This year, from April 13–19, the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) joined with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the City of Boston to amplify that mission. With a mayoral proclamation officially recognizing Architecture Week 2025 (read more here), the city was alive with programs that brought architecture and design to learners of all ages.

A Weekend to Build On

ArchWeek kicked off with the 33rd year of KidsBuild! on April 12–13, drawing over 800 participants and 150+ volunteers to BSA Space. Families worked together to build an imaginative city using recycled materials, guided by architects, designers, and educators. The weekend highlighted the excitement and curiosity young minds bring to design.

KidsBuild! was featured in local news coverage:

• WBZ NewsRadio: Annual KidsBuild! Event Celebrates Architecture Week in Boston
• WHDH 7 News: Hands-on Learning Activities Inspire Boston Kids
• Boston.com: “Beauty Being Made Out of Scraps”

The whimsical KidsBuild! City remained on display through April 19 before being dismantled during “Godzilla Day.” For those who missed the in-person experience, a virtual tour, captured by OpenSpace’s Adam Settino, offered a street-view journey through the kid-built metropolis.

Photos by Natalie Tague, BSA and Dave Nagel, BSA.

New Programs, New Possibilities

BSA K12 was the recipient of the AIA ArchWeek25 Grant Program from AIA K-12 and AIA College of Fellows, which aims to support chapters as they develop and provide additional opportunities for students from kindergarten through high school during this year’s Architecture Week. This grant enabled BSA K-12 to launch a new pilot program: KidsBuild! Classroom Workshops. On Wednesday, April 16, second graders from Boston’s Mason School participated in a guided design experience at BSA Space.

With volunteers from architecture, construction, education, and urban planning backgrounds, students explored the KidsBuild! City for inspiration before developing their own building concepts. From site analysis to sketching and construction, the students created and presented their designs, earning Certificates of Occupancy for their completed structures.

This initiative emphasized the value of hands-on learning and the critical role of early engagement in shaping students’ confidence in expressing creative ideas.

Photo by Keith Supko, BSA.

Designing With Teen Voices

On Friday, April 18, BSA K-12, in collaboration with the Boston Society for Landscape Architects (BSLA) and AIA, hosted the first Boston High School Design Challenge. Teen participants explored real-world design challenges informed by the Mayor’s Youth Speaks Boston assessment. Over three hours, students engaged in collaborative drawing, model-making, and idea-sharing to reimagine underutilized spaces through the lens of youth. The designs from this session will guide the second workshop, scheduled for June 5 during AIA25.

Know a high schooler who wants to join Part 2? Email [email protected] or [email protected].

Photos by Natalie Tague, BSA.

From Kindergarten to Career Pathways

BSA K-12’s work spans all age groups. Several of the second graders who participated in the KidsBuild! Classroom Workshop proudly shared that they were once part of the Kindergarten Curriculum and Our Boston project. The projects completed in this year's Kindergarten program will be featured in the upcoming “Voices from Kindergarten” popup exhibition in May, part of our ongoing Our Boston / Our Cambridge storytelling initiative.

Looking forward, BSA is preparing for Summer High School Internships with local firms, with a marketplace and interview day on April 30 to help connect high schoolers with hands-on opportunities in the AEC industry. These ongoing efforts ensure that our design education pipeline supports students from early childhood through entry into the profession.

Help Us Build the Future

Programs like KidsBuild! are only possible with your support. Just $25 covers the cost for one child to participate in KidsBuild! Donate through the BSA Foundation today and help us bring the joy of design to even more young learners.