20 credits towards the ICAA Certificate in Classical Architecture (Measured & Analytical Drawing) | 20 AIA CES Learning Units|Elective
Portsmouth is a charming and historic seaport with roots dating back to the Colonial and Federal eras, located just 50 miles north of Boston along the beautiful Piscataqua River. The city flourished from the early 1600s through the 1800s and is cherished as one of New England's most remarkable architectural treasures, with buildings spanning three centuries. Its diverse architectural heritage includes Georgian, Colonial, and Federal homes, alongside stately brick commercial buildings, townhouses, civic and religious structures. The city is celebrated for its exceptional 18th-century furniture making and shipbuilding traditions, which have played a key role in inspiring the high-quality classical millwork seen in its architecture and interiors.
The program provides an exceptional opportunity to study and draw historic buildings and architectural details, spanning from the city’s founding in 1630 through the 19th century. Many sites are featured in architect John Mead Howells’ influential 1937 book, ‘The Architectural Heritage of the Piscataqua’, which serves as a fundamental resource for understanding the region's rich architectural legacy. Participants will gain exclusive access to houses in the Strawbery Banke district, known for its exceptional collection of residential architecture from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Other notable sites include the Peirce Mansion (1799), one of the finest Federal-style homes in the U.S.; the historic Governor Langdon House (1784); the Warner House (1716–1718), an early Georgian brick masterpiece; and 19th-century buildings in the Market Square historic district such as the Portsmouth Athenaeum, built in 1805.
Stephen Chrisman is a Partner at Ferguson & Shamamian Architects in New York City. He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame and Bachelor of Architecture from the Oregon School of Design. His teaching focus has been on Classical Architectural Design and Composition, The Art of The Measured Sketchbook, and How to Study Buildings: An Analysis of Architectural Composition and Precedent. Stephen is a long-standing Fellow of the ICAA and serves on its National Â鶹AV Committee.
Patrick Suarez is an architect at Ferguson & Shamamian Architects in New York. He received his M. Arch in architecture at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (2020), where he also completed his undergraduate studies in philosophy. In addition to his time in Washington, he spent a semester in Rome, Italy, in the Summer School in Architecture and Urbanism at the University of Buckingham in London (2019), and a summer in the fine art Atelier of Bret Ingbretson, Merrimack, NH (2015). He has worked professionally in the United Kingdom, Bahamas, seven US states, and the District of Columbia where he is registered.
Click here to see a draft itinerary of the Portsmouth Drawing Tour. For more information about this program, please contact [email protected].
It is recommended that participants have experience with architectural field drawing, or have taken a Measured Drawing and/or Analytical Drawing skills class with the ICAA, prior to attending a Drawing Tour. Instructors will provide an introduction to each site and demonstrations of relevant drawing techniques, as well as informally assist with participant questions throughout the program. However, the Drawing Tour is intended as an advanced study of precedents rather than a formal course in fundamental field drawing or plein air watercolor techniques.
By car: Portsmouth is conveniently located off Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, approximately one hour north of Boston and one hour south of Portland, Maine.
By air: If you are flying, both Boston and Portland airports are served by major airlines. Additionally, the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire is a 45-minute drive west of Portsmouth.
By public transit: Bus service is available from New York City, Boston’s South Station, and Boston Logan Airport. If you prefer the train, you can take the Amtrak to Boston and transfer to the Downeaster service, which stops in nearby Exeter, New Hampshire.
Questions regarding the ICAA's courses may be directed via email to [email protected]; via phone to 212-730-9646 ext. 112; or via mail to our National Office at 20 West 44th Street, Suite 310, New York, NY 10036.
The price is only for the course instruction. You will need to make and pay for your own flights and accommodation.
The ICAA has a Classroom Code of Conduct in place for all of our educational programs, which can be found by clicking here. Participants in all of our classes (both online and in-person) are expected to follow this code.
Typically a combination of students and professionals attend.
Yes, absolutely. Most evenings can be spent exploring on your own or with fellow participants.
Some meals are included, which will be spent together as a group. Otherwise you are free to eat where and with whom you please.
The ICAA does not provide materials, but will provide a full materials list at least one month before the course. Typically, the cost of materials is between $100 and $200.
No. Programs are designed to introduce a broad range of skills and experiences which is only possible through full participation.
You may refer to the ICAA's cancellation policy [here.]