Girls Build!

Girls Build! is a unique experiential program designed to engage girl-identifying youth in 7th to 10th grades.

Participants will explore Chicago’s built environment, build architecture and design skills, and learn from women who are leading the way in STEAM fields—all in a gender-affirming environment.

Girls Build! programs occur throughout the year, at the CAC and in locations around Chicago.

CAC Camps and Classes are designed to enable students to explore the built environment and learn first-hand why design matters. All programs require teamwork and creative problem solving. Trained classroom educators support students in developing self-confidence and visual thinking and give them the opportunity to communicate their ideas through a variety of media. Students will solve design challenges, build models, use technology or diverse art materials under the guidance of experienced, enthusiastic designers and educators who are full-time staff members at the Chicago Architecture Center.

WHY GIRLS?

Various studies have shown a persistent gender gap in the STEAM fields, with women representing less than 30% of the personnel in the various industries. While Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color make up less than 5% of the fields.

As numerous studies have shown, what these numbers indicate is not that women don’t have the capacity and competence to enter these fields, but rather that there are real structural biases in the STEAM fields that make it hard for women to pursue these careers.

In their study “Using design thinking to cultivate the next generation of female STEAM thinkers” Rie Kijima, Mariko Yang-Yoshihara, and Marcos Sadao Maekawa show that intentionally engaging young girls through STEAM programs “can produce positive change in how female youths relate to STEM.” Their findings note that an engendered approach to STEAM programing showed that girls displayed an “increased interest in engineering, greater creative confidence, more positive perceptions of STEAM, higher levels of empathy and pro-social factors, and a more varied outlook on career options.”

Our program was purposely designed to empower young girls and positively impact the gender gap in STEAM.

Girls Build! empowers young girls to explore architecture

Upcoming Program

November 10 - December 15
Girls Build! Fall 2024: Groundbreakers
During this 5-week class, students will select and research iconic women who made an impact on the built environment.
Girls will work in teams and independently to create a CAC exhibit, entitled GROUNDBREAKERS to be displayed in the ArcelorMittal Design Studio.
Program Details
- Dates: Nov. 10 - Dec. 15
- Day: Sundays
- Times: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- Location: CAC Design Studio
- Cost: Free with registration
One-time registration is for all five sessions.
Register Now

Testimonials

Support

All Girls Build! programs are free for families, as the CAC strives to represent the diversity of Chicago through everything we do. Donate today to cover some or all of a program fee.