February 5, 2026
Architecture49 joined community members at Discovery Centre’s annual Build‑A‑Thon this past weekend, bringing a design‑forward activity that invited kids to think about the communities they live in — and imagine the ones they might create.
As event sponsors, A49 hosted a hands‑on station where children collaborated on a large shared “human habitat”: a continuous community map stretched across several tables. With guidance from the A49 Halifax Team, participants customized paper house templates, sketched simple floor plans, and added parks, rinks, trees, schools, and green spaces. By the end of the day, the map had grown into a vibrant, evolving neighbourhood shaped by dozens of young designers.
The activity was designed to help kids understand how communities come together. How individual choices, small ideas, and thoughtful design all contribute to places that feel welcoming, safe, and complete. The simple tools (markers, cut‑outs, and imagination) made it easy for participants of any age to join in, collaborate, and leave their mark.
Speaking with participants about what makes a great neighbourhood turned out to be one of the most meaningful parts of the day. Many focused on practical elements such as bike paths, places to walk, greenspace, sport facilities and access to the waterfront. What surprised us most, in the best way, were the intangible qualities they emphasized. Kids often described neighbourhoods defined by empathy, kindness and people who care about one another. Their answers were a reminder that successful communities are shaped not only by design choices but also by the values people bring to them, and we could not agree more.
