The Center for Architecture is one of those NYC resources that feels like it was made for curious kids — and yet most families walk right past it. Located in Greenwich Village, it is the public education arm of AIA New York, the professional organization for architects in the city. That connection is what makes it genuinely different. Programs here are designed and led by practicing architects, and field visits go to places most families would never access on their own.
Program Overview
The Center offers year-round programs for kids from age 5 through high school, spanning four distinct formats. Each is designed for a different age, schedule, and level of commitment — so there is a real entry point no matter where your child is starting from.
Family Programs run one Saturday a month for kids ages 5–13, accompanied by an adult. Each two-hour session centers on a specific architectural topic — skyscrapers, bridges, light, urban planning — through hands-on model building, gallery tours, and design challenges. A low-commitment way to see if architecture sparks something in your child.
Vacation Programs run during NYC public school winter and spring breaks for grades 3–12. These three-day intensives explore a focused topic each session through design challenges, building activities, and field trips to notable sites. Past topics have included skyscrapers, tiny homes, treehouses, and the future of housing. They fill quickly — waitlists are common.
Summer Programs run one week for students entering grades 3–12, from 9am to 4pm daily. Each week focuses on a different theme — bridges, transit architecture, structural design — combining hands-on building projects with field trips to notable NYC buildings. Class sizes typically run 12–16 students, with one lead educator and one assistant. Field trips and subway fare are included; students bring their own lunch.
High school students in grades 10–12 can access the two-week Architectural Design Studio — a college-level introduction to architectural studio practice. Students conduct site analysis, develop spatial concepts, and build an independent project from concept to final design using SketchUp software. They leave with portfolio-worthy workand a real sense of what architectural school feels like.
Teen Workshops take place one Saturday a month for high school students. Each full-day session focuses on a specific skill — architectural drawing, model making, freehand sketching, reading plans and elevations. All materials are provided.
Discover Architecture Externship is the program most families don't know exists — and it might be the most valuable one here. This free career exploration externship places NYC high school sophomores and juniors inside a working architecture firm for three days during mid-winter break, followed by a culminating event back at the Center. Past host firms have included Gensler, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Dattner Architects, and more than a dozen others. No prior experience required. Priority is given to NYC public school students. Applications typically open in the fall with a deadline in early January — the 2026 cohort deadline has passed, but watch for 2027 applications to open this coming fall.
STEM topics covered include: Engineering, 3D Modeling & Design, STEAM, Builder/Maker.
Who It's For
A strong fit for the spatially curious child — the kid who notices how buildings fit together, who has opinions about the skyline, or who gravitates toward drawing, building, and design. The range of formats makes it accessible at every age and commitment level, from a two-hour Saturday morning to a two-week design studio.
What Makes This Different
This is not a program that simulates what architects do. It is the actual thing, scaled for your child. The city is not just a backdrop — it is the curriculum. A Bridges program might include a structural analysis walk across the High Bridge or Brooklyn Bridge. The AIA connection means your child is learning from people who design the buildings they pass every day — and in the case of Discover Architecture, spending three days inside their offices.
Cost & Session Information
Family Programs - $20/person
Vacation Programs - $435
Summer (One Week) - $770
Archietctural Design Studio - $1770
Teen Workshops - $135
Discover Architecture Leadership - Free
Field trips and subway fare included in Summer Program tuition. Lunch is not provided — students bring their own.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Need-based partial scholarships are available for all summer programs and select Teen Workshops. Visit centerforarchitecture.org/scholarships-grants for details and to apply.