AIA K-12 Pathway Initiatives
It’s never too early to start thinking like an architect. AIA's K-12 initiatives follow a blueprint with three key goals in mind:
Inspire youth to learn about the power of design.
Nourish curiosity to engage in solving grand challenges with design thinking.
Connect students with architects and design professionals.
Explore and discover K-12 resources.
Across the United States, K-12 students have access to a wide range of design and architecture resources, including online platforms, workshops, camps, educational programs, design competitions, internships, and scholarship opportunities. Use the search and filter feature to find opportunities near you.
K-12 architecture & design resources
Parents, educators, and community members can all play an important role in introducing students to rewarding and exciting careers—and helping them realize their potential.
Architecture remains a vital and popular career option, with numerous pathways for students who express interest in drawing, creating, building, and problem-solving. Starting early is the key.
Teaching architecture and design means fostering a love of learning and discovery across all core subject areas, cultivating students' innate creativity, and enhancing their observation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
There are numerous resources available to cultivate the next generation of designers and leaders and ensure the future generation of architects is inspired, prepared, and diverse. We're here to help.
Activities
AIA Climate Action Design Challenge
AIA "The House That She Built" Building Certificate Program
AIA DC Online Learning for Kids
AIA Iowa Activity & Coloring Book
AIA Kansas City Animal Dice Game
AdEx At-home Activities
Resource Guides
AIA Kansas City: Explore Architecture! Resource Guidebook
AIA Nebraska: What is an Architect?
ArchCareersGuide: Free "Careers in Architecture and Beyond" downloadable book
ASLA: Your Path to Landscape Architecture
NCARB's Destination Architect Booklet, Resource Guide, and Webpage: Find out more about the steps to becoming a licensed architect.
Study Architecture: Explore an Architecture Student's Journey
Videos
AIA Future Focused Video Series highlighting underrepresented architects and designers weekly.
AIA Connecticut Video Series of 5 Local Projects
AIA Kansas City Explore Architecture
AIA Connecticut Architecture in Our Community
YouTube Channels
Archimarathon: In this channel, Kevin Hüi (Archimarathon) and Andrew Maynard (Austin Maynard Architects) make the topic of architecture more accessible to everyone.
NCARB's Top 8 YouTube Channels for Architects
Sketching Tutorials: Simple tutorials, tips and tricks for architecture sketches.
Stewart Hicks: Architect based in Chicago who makes videos that explore and explain the built environment.
The B1M: The world’s largest, most subscribed-to video channel for construction.
The Local Project: Explore immersive house tours, delve into interior design intricacies, and discover ground breaking home architecture.
30x40 Design Workshop: Videos about architecture, designs of simple modern homes + an architect who openly shares his process online.
Camps (Grade Level noted)
AIA Chattanooga (6-12, TN): Hip Hop Architecture Camp, July 22-26, 2024
AIA Central New York (9-12, NY): Intro to Architecture Summer Program, July 8-August 14, 2024
AIA New York (3-12): Week-long summer classes for grades 3-5, 6-8,or 9-12
ArchCareersGuide: Comprehensive list updated each winter with summer architecture camps
Archinect: 2024 Summer Architecture Programs for Kids and High School Students
Architecture and Design Exchange (K-12, TX), Ongoing: Through our K-12 activities, we aim to inspire and educate students about the power of architecture, fostering creative problem-solving skills along the way.
Architecture Foundation of Oregon (K-12, OR): Summer camp catalog for Oregon
Architecture Foundation of Oregon (3-6, OR): Virtual architects in school summer camp, June 24-28, 2024
arKIDect (2-8, Virtual): Join young architects as they design dream homes, master floor layouts, and craft 3D models. Design kit delivered to your doorstep.
BAM Black Architects in the Making (2-10): Mission is to inspire young minds by planting a seed through the universal language of Architecture and Design. Ages 8-16. July 22-August 2.
Beam Camp (4-12, NH): Specialized summer camp focused on project making, June 29-July 27 or July 30-August 15, 2024
Boston Society for Architecture (9-12, MA): Architecture/Design Thinking Week provides public HS students with the opportunity to learn about architecture from local architects. Held during February school vacation.
Carnegie Mellon University, School of Architecture (K-12, PA): Partnership with fellow arts organizations to offer a variety of summer day camps.
