The Skyscraper Museum is devoted to the study of high-rise building, past, present, and future. The Museum explores tall buildings as objects of design, products of technology, sites of construction, investments in real estate, and places of work and residence. This site will look better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
The Skyscraper Museum hosts a rotating repertoire of Family Programs on Saturday mornings, in which children engage with an educator to explore the principles of urbanism, architecture, and engineering through hands-on activities. Surrounded by images, film, and models of past, present, and future skyscrapers, children and their guardians are exposed to the changing exhibitions in the gallery.
All workshops are located at The Skyscraper Museum at 39 Battery Place. Registration is required by Friday at 5 PM. To sign up for the Family Program newsletter, or for more information, email education[AT]skyscraper.org or call 212-945-6324.
*Cost is $5 per child; members free.
UPCOMING FAMILY PROGRAMS
POSTCARD MAKING
September 18
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
After a brief museum tour, kids will pretend that they have traveled the world to find the ultimate skyscraper. Once they have found their favorite skyscraper, they will create postcards to send to friends and family. Ages 6+.
STACK 'EM HIGH
September 25
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Using stacking blocks, kids will build their own skyscrapers, inspired by New York favorites such as the Empire State and Woolworth Building. After completing their construction, they can take a picture taken with their super buildings! Ages 4-8.
SKYSCRAPER HAUNTS
October 9
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
In conjunction with Open House New York Weekend, The Skyscraper Museum presents its Halloween program. Still deciding what to be for Halloween? You can be the tallest thing around - a skyscraper! Come make a Halloween costume resembling your favorite skyscraper. Ages 6-10.
ARCHIKIDS
October 23
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Alongside architect Yves Roger, kids will explore skyscraper architecture and work on a hands-on building project which they can bring home. As they work, they will be surrounded by images, vintage film and models of actual skyscrapers of the past, present, and future. Ages 9-13.
ARCHIKIDS
November 20
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
We repeat the popular hands-on session led by architect Yves Roger where, inspired by images, vintage film and models of actual skyscrapers of the past and present, kids make their own soaring structures. Ages 9-13.
BUILD YOUR OWN SKYSCRAPER
December 4
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Kids mimic the real-world design and construction process and create their own buildings! After a brief presentation about the museum's collections, kids will create individual concept drawings of their ideas and then work in teams to construct a building from stacking blocks. Ages 4-8.
PAST PROGRAMS
SKYSCRAPER SKELETONS
August 2010
Come join us for a reading of the children's book Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building to learn how skyscrapers stand tall. Kids will then erect their own skeleton of a skyscraper using toothpicks and gumdrops.
SILHOUETTE OF A SKYLINE
August 2010
After creating a silhouette of a skyline, learn how ornamentation is used to articulate a building's features. Then, accent your silhouette to give each building its individual character.
FORM AND FUNCTION: STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
July 2010
Kids will learn the decorative and functional uses of stained-glass windows. Then, using a variety of materials, kids will create their own stained-glass window. As the designer, kids will decide whether they would like to create a window that tells a story or a window that is purely decorative.
DISNEY'S THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE:
CREATE YOUR OWN SKYSCRAPER
July 2010
Come join the Skyscraper Education Team for this fun one-time only event. In anticipation of the release of Disney's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" kids will create unique skyscrapers from recycled materials that they can tear down and rebuild over and over again. Kids will learn about the design and construction that help make a skyscraper come to life!
STACK 'EM HIGH
June 2010
Get familiar with the major players in the world of tall buildings in New York by simulating their construction. Using stacking blocks, we invite kids to make shapes like the Empire State Building and the Woolworth Building using kid-sized images. Upon construction, get your picture taken with your mile-high building!
MOTHER'S DAY CARD WORKSHOP
May 2010
Join us for an architecturally-themed Mother's Day card workshop. Who needs Hallmark when you can make your own card for Mom? Rise to the occasion and meet us at the Museum!
LIVING & WORKING IN THE SKY
January 2010
Families will learn about the already built Burj Dubai and the to-be-built Shanghai Tower. These two skyscrapers are the world's tallest buildings. Children will explore how vertical metropolises are combining a range of activities in clusters of high-rise buildings. Kids will create model mixed-use buildings using different materials.
SKYSCRAPER SKELETONS
October 2009
August 2009
March 2009
January 2009
October 2008
March 2008
Come join us for a reading of the children's book Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building to learn how skyscrapers stand tall. Kids will then erect their own skeleton of a skyscraper using toothpicks and gumdrops.
