Box City

Box City is a FREE event for children—grades K-5—where participants learn about the process of urban development and the principles that make for sound architecture, design, and planning. Students start with a Building Permit for their desired building type, make a draft sketch of their building in the Design Studio if they want, stop at the Hardware Store to get their cardboard and paper supplies, then head to the Construction Zone to make their Box City structure. After completing the Building Inspection process, students head to the Box City street grid where an Urban Planner helps them select an appropriate building site. Finally, children finish the process by picking up their Certificate of Occupancy that includes a photo of them with their building.

How to participate in Box City:

1. Make a reservation: A limited number of free tickets to guarantee entry are available at 9:00AM, 10:00AM, 11:00AM, 12:00PM, and 1:00PM. One child per ticket, maximum four tickets per reservation. Adult compansions do not need a ticket–only participating children do. Arrive at least five minutes before your reservation time. Please note, ticketholders arriving later than ten minutes after their reservation time forfeit their reservation and will be directed to the “walk-in” queue.

2. Walk in: Participants are welcome to drop by Box City any time between 9:00AM and 1:00PM with entry on a first-come, first-served basis, after reservation ticketholders have been admitted. No new participants will be admitted after 1:00PM. Entry is not guaranteed.

PLEASE NOTE: Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult who must remain within the Webb Building atrium during their visit. Allow a minimum of one hour for participants to complete the Box City process (90 minutes to two hours is not uncommon). Box City participants must finish by 2:30 PM (last entry at 1:00PM).

Join us—it’s FUN, it’s FREE! Register for the event HERE, and remember only participating children need tickets.