The Center for Architecture's Vacation Programs are offered during mid-winter and spring vacations. These programs give curious kids an opportunity to dive into an architectural topic of interest and test out their own design ideas. Each program explores a different theme through design challenges and building activities.
Information for 2023 Vacation Programs will be available in December.
Need-based scholarships are available. For more information, see our Scholarship Application and Financial Need Form. Deadlines are listed with each program.
Looking for Summer Programs? Please go here.
Check out our Youth Programs FAQs. For further questions, please email k12education@centerforarchitecture.org.
Vacation Programs are supported, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
Vacation Programs
Information for 2023 Vacation Programs will be available in December. Please see examples below of 2022 Vacation Programs.
House of the Future (Grades 3-5) - In-Person February 22 - 24, 2022
*NYC Public School February Break*
Students in this program will investigate how housing has changed over the years and what’s in store for the future. The group will get a glimpse into historic homes to see how people lived in the past, explore advancements in green architecture today, and speculate about how we might live in the future. For their final project, students will design and build their own model of a house of the future.
House of the Future (Grades 6-8) - In-Person February 22 - 24, 2022
*NYC Public School February Break*
What will the house of the future look like? What will it be made of? Will it help or hinder our environment? Students will look at architects’ visions from futures past and predict how the homes of tomorrow might be built. Students will be introduced to plan drawings, architectural scale and basic model making techniques.
Architectural Wonders (Grades 3-5) - In-Person March 22 - 24, 2022
*NYC Private School Spring Break*
Travel with us to explore great architectural wonders of the world! We will investigate ancient and new wonders of the world including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Colosseum, Burj Khalifa and many more. Students will create their own designs inspired by these amazing buildings and structures and learn new design techniques and strategies along the way. Got some wonder-ful design ideas of your own? We’ll end with students creating their own architectural wonders for the 21st Century!
Architectural Wonders (Grades 3-5) - In-Person April 19 - 21, 2022
*NYC Public School Spring Break*
Travel with us to explore great architectural wonders of the world! We will investigate ancient and new wonders of the world including the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Colosseum, Burj Khalifa and many more. Students will create their own designs inspired by these amazing buildings and structures and learn new design techniques and strategies along the way. Got some wonder-ful design ideas of your own? We’ll end with students creating their own architectural wonders for the 21st Century!
Digital Design: Tiny Houses (Grades 6-8) - Online April 19 - 21, 2022
*NYC Public School Spring Break*
Inspired by the rising popularity of miniature houses, students will examine small spaces and how limited square footage can inspire exciting design innovation. They’ll also be introduced to sustainable design strategies that can make tiny homes energy-efficient enough to support off-the-grid living. Students will then design their own tiny house using the fun and free 3D design software SketchUp and create an animated walkthrough of their finished project.
Students will need a laptop or desktop computer, a three-click mouse, and Windows 10, 8, or 7 or Mac OS 10 operating system to download SketchUp software. Web-based software can be used on a Chromebook, but Digital Design classes cannot be done on a tablet or phone.
