KidsBuild! Overview

KidsBuild! and ICA Playdates present ICA-city! (I SEE a City)

KidsBuild! 2009 is presented by the YouthVisions Committee of The Boston Society of Architects, in conjunction with the Institute of Contemporary Art. YouthVisions and The Boston Society of Architects are committed to creating learning opportunities about the built environment and design. Children are able to broaden their understanding of the larger world around them. The intent of this event is to teach children about architecture and urban design in a hands-on, interactive way.

KidsBuild! was first held in June of 1992 in conjunction with the 1992 National AIA Convention in Boston at the Museum of Science, on the ground floor of the "well" in the Blue Wing. The event was also held in March of 1996 in an upper floor gallery of the Museum, but happily returned to the "well" in March 2000. Subsequent events were held in March 2002 and March 2004 at the same location. The YouthVisions Committee of the BSA collaborated with the Institute of Contemporary Art Family Programs for the January 2007 event and have teamed up again for KidsBuild! 2009.

The event consists of a large-scale model of a fictional city grid on which children choose a site and build a structure within zoning limitations spelled out by their building permit. After a review of their building they are issued a certificate of occupancy by a building inspector.

The target age range is 6 to 15 year olds, but certainly appeals to all ages. In the past, we have estimated about 3,000 participants ranging from school groups on Friday to the various Museum of Science guests on Saturday and Sunday.