Center for Architecture + Design (9-12, CA): Fun and fast-paced 3-week summer program for HS students, June 1-28 or July 8-26, 2025
Cincinnati Architectural Mentoring Program (8-9, OH): Five-day immersive camp experience for students entering grades 8 or 9, July 8-12, 2024
DesignX (2-9, CA): Students ages 7-15 make their unique ideas for fashion, toys and architecture come alive in a fun, creative and thoughtful environment. Bay area
District Architecture Center (3-8, DC): Summer Camp, July 15-19, 2024
Frank Lloyd Wright Trust (3-5 or 6-8, IL): Work in Wright's iconic Oak Park Studio to collaborate and consider the needs of the community. July-August, 2024
Hip Hop Architecture (6-12, Nationwide): Inspire creativity, inclusivity, and diversity in the world of architecture. Summer
La Jolla Historical Society (7-12, CA): Week-long program for students in 7-9 and 10-12. Summer
Mobile Makers (2-5 and 6-9, IL): Hands-on exploration of design and architecture. June-August, 2024
National Building Museum (2-3, DC): Week-long summer camp for rising 2nd and 3rd graders. July 22-26, July 29-August 2, August 5-9, 2024
Project Pipeline (6-12, Nationwide): NOMA's local summer camp provides students of color the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of architecture and design. Various dates throughout the summer depending on location.
Seattle Summer Intensive (9-12, Seattle): Free educational opportunity for 24 students who want to take a deeper dive into the design process provided by Miller Hull.
SPIKE Studio (9-12, GA): Explore your inner designer, architect, engineer, or builder through STEM learning and hands-on activities. June 10-14 & 17-21, 2024.
Taliesin (5-9, WI): Virtual and In-Person, ages 10-15: Design a Space (Virtual), Architectural Watercolor and Design (In-Person), Minecraft Done Wright! (In-Person). June 17-21, 24-28, and July 22-26.
The Center for Architecture and Design (9-12, OH): High School Design Studio is a 2-week program for students interested in design. June 17-28, 2024
University of TN-Knoxville (9-12, TN): A week of immersive design learning and exploration. July 14-20, 2024
WRNS Studio (9-12, CA & NY): Calling all Black and Brown HS students curious about architecture and the design profession! Summer, 2024
Events
AIA Chicago (9-12, IL): Chicago Architecture + Design College Day: free event open to HS and college students, Fall
AIA Cleveland (Grade 5-Adult, OH): Volleyball & Sand Castle Construction, Summer
AIA Staten Island (Grades 2-8, NY): Spaghetti-Marshmallow Building Contest, Winter
Center for Architecture (7-12, NY): Architecture and Design College Fair for HS and college students, October 19, 2024
CREW Network (9-12, PA): Hands-on one-day or multi-session program introducing girls to the many careers available to them in the commercial real estate industry. Ongoing.
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (K-12, AZ): Discovery Day at Taliesin West, Spring
Mobile Makers (8-12, IL): Join like-minded, creative teens from the Chicago area to envision positive community change! Workshop series, May, 2024.
Programs & Workshops
ACE Mentor (9-12, Nationwide): No-cost after-school program that prioritizes workforce development for HS students by connecting them with experts from the design and construction industry.
AIA DC (K-12, DC): Plan, design, and build with the family. Ongoing
AIA New York (9-12, NY): Teen Workshops offered on weekends during the school year. Ongoing.
AIAS (9-12, Nationwide): Join or start a local high school American Institute of Architecture Students chapter for free.
Architecture and Design Exchange (K-8, TX): Design and build the city you want for your future. Ongoing.
Architecture Foundation of Oregon (K-12, OR): 1-page flyer for Oregon students to explore opportunities. Ongoing.
Architectural Foundation of San Francisco (9-12, CA): Half-day program 3 days/week for HS students interested in design, engineering, or architecture. Ongoing.
arKIDect (K-12, Virtual, FL, NY): One-on-one and group architecture classes, after-school programs, and architect birthday parties.
Ball State University (9-12, IN): Faculty, in partnership with STUDIOAXIS Architecture professionals, host workshops for HS students. Ongoing.
Black Architects in the Making (BAM) (6-12, FL): Online sketching workshops in Orlando, FL. Ongoing.
Boston Society for Architecture (K-8, MA): KidsBuild! allows children to formulate ideas about architecture and design as they build a city from the ground up. Ongoing.
Carnegie Mellon University, School of Architecture Saturday Sequence (K-12, PA): The K-12 Saturday Sequence emphasizes the problem-solving skills central to the architectural design process and guides students through an architectural project.
Center for Architecture and Design (K-8, NY): Two-hour family workshops take place one Saturday/month.
Center for Architecture + Design (9-12, Virtual): Distance-learning workshops in sustainable design and digital architecture. Ongoing.