TRASH TOWERS
March 2010
October 2009
July 2009
April 2009
February 2009
December 2008
People recycle bottles, paper, and clothing all the time. But did you know that buildings are recycled too? Come learn how builders reduce waste by reusing materials from older buildings to create new ones. Kids will make their own "Trash Towers" from recycled materials that they can tear down and rebuild over and over again.
GREENING THE CITY
April 2010
September 2009
August 2009
January 2009
October 2008
July 2008
April 2008
Explore the possibilities for greening New York City! Kids will work together to create a model green building giving them a hands-on understanding of what makes a building green.
SIDEWALK ART
September 2009
June 2009
May 2009
June 2008
Kids will first sketch a blueprint for a building they know, such as their home or school. Then kids will use colorful chalk to draw their buildings on the sidewalk in front of the Museum, creating a colorful and creative city skyline.
BODY BUILDINGS
July 2009
May 2009
January 2009
January 2007
Come make a skyline with your body! Learn about the different shapes of skyscrapers and then use poster-paper and your silhouette to make your very own building!
SILHOUETTE OF A SKYLINE
July 2009
June 2008
January 2007
After creating a silhouette of a skyline, learn how ornamentation is used to articulate a building's features. Then, accent your silhouette to give each building its individual character.
BUILDING BLOCKS
February 2010
June 2009
March 2009
July 2008
May 2008
January 2008
March 2007
June 2007
Kids are invited hear "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" and learn about the structures of tall buildings. Using stacking blocks, kids will construct the sturdiest tower and recreate famous New York Skyscrapers.
DOUBLE DECKERS & OUTDOOR ESCALATORS:
Creative Transportation in Hong Kong
May 2009
November 2008
How would you like to take an outdoor escalator five blocks to school everyday? Well, in Hong Kong you can! Kids will learn how Hong Kong, one of the world's most exciting skyscraper cities, moves its dense population around town in creative ways. Kids will then design their own creative transportation systems.
ARCHIKIDS
June 2010
May 2010
March 2010
February 2010
November 2009
April 2009
February 2009
November 2008
October 2008
May 2008
March 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
June 2007
Alongside architect Yves Roger, children ages 9-13 will explore skyscraper architecture and work on a hands-on building project, which they will be able to bring home. As they learn and work, children will be surrounded by images, vintage film and models of actual skyscrapers of the past, present and future.
HONG KONG SCAVENGER HUNT & POST CARDS
November 2008
Come tour our new exhibit about Hong Kong! Families will go on a scavenger hunt in the museum for fun facts about Hong Kong, examining photographs, videos, and text for clues. Kids will create postcards with illustrations of their favorite discoveries.
SKYSCRAPER HAUNTS
October 2008
Still deciding what to be for Halloween? You can be the tallest thing around - a skyscraper! Come make a Halloween costume resembling your favorite skyscraper. Ages 6+
LIFE IN A SKYSCRAPER
July 2008
March 2008
Families will learn about Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, and explore how vertical metropolises are combining a range of activities in clusters of high-rise buildings. Kids will create model mixed-use buildings using different materials.
FORM AND FUNCTION: STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
January 2010
June 2008
Kids will learn the decorative and functional uses of stained-glass windows. Then, using a variety of materials, kids will create their own stain-glass window. As the designer, kids will decide whether they would like to create a window that tells a story or a window that is purely decorative.
ORNAMENT CREATIONS
December 2009
The Skyscraper Museum will ring in the beginning of winter with an ornament making workshop. Using an array of materials, kids ages 4 to 12 will make a skyscraper-inspired treasure to take home.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKLYN BRIDGE!
Thursday, May 22 - Monday, May 26
Celebrate the 125th Birthday of the historic Brooklyn Bridge with a film festival, cultural events and special activities across the city and in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Visit www.nycvisit.com/bb125 for periodic updates and a calendar of events.
FEATS OF ENGINEERING AT CFA
March 2008
Session I: 10 AM - 12 Noon
Session II: 1 - 3 PM
Location: The Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY 10012 (between Bleecker and West 3rd Streets)
The Skyscraper Museum and the Center for Architecture Foundation invite you to FamilyDay@theCenter. Bring your building crew and get ready for skyscrapers - the ultimate challenge! China is at the forefront of tall building construction with outlandish designs and mega structures leading the way. Learn about some of the new innovations projects going up in China and then work with your building team to build the tallest and the strongest skyscraper in timed competitions with limited materials.
