Design Discovery

Design Discovery workshops are for high school students interested in learning more about the city’s built environment and developing their architectural design skills. Offered on weekends during the school year, these workshops combine architectural exploration with hands-on design projects, nurturing the development of design thinking and providing students with instruction in architecture fundamentals such as architectural drawing, scale measurement, model building, site and precedent analysis.

For Fall 2021, we are offering Design Discovery programs both in-person at the Center for Architecture and online. In-Person programs will be single-day events. More information about our online classes will be available in late September. Details about themes, dates, and registration are below.

Need-based scholarships are available. For more information, see our Scholarship Application Instructions and Financial Need Form. Scholarship application deadlines are as follows:

October 16 program: October 2.
November 6 program: October 23.
Series class beginning on November 13: October 25.

Vaccination and Mask Policy for In-Person Programs: All individuals 12 and older must be fully vaccinated in order to attend, and will be required to show ID and proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter the Center for Architecture. All staff, program participants, and visitors will be required to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. We will also conduct temperature checks upon entry to our programs.

For more details about our programs, check out our Youth Programs FAQs. For further questions, please email k12education@centerforarchitecture.org.

Design Discovery SoHo promo photo resized[1]

Upcoming Design Discovery Programs

Registration for Fall 2021 Design Discovery Programs is now open!

SoHo (Grades 9-12) - In-Person Saturday, October 16, 2021

Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (with a one-hour lunch break*)

Price: $100

Join the Center for Architecture for a day of design exploration in SoHo, one of New York City’s hippest historic districts. This unique neighborhood is a fascinating mix of old and new, home to trendy boutiques, innovative new buildings, and the largest collection of 19th century cast-iron buildings in the world.

After an introduction to key design elements, we’ll explore this area’s architectural treasures on foot, then return to the Center after a lunch break for a design workshop where you’ll create a new building to fit in this historic district. A great project for your design portfolio!

*Students will be dismissed for an hour-long independent lunch break during this program. Students must leave the Center during this time and will not be supervised.

Scholarship Application Deadline: October 2nd. If you are interested in applying for a need-based scholarship, please see the scholarship information and Financial Need Form here.

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Bridge Building Challenge (Grades 9-12) - In-Person Saturday, November 6, 2021

Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (with a one-hour lunch break*)

Date: Saturday, November 6

Price: $100

Join the Center for Architecture to explore the many bridges that connect different parts of New York City. Our metropolis is dependent upon suspension, cable stayed, cantilever, retractile, vertical lift and many other bridges, moving hundreds of thousands of people every day. Learn about these fascinating structures and try your hand at designing a working bridge model with the help of Center for Architecture staff. Test your bridge for strength or compete to build the longest span.

*Students will be dismissed for an hour-long independent lunch break during this program. Students must leave the Center during this time and will not be supervised.

Scholarship Application Deadline: October 23rd. If you are interested in applying for a need-based scholarship, please see the scholarship information and Financial Need Form here.

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Design for a Cause (Grades 9-12) – Online Saturdays, November 13 - December 11, 2021

Student scale model of rainbow arches in a pavilion

Time: 9:00am – 1:00 pm

Days: Saturdays

Dates: November 13, November 20, December 4, and December 11.

Price: $400

How can architecture be an instrument for good? Beyond providing shelter, a dynamic space can be used to educate, share ideas and bring people together. This four-session studio will focus on design thinking and scale model making as students develop proposals for a pop-up kiosk to spread the word about a cause they care about.

Scholarship Application Deadline: October 25th. If you are interested in applying for a need-based scholarship, please see the scholarship information and Financial Need Form here.

Learn More