November 27, 2017
by medwards
Adults and children were invited to add their design to the activity wall. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Adults and children were invited to add their design to the activity wall. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Visitors gathered for opening remarks. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Visitors gathered for opening remarks. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Visitors observed the students’ work in the gallery. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Visitors observed the students’ work in the gallery. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Lex and his brother Max worked together to build a Suspension Bridge. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
Lex and his brother Max worked together to build a Suspension Bridge. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
The CFA Education team celebrates with the student designers. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin
The CFA Education team celebrates with the student designers. Photo Credit: Erik Bardin

On November 17th, we celebrated the opening of the 21st-annual Building Connections Exhibition, highlighting the imaginative work of our K-12 students, design educators, and partner schools. This year’s exhibition focuses on bridge design— structures that link our communities and truly span the K-12 curricula through interdisciplinary learning.

Students, parents, and teachers were invited to come together and enjoy the thoughtful bridge models and booklets that were created during the 2016-2017 academic year through the Center for Architecture’s After-school Programs (3rd-5th grades), Summer Programs (6-8th grades), and select Learning By Design:NY residencies at PS 102M (2nd grade), PS 42M (2nd grade), and the Urban Assembly School of Design & Constructions (9th grade). The exhibition, designed by L+L, invites viewers to contribute their own bridge to the gallery with the magnetic structural components provided on an activity wall.

During the reception, Catherine Teegarden, Director of Education, shared opening remarks to recognize some of the achievements of the 2016-2017 academic year, during which 8,000 children and adults participated in a Center for Architecture K-12 or family program! Over 1,500 of these participants learned about bridges. Benjamin Prosky, Assoc. AIA, Executive Director, and Thomas Krizmanic, President of the Center for Architecture Board, encouraged the student designers to continue to build with the same imagination and ambition shown in their projects; to help move the world towards a brighter future.

Building Connections will be on view until January 20, 2018. To learn more about the Center’s K-12 school, family, and youth education programs, please visit www.centerforarchitecture.org/k12