All materials will be provided. Four-member teams can be any combination of family, friends, classmates or individuals working collaboratively in small groups (including one student 16 years or younger). Register by March 1 at www.aiany.org/calendar. Registration Fee is $10 per group/family. For further information, email: info@cfafoundation.org or call: 212.358.6133
NEW YORK MODERN POSTCARDS
February 2008
Families are invited to join us for a tour of "New York Modern." Following the tour, kids will have the opportunity to create their own visions of the future city on postcards. Ages 8+.
SKY BOYS
February 2008
Kids are invited to hear the story of the construction of the Empire State Building in a read aloud of the award-winning book Sky Boys by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by James Ransome. Following the reading, kids will interact with actual building materials and learn about the construction of a skyscraper. Ages 4+.
GREEN ROOFS
January 2008
Explore green roofs! Kids can come learn about green roofs and find out why they are important. We will draw pictures of green roofs to send to Mayor Bloomberg in support of his sustainable initiatives and learn about current projects in New York City. Ages 10+.
STACK 'EM HIGH | TALL TALES
December 2007
January 2007
Using stacking blocks, we invite kids ages 3-8 to make shapes like the Empire State Building and the Woolworth Building! Children and their families may then stay to hear some riveting skyscraper stories.
BUILDING BLOCKS | NEW YORK MODERN POSTCARD MAKING
November 2007
Come join us for hands-on exploration and learn about some of the different materials architects and designers use to construct buildings. Then, design your very own postcard inspired by the Museum's current exhibition, New York Modern! Ages 4-8.
See It! OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK
October 2007
Students will pick up their Open House New York green building map at the Center for Architecture and explore the City’s sustainable architecture.
Design It! THE CLOUD INSTITUTE
October 2007
Now that students have experienced some of the newest, most innovative green buildings in New York, it is time to create their own! We will be looking at the life-cycle of a normal building compared with that of a green one. From inception, to construction, to destruction, there are key differences between the two types of architecture. Students will be the architects; incorporating various elements of green buildings they have seen in the last few weeks into their new, innovative design. By the end of the workshop, students will walk away with the blueprints for the model they will be creating next week.
Build It! THE CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION
October 2007
Working from the design created in session 3, participants will learn basic model building skills as we translate their designs from 2D to 3D. Design educators and volunteer architects will be on hand to help further the designs and answer questions that come up in the construction phase. Students will work with scale, color, and materials to create green building models of homes, public buildings, skyscrapers, and innovative structures as a culmination of their research and activities from the past three sessions.
STACK 'EM HIGH| LETTERS FROM DUBAI
August 2007
Using stacking blocks, kids can simulate construcion of the world's tallest buildings over time like the Empire State Building, Burj Dubai, and others. After a tour of the Museum's current exhibition, participants will talk about the context of Dubai and write postcards detailing the experience of living in the world's tallest building. Ages 4-8.
PUSH/ PULL
May 2010
July 2007
February 2007
Learn about the physics of skyscrapers through interactive experiments and demonstrations! Try fun push-pull balancing acts with new friends and play tension tug-o-war! Ages 7 +.
FEATS OF ENGINEERING
July 2007
Location: The Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY
10012 (between Bleecker and West 3rd Streets)
The Skyscraper Museum and the Center for Architecture Foundation invite you to FamilyDay@theCenter. Sign up as a team to build and compete for the tallest, strongest skyscraper. All materials will be provided. Four-member teams can be any combination of family, friends, classmates or individuals working collaboratively in small groups (including one student 16 years or younger). Register by July 7 with your Team members, name, contact email and phone to info {at} cfafoundation.org or by calling 212.358.6133. Registration Fee is $10.
FLOWER TOWER
July 2007
June 2007
Join us at the Skyscraper Museum for a building challenge! After learning about the design inspiration behind Burj Dubai, the centerpiece of the Museum’s current exhibition, “World’s Tallest Building: Burj Dubai,” children will design and build skyscrapers inspired by everyday objects. Ages 7-12.
VALENTINE'S DAY CARD MAKING
February 2007
Give that special someone a structural smooch with a homemade skyscraper card. We'll show you the best way to climb your way to the top of his/her heart!
