what was learned by the students at the New Jersey Science and Technology University.

97. The Crumbling of America: The History Channel did an extensive piece on the aging of America’s oldest architecture. You can purchase the DVD or see when they next plan to broadcast it.

98. Chicago Amplified: This public radio station often features the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Get lectures and interviews on Burnham architecture, form, Blacks in Green, and many others.

99. Architecture Portfolio Making: Professor Cooke shows students how to make an impressive architecture portfolio. See all 26 parts of this video series on YouTube.

100. ARC 2501: This is a course taken at St. Petersburg College. It centers around their yearly architecture competition and is divided into several parts.

Students who are just beginning an education in architecture, along with design professionals, can find a number of useful items in these top 100 architecture lectures, podcasts, and more.