This presentation re-casts the Chicago Architecture Center's student tour, Science of Architecture, for a suburban neighborhood. Due to school closures in spring 2020, schools and students were unable to take advantage of this downtown Chicago program. So, I recast it a self-guide program for kids and their parents to learn a little about architecture and see their neighborhood in a new way.

1. Science of
Architecture
in your neighborhood
There are seven basic structures in
architecture and three forces that effect
these structures
Let’s learn about them! Then walk around
your neighborhood and see how many
structures you can find
**Be sure to practice social distancing!**

2. THE THREE FORCES
All structures are affected by at least one of these three forces
Architects and builders need to think about these forces when creating a building
GRAVITY
Gravity is a force that pulls
objects towards the earth
Try this!
• Jump as high as you can. How
long can you stay in the air? Not
long. That’s gravity pulling you
down
• Hold something in your hand.
Let go. What happens? It falls
to the ground. That’s gravity
COMPRESSION
Compression pushes, presses
or squeezes a structure
Try this!
• Clasp your hands on top of your
head. Pull down. Did it feel you
were getting shorter? That’s
compression
• Squeeze a sponge between
your hands. What happens?
That’s compression
TENSION
Tension stretches or pulls on
a structure
Try this!
• Reach your arms toward the
ceiling. Reach as high as you
can. Do you feel the stretch?
That’s tension
• See how long you can stretch a
rubber band. That’s tension

3. THE 7 STRUCTURES:
Columns
• A vertical or upright structure that holds things up
• Compression is the force that affects columns
• Can be plain or fancy – see illustration below
Try this! 
• Roll a piece of paper and tape edges.
How many books you can stack on top?
• Try different types of paper. Can you stack
more books on some papers than others?
Why?
Types of Columns

4. THE 7 STRUCTURES:
Column & Beam
• A horizontal beam held up by two columns
• Used to hold up ceilings, roofs and floors and frame
windