KidsBuild!
Taking place each April, KidsBuild! offers young designers the opportunity to share their ideas as they explore the possibilities of architecture, planning, design, and construction. Entering its 33nd year of operation, and 12th year hosted at the BSA, KidsBuild! provides a space for designers of all ages to be a part of making and creating.
Guided by volunteer design professionals, participants choose a construction site from a fictional city grid, design and build a building out of recycled materials, and are awarded a certificate of occupancy from the city building inspectors. Perfect for children aged 5–13, and welcoming designers of all ages, KidsBuild! allows children to formulate ideas about architecture and design as they build a city from the ground up.
KidsBuild!'s model city is built throughout the two-day event and remains on display to the public throughout the following week. With over 750+ participants joining each year, KidsBuild! is the largest free, public event offered by the BSA and engages a large cohort of volunteer design professionals to engage with participants.
2025
Dates
April 12-13, 2025: KidsBuild! Day 1-2
April 14-18, 2025: KidsBuild! On Display
Location
BSA Space
290 Congress Street, Boston, MA
Cost
Free to attend
Registration
Advanced registration is required. Registration is posted each March for the annual April event.
Program
Type
Event
Public exhibition
Grade Levels
K-5, Children and Families
Timeframe
1992-present
Timeline
January: Volunteer Committee Kickoff
February: Volunteer interest
March: Volunteer intake
March: Participant registration opens
April: KidsBuild! event and display
Collaborators
Partners
KidsBuild! Planning Committee
Atlantic Wharf/BXP
Volunteers
Local architects and designers
Volunteers
To join this year's planning effort, email [email protected] and attend the upcoming Planning Committee meetings (beginning 01/30). For future volunteer opportunities, bookmark the BSA Volunteer page.
Support
Thank you to those who have generously supported the 2024 program, including Inpro, Flour Bakery, Goody Clancy, Perkins Eastman, Plymouth Coffee Company, and a whole host of individual donors supporting through supply and material donations.
For those interested, there are many ways to support KidsBuild! 2025.
Material Donations
KidsBuild!'s buildings are constructed with recycled materials. Material donations are accepted in the weeks leading up to the event. A material list will be available in March.
Event Sponsorship
With 400 participants and 50 volunteer each day at KidsBuild!, we welcome sponsors for Day 1 and Day 2, as well as Volunteer Meal sponsors.
Monetary Donations
KidsBuild! costs $25 per child to produce. To support KidsBuild! and other public programs, consider donating to the BSA Foundation.
Supply Donations
KidsBuild! is always in need of supplies to accommodate upwards of 800 participants each year. Check out KidsBuild!'s Amazon wishlist to purchase supplies.