Chicago Architecture Center (7-12, IL): Teen Saturday Studios offer a unique opportunity to learn from those in the field. Ongoing.
Chicago Architecture Center (6-9, IL): Girld Build! is a unique experiential program designed to engage girls ages 12-15. Ongoing.
Design Like a Girl (5-8, DC): Pairs students with women in architecture, open to young people between the ages of 11-13, Ongoing
Design Philadelphia (K-12, PA): Family and Saturday workshops. Ongoing.
Los Angeles Conservancy (3-12, CA): Bring LA history to your home with a virtual workshop. Ongoing.
National Building Museum (K-8, DC): Family workshops held the second Saturday of each month.
Next Great Architects (K-12, IN): Teaching studio that nurtures budding architects from kindergarten through college. Ongoing.
San Diego Architectural Foundation (K-12, Virtual): Monthly series of video tutorials to teach sketching techniques. Ongoing
Sculpture School (3-10, VT): A building program and workspace for youth ages 8-16 in Waitsfield, VT. Ongoing.
Seattle Architecture Foundation (K-12, WA): Workshops encourage youth ages 5-16 to explore architecture and design principles. Ongoing.
The Center for Architecture and Design (3-8, OH): Design Pop! offers engaging activities for aspiring young designers. Ongoing.
The Center for Architecture and Design (9-12, OH): HSDW is a fun 3-5 hour design workshop offered to under-represented HS students interested in architecture. Ongoing.
WRNS Studio (6-12, CA/NY): studioWRNS is an educational program with a focus of attraching Black and Brown students to the field of architecture. Ongoing.
Apprenticeship
Beam Center: NY students from partner schools, Grade 12
Design Competitions
AIA Atlanta: GA students, 9-12
AIA Houston: Houston students, 9-12
AIA Indianapolis: IN students, 9-12
AIA New Hampshire: NH students, 9-12
AIA Toledo: OH students, 9-12
Architecture and Design Exchange: TX students, 5-12
Center for Architecture + Design: International, 9-12
Chicago Architecture Center: Chicagoland students, 9-12
SchoolsNext: Chapters around the country, 5-12. Sign up by group/class, need not be a member.
The Bit Center: Bridge engineering competition, 5-12. 10/20/24, Baltimore, MD
Externship
AIA New York: NYC students, 9-12
Internships
AIA DC: DC students, 11-12
Boston Society for Architecture: Boston students, 10-12
Denver Public Schools: DPS students, 9-12
Miller Hull: Seattle, 11-12
Tappin Roots: Portland students, 9-12
Youth Build Boston: Boston students, 9-12
Scholarships
AIA Chattanooga: TN students, 9-12
AIA East Tennessee: TN students, 10-12
AIA Richmond, Greater Richmond Metro students, 12
Arch Careers Guide: List of national and regional scholarships
Architects Foundation: Nationwide, Grade 12 and enroling in a NAAB-accredited architecture degree program
Architecture and Design Exchange: list of scholarships and fellowships
Study Architecture: list of resources for prospective students of color
Wisconsin Architects Foundation: WI students, Grade 12
Curriculum
Arch for Kids (K-12)
ASTEK (4-6)
Boston Society for Architecture (K)
CA Architectural Foundation (K-12)
Careers Building Communities (K-12)
Frank Lloyd Wright Trust (K-12)
K-12 Architecture Education: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum Guide (K-12)
Learn Deep Milwaukee (5-12)
Stanford's d.school (K-12)
Urban Plan (11-12): Specific for economics and government courses.
USGBC (K-12)
Field Trips
AIA DC (3-8, DC): Walking tour kits of five neighborhoods include everything a parent, teacher, or leader would need to guide children. Designed for ages 8-12 but fun and educational for everyone.
AIA Houston (7-12, TX): 9 area neighborhood walking tours
Architecture and Design Exchange (K-12, TX): Three regular walking tours that explore the breadth of Dallas' architecture.
Frank Lloyd Wright Trust (K-12, IL): On-site and virtual tours
Los Angeles Conservancy (3-12, CA): In-person and virtual field trips
The Glass House (K-12, CT): Shigeru Ban's Paper Log House, a 14'x14' enclosure made of paper tubes, wood, and milk crates (April 15-December 15, 2024)
Guides
AIA Design Charrette: Resource guide for those wishing to create a secondary school student design challenge.
AIA Volunteering Guidelines: Volunteering and engagement tips for those hoping to create a student activation.
NCARB: Guidebook for K-12 counselors and educators to help guide students consider a career in architecture.
