Teen Saturday Studios

Unleash your creativity and engineering skills in this hands-on workshop designed for teens who love LEGO! Participants will engage in guided challenges, from designing intricate structures to creating functional machines. You’ll learn techniques for building sturdy models, experiment with storytelling through LEGO scenes and collaborate on group projects. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to express themselves, develop problem-solving skills and have fun in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Join us for an exciting, hands-on workshop where you’ll explore the fascinating world of maps, architecture and the rich design history of Chicago! Whether you’re a budding architect, cartographer or simply curious about how cities are shaped, this workshop offers an immersive experience of the urban landscape of Chicago. This workshop is perfect for teens interested in architecture, design, urban studies or simply learning more about the city they call home.

Participants will explore how old or neglected structures can be transformed into useful spaces through adaptive reuse. Blending various skills of architecture this workshop introduces participants to the process of revitalizing small-scale buildings and learning how to work with what already exists. 

This hands-on workshop is designed for teens interested in exploring the fascinating world of architecture through photography. Participants will learn the basics of architectural photography, including techniques for capturing buildings, bridges and cityscapes during Open House Chicago. Participants will explore key topics such as composition, lighting, perspective and how to find unique angles that highlight architectural details. Phones with cameras are required for this workshop.

This hands-on urban design workshop will introduce teens to explore how people interact with city spaces. Using sketching, mapping, and movement analysis, participants will walk along a vacant lot amid the city, observe, and then propose improvements. Participants will learn how to “read” the built environment, think like designers, and create proposals for improvements.

In this unique workshop, teens will explore the intersection of art, architecture and craftsmanship through the creation of stained glass designs. Participants will learn about the history, materials and techniques involved in creating stained glass windows and how this medium has been used to express both beauty and meaning in architectural spaces. Teens will visit the Chicago Pedway to observe stained glass works of art and then get to create their own!