NYC Urban Explorer Guides

The NYC Urban Explorer series is a set of architectural activity guides designed to facilitate observation and engagement with New York City’s built environment. Each Urban Explorer Guide provides context and hands-on activities suitable for youth to explore a notable architecture site in New York City with a family member or teacher.

Print one of the guides below and plan a visit to learn about the architecture of New York City! Use #CFAexplores to share your experience.

The NYC Urban Explorer series and related programming has been made possible by generous donations from Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation.

K-12 Summer Program, Architectural Drawing. Photo: Center for Architecture.

K-12 Program, Architectural Drawing. Photo: Center for Architecture.

K-12 Learning By Design:NY, Neighborhood Architecture, 2nd Grade. Photo: Center for Architecture.

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Brooklyn Borough Hall

Learn about this important institutional building and practice building a model cupola! Located at 209 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn.

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1150 Grand Concourse

Learn about this unique residential building and discover the importance of ornamentation! Located at 1150 Grand Concourse in the Bronx.

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Museum at Eldridge Street

Learn about the significance of this landmarked synagogue and build a model to explore ideas about arches and masonry construction! Located at 12 Eldridge Street in Manhattan.

Please note that the Museum is open Sunday through Thursday from 10am – 5pm and on Friday from 10am – 3pm. The Museum is closed on Saturdays and on major Jewish and national holidays. Families that present a printed copy of this activity guide will be granted free admission to view the inside of the building.

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Jefferson Market Library

Learn about the special history of this building and build a scale model of its clock tower! Located at 425 6th Avenue in Manhattan.

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Queens Theatre

Learn about this theatre and its special relationship to the New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows Corona Park! Located at 14 United nations Avenue South in Queens.

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