Reading the Block: Two-Day Architecture Studio for HS Students

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Brooklyn, in collaboration with City Tech, is pleased to launch the first annual Architecture Week, a celebration of the architecture profession with programs designed to inspire students and the community. This two-day workshop is free and open to all Brooklyn high school students who are curious about architecture, design, or how cities are shaped.
The Program –
Reading the Block is a hands-on architecture studio hosted at City Tech’s Architecture Department. Over two days, students will explore a real Brooklyn city block, learn how architects study neighborhoods, and understand how design decisions impact daily life.

What Students Will Do –
Students will work in small groups alongside architects, college mentors, and design professionals. Activities are modeled after real architecture studios and include:
sketching and observing an urban block

• learning how architects analyze buildings, streets, and public spaces
• collaborating as a team to redesign a real city block
• creating drawings and models
• presenting their ideas in a supportive “pin-up” review, just like in architecture school

What Students Gain –
The workshop builds confidence, creativity, and leadership through:

• design thinking
• problem-solving
• storytelling and presentation skills
• craft and model-making
• constructive feedback and collaboration

Students leave with a deeper understanding of how architects shape communities – and with new skills that support future academic and career pathways.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher AIA Brooklyn