A huge array of games, activities, books, and resources are available for teens grades 6-12. They introduce increasingly complex design concepts, and architectural projects and architects that inspire. Many thanks to the team at AIA national for gathering these resources!
Do you have a favorite building — one where you spend time or admire from a distance? Why is it special to you? Do you have a story about this place? Tell the world about it on North Star Story Map. Add text, photos, drawings, and more to bring your story to life! Read others’ stories and be inspired to share your own.
7 Wonders Architects: Board game, 8+
Akropolis: Board game, 8+
Archeo-Logic: Board game, 12+
Architecto: Board game, 7+
Architects of the West Kingdom: Board game, 12+
Cities: Skylines I & II: PS4, PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC: E
Copenhagen: Board game, 8+
Décorum: A game of passive aggressive cohabitation: Board game, 13+
Floor Plan: Board game, 8+
I Can Build It! Architecture Set: Board game, 8+
Iconic Buildings of the World: Board game, 8+
Project Highrise: Architect’s Edition: PS4, Xbox, Switch: E10+
Stonespine Architects: Board game, 10+
Suburbia: The City-Building Boardgame: Board game, 14+
Archi-Doodle by Steve Bowkett (Drawing)
Archi-Doodle City by Steve Bowkett (Drawing)
Archi-Doodle Coloring Books by ALICE (Coloring)
Architecture Crossword Puzzles by Grab Grab A Pencil Press (Puzzles)
Creative Haven Whimsical Houses Coloring Book by Dr. Angela Porter (Coloring)
Famous Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright by Bruce LaFontaine (Coloring)
How to Draw Architecture by Markus Agerer (Drawing)
The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers and Architects by Mario Salvadori (Activities)
The LEGO Architecture Idea Book by Finch (Activities, Drawing)
A Year at the Chateau by Dick and Angel Strawbridge (Design, Innovation, Sustainability)
All About Julia Morgan by Phyllis Perry (Biography, Design, Innovation, Women’s History Month)
All the Buildings in… (series) by James Gulliver Hancock (Built environment, Design)
Animal Architecture: Photographs of Natural Habitats by Ingo Arndt (Animal architecture)
Architecture: The Definitive Visual Guide (Guide)
Architecture for Teens by Danielle Wilkins (Guide)
Barns: A Close-Up Look by Alan Giagnocavo & HABS (Built environment)
Climate Change (DK Eyewitness) by DK & John Woodward (Climate action)
Covered Bridges: A Close-Up Look by Alan Giagnocavo & HABS (Built environment)
Louise Blanchard Bethune: Every Woman Her Own Architect by Kelly Hayes McAlonie (Biography, Design, Women’s History Month)
Full of Life: Exploring Earth’s Biodiversity by Isabel Thomas (Climate action)
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh (Design, Innovation, Women’s History Month)
Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day by Dan Nott (Built Environment, Design, Innovation)
How to Think Like Frank Lloyd Wright by Catherine Teegarden (Built environment, Design, Innovation)
How Was That Built? by Roma Agrawal (Built environment, Design, Innovation)
Immigrant Architect: Rafael Guastavino and the American Dream by Berta de Miguel (Biography, Community, Design, Hispanic Heritage Month, Innovation)
Knowledge Encyclopedia: Art & Architecture by Wonder House Books (Built environment, Design, History)
Le Corbusier in His Own Words by Antoine Vigne (Biography, Built environment, Design)
Lighthouses: A Close-Up Look by Alan Giagnocavo & HABS (Built environment)
Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind’s Greatest Invention by Ben Wilson (Built environment, Design, History)
Observations for Young Architects by Cesar Pelli (Comprehensive)
Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman (Climate action, community)
The Architecture Book: Big Ideas Explained by DK (Career exploration, Comprehensive)
The Earth and I by James Lovelock (Climate action)
The Future Architect’s Handbook by Barbara Beck (Built environment, Design)
The LEGO Architect by Tom Alphin (Built environment, Design, Innovation)
The LEGO Neighborhood Volumes I & II by Lyles & Lyles (Built environment, Design, Innovation)
The Real Path to Architecture: An Honest Guide to Becoming an Architect by Daniel D’Agostino (Kindle: career guide)
The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett (Built environment, Design, Innovation, Mystery)
Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandion (Built environment, Design, Innovation, Mystery)
Watch This Space: Designing, Defending, and Sharing Public Spaces by Hadley Dyer (Built environment, Community, Design)
The World by Design: The Story of a Global Architecture Firm by A. Eugene Kohn (Biography, Design, Innovation)
Who Built That? Modern Houses: An Introduction to Modern Houses and Their Architects by Didier Cornille (Biography, Built environment, Design)
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.
AIAS (9-12, Nationwide): Join or start a local high school American Institute of Architecture Students chapter for free.
Build Girls: National, 9-12 (Spring)
Cooper Hewitt Design Challenge: National, 9-12
DiscoverArchitecture.org: Nationwide Competition (Fall), International Competition (Fall); International sustainable design competition (Winter), 9-12
Norwich University School of Architecture + Art: National, 9-12 (Fall)
Youth Challenge Biomimicry Institute: International, 6-12
Architects Foundation: Nationwide, Grade 12 and enrolling in a NAAB-accredited architecture degree program
AIA Future Focused Video Series highlighting underrepresented architects and designers weekly.
YouTube Channels
Archimarathon: In this channel, Kevin Hüi (Archimarathon) and Andrew Maynard (Austin Maynard Architects) make the topic of architecture more accessible to everyone.
Architecture and Design with DamiLee: Dami Lee makes complex ideas in architecture and pop culture beautifully accessible, relatable, and inspiring.
LEGO House: Documentary about the building of a life-size LEGO house
Sketching Tutorials: Simple tutorials, tips and tricks for architecture sketches.
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.
30×40 Design Workshop: Videos about architecture, designs of simple modern homes + an architect who openly shares his process online.
The Center for Architecture in New York City — affiliated with AIA New York — has a wide variety of activities introducing design and architecture. Check them out online or in person!
These resources can help you learn more about the education required and the path to becoming an architect.
by Daniel D'Agostino (Kindle: career guide)
The specifics of this combination of three requirements varies somewhat across the nation, but these core elements are consistent. Find out Minnesota's requirements and how to meet them.
Explore NAAB-accredited programs (required for licensure in MN) in Minnesota, the Midwest, and beyond, as well as other architecture-related degrees.
