by Center for Architecture
The 2022-23 school year is in full swing, and the Center for Architecture is offering a roster of K-12 programming geared towards budding architects and designers as well as young adults beginning their academic trajectory into the field. Through the efforts of our dedicated education staff and freelance design educators, K-12 programs continue to be a vibrant and central fixture at the Center for Architecture and beyond.
October kicked off the start of field trip season and several schools have already joined us for Student Days at the Center for Architecture with many more to come. Most recently, high school students from Manhattan Business Academy came for a workshop on Scale Architecture, while second graders at P.S. 3 learned to “read” buildings and flex their design muscles as part of our Language of Architecture program. We are equally excited to be returning to classrooms across the city for our Learning By Design: NY residency program. Participating students are partaking in a multitude of design projects that include recreating buildings in Astoria and New Amsterdam, developing an architectural timeline of New York City, and building subway infrastructure. More than 13 schools have confirmed their residencies for the school year, including a new partnership with the Harlem Children’s Zone after-school program. Meanwhile, high school students are meeting twice a week for a course on Digital Design: Houses of the Future and an exploration of Harlem’s architecture.
In our continued efforts to build and nurture the architecture pipeline, the Center for Architecture was proud to host its 10th-annual Architecture and Design College Fair last month. We welcomed 450 high school students and family members from across the Tri-State area for a day to connect with representatives from 35 colleges, universities, and design programs across the country. The fair continues to provide high schoolers and their family members with the opportunity to learn about the many architecture and design schools, scholarships, and mentoring opportunities available across the U.S. The Center for Architecture was also represented at the fair, promoting its Walter A. Hunt, Jr. Scholarship, which provides $20,000 over two years to a NYC public high school student pursuing a B.Arch degree. Applications for the scholarship are due on May 26th, 2023.
For elementary and middle school students interested in learning more about architecture and design, our After-School programs invite young learners to explore a variety of architectural topics and incorporate hands-on art and design activities over a series of sessions. On the weekend, our high school Design Discovery workshops invite students to develop their architectural design skills, while our monthly Family Days welcome young designers and their families to explore a new theme and project. In September, we headed into Greenwich Village to explore different architectural features, and last month families were asked to design and build a city made from the classic building material, Legos! This month’s program is all about animal architecture, with families building homes for their favorite (furry, feathery, scaly) friends.
Our K-12 programs occur year-round, and we encourage you to visit our website to see the full upcoming schedule. We hope to see you for a program soon!