Kids get creative at Boston Society for Architecture’s ‘KidsBuild!’

If these kids can dream it, they can build it.

The Boston Society for Architecture (BSA) hosted its 33rd annual “KidsBuild!” event, where hundreds of children ages 5 to 13 built a model of the city of Boston out of recycled materials, April 12 and 13.

Hosted at the BSA Space in Atlantic Wharf, the interactive event was more popular than ever, with all 800 registration slots taken in three hours, according to a BSA spokesperson.

“It has grown in popularity, especially as we’re emerging out of the pandemic years,” said Taylor Johnson, senior program manager of design education and engagement at the BSA. “We also had a ‘KidsBuild!’ at home and different iterations, but as we’ve come back past those years, people have been wanting to gather, wanting to explore together.”

Kids had the chance to design their own building with their parents and guardians and place it in a construction site of their choice within a giant fictional model of Boston. Using the “plot of land” and “building codes” assigned to them, participants brought their creations to life with help from volunteer architects and designers.

Robin Greenberg, an architectural project manager and “KidsBuild!” planning committee member, has volunteered with the BSA for over 20 years, and she’s had the chance to see the event evolve.

“I like the fact that we encourage kids to think about what’s adjacent to their project, so it becomes less about their one thing [and more about] how they engage and use the community to help decide what they want to build,” Greenberg said.

Some participants based their creations on actual buildings found downtown, such as hotels and MBTA stations. Others took a more creative approach, including a multi-tiered boba cafe and an airport in the middle of the city.

No matter what kids designed, every building earned a certificate of occupancy from the volunteers, or as the BSA called them, “city building inspectors.”

The BSA also encouraged kids to learn about the importance of sustainability. Older participants were assigned the challenge of building their structures with a limited range of materials and designing them with sustainability in mind. Many of these designs incorporated renewable energy, with windmills and solar panels visible in a sea of skyscrapers.

“The earlier they can learn about how the built environment impacts the natural environment, the better,” said Kevin Marblestone, an architect and volunteer. “I think a lot of people that have been in the industry for decades are just now realizing that, so if someone can learn about it while they’re 10 years old, I think that’s fantastic.”

Established in 1867 and including more than 4,500 members, the BSA is one of the oldest and largest chapters in the American Institute of Architects. “KidsBuild!” was a free event, but the BSA did ask for monetary donations to their foundation and material donations for future “KidsBuild!” events.

The event was part of the BSA’s K-12 design education programming, which aims to be accessible to students across Boston and close education gaps at Greater Boston schools.

“It’s nice being able to see kids be creative without the use of screens, so they get to use their hands to build something from their mind,” said Giselle Pisani, a volunteer shift lead.

Though “KidsBuild!” was planned months in advance, it conveniently doubled as the kickoff event for Architecture Week in Boston as proclaimed by the city and Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office. To celebrate Architecture Week, the BSA is hosting a classroom workshop Wednesday and a high school design challenge Friday.

Following the weekend-long design session, the “KidsBuild!” model city will be on display in the BSA Space until April 19.

“You’re seeing this beauty being made out of scraps and having kids think about the importance of green spaces, the importance of open spaces,” said Danyson Tavares, the executive director of the BSA. “I think this is the city that they want to see, so it’s really great to see them envisioning that in one day.”