Masters of Design (MDes) in Interior Studies: Adaptive Reuse at Rhode Island School of Design

The Masters of Design (MDes) in Interior Studies: Adaptive Reuse programme at Rhode Island School of Design supports students in developing adaptive reuse skills.

At the intersection of architecture, conservation and design, Interior Architecture (INTAR) at RISD takes an innovative approach to the reuse and transformation of existing buildings. The department focuses on how the existing built environment can be transformed and how new experiences can be introduced to the spaces we inhabit.

At RISD, you can specialise in one of two areas within the broader field of interior architecture, leading to a Master of Design (MDes) in Interior Studies degree that prepares you for a wide range of professional and creative practices.

The MDes in Interior Studies: Adaptive Reuse programme offers a design education in altering existing structures through interior interventions and the practice of adaptive reuse, with a particular focus on social and environmental responsibility.

Learn more about the programme on our website and submit your application by 5 January 2026. Learn about our upcoming online and in-person Open House events.

MDes Interior Architecture Virtual Open House is on 17 November, 12pm EDT. Registration is open now.

School: Rhode Island School of Design
Course: Masters of Design (MDes) in Interior Studies: Adaptive Reuse
Type: Postgraduate
Location: Providence, RI, USA
Course dates: July 2026 to July 2028
Application deadline: 5 January 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– Altering existing structures and gaining deep knowledge of the practice of interior interventions
– Develop design strategies and undertake spatial design that prioritise social and environmental responsibility
– Assess the spatial transformation potentials of existing structures
– Formulate projects ranging from the reuse of materials to the transformation of interiors and the critical preservation of historical sites
– Work on projects that imagine new futures for the built environment, paying close attention to context and details to unpack and highlight existing values while introducing new ones

What are the requirements?

A design background is not required to apply to this MDes programme. More details can be found on the school’s website.

What facilities and resources are available?

– We are located in the CIT Building, where all students have their own dedicated desk and shared studio spaces
– Access to graduate workshops and making spaces, as well as the wide range of resources that RISD offers, such as The Nature Lab and the Materials Library

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

As a long-established department, RISD Interior Architecture alumni have pursued impressive careers across architecture, interiors and product design.

Adaptive Reuse alumni often work in established architecture and design studios, while some venture out to set up their own studios or become partners in firms working across residential, cultural, hospitality, retail and workspace projects.

Who teaches this course?

– Eduardo Benamor Duarte, department head, INTAR, RISD
– Can Altay, graduate programme director, MDes Interior Studies: Adaptive Reuse

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