Presentations
AIA: Slide deck based on NCARB's Architecture Guidebook to be used as an introduction to architecture. Email k12@aia.org to receive an editable version.
AIA Kansas City (K-6): A slide deck created to teach students what an architect does, design thinking, the stages of design, and how to become an architect.
AIA Kansas City (7-12): A slide deck created to teach students what an architect does, design thinking, the stages of design, and how to become an architect.
Professional Development
AIA New York (K-12)
IDEO (5-12)
Learn Deep Milwaukee (5-12)
School Programs
AIA Baltimore (6-12, MD): Partnership with local Baltimore Design School including portfolio reviews with seniors.
AIA DC (K-12, NY): Match volunteer architects with public school teachers.
AIA FL Northwest (Grade 5, FL): Annual Grade 5 Gingerbread House Competition, complete with zoning code regulations.
AIA Houston (5-8, TX): Kids and Architecture partners with Citizen Schools to teach architecture and design.
AIA New Hampshire (Grade 4, NH): Three class sessions leading to the creation of a "Shoebox Clubhouse" by each child.
AIA New York (K-12, NY): Classroom residency programs introduce students to architecture and design.
Architecture Foundation of Oregon (Grade 5, OR): Match professionals with classroom teachers to co-create a 6-week residency.
arKIDect (K-12, FL, NY): Educators will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to effectively teach architecture to children over the course of an 8-week engaging, fun, and educational program.
Baltimore Architecture Foundation (K-12, Baltimore): Adopt-a-School program in partnership with local architecture firms.
Beam Center (K-12, NY): Co-create curriculum aligned hands-on projects.
Boston Society for Architecture (Grade 4, Boston): Build a 3'x4' model showcasing your design based on the Mayor's prompt.
Design Challenge (6-12): Use AIA's instructional guide to host your own design challenge.
Design Explorr (K-12, OH): Collection of courses and workshops designed to address the diversity gap within the design profession.
Design Lab: Learn & Build (K-8, OH): Free, hands-on program offered to teachers and students in the Cincinnati area.
Design Philadelphia (K-12, PA): 5-6 session series introducing students to the design process through volunteer architects, designers, and engineers.
DesignX (K-12, CA): DesignX offers flexible fashion, toy, and product design programs that can be customized to fit any school's specific requirements, ensuring a tailored and meaningful educational experience.
Florida Foundation for Architecture (K-12, FL): STEAM focused, Florida-standards based, 8-10 week curriculum enrichment program that matches professional architects with classroom teachers. Ongoing.
Learn Deep Milwaukee (5-12, WI): A challenging learning experience that elevates students' voices and extends beyond the classroom.
Los Angeles Conservancy (3-12, Virtual): Bring LA history to students with an interactive multi-session workshop.
Open Studio (9-12, San Diego): Dynamic half-day studio sessions where students learn about architecture and participate in a design project where they will have opportunities to conceptualize, sketch, model, and present their ideas.
Taliesin Preservation (3-8, Virtual): During each project session, educational staff will lead classroom time, broadcasting live directly from the Taliesin estate. Educators will receive a packet of supplemental materials in digital form.
Terrace Town (K-5, WI): Terrace Town brings architecture, design, and city planning curriculum to Dane County elementary classrooms. Occurs every other year.
University of Texas at San Antonio (3 & 5, TX): KIDS is an architecture-based program offered to 3rd and 5th grade students where participants learn art and design concepts by way of exploring the built world.
AIA chapter resources
Many local chapters host educational programs and are eager to share their experiences. Reach out to your local AIA chapter to discuss the possibilities.
AIAS #askanarchitect
Interested in learning more about being an Architect? The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) has a variety of videos and interviews as part of their #askanarchitect series
ACE Mentor
Are you a high school student interested in learning more about the design and construction industry? Want to work directly with industry professionals? Learn more about the ACE Mentor Program.
Explore architecture social media channels
If you are old enough, Instagram is a source of impressive architecture from around the world.
NCARB
Regularly updated blog featuring a variety of articles and insights, including the Top Eight YouTube Channels for Architects.
NOMA
Chapters of National Organization of Minority Architects hold annual Project Pipeline summer camps, designed to empower young people to affect change in their community through design. Check out our resource map for summer camp locations.
Reach out for any inquiries regarding K-12 outreach, problem-based lesson guides, or resources at AIA.
Join the discussion on how to support student pathways to the profession.
Local elementary and high school students joined professionals at AIA24 to engage in a variety of architecture and design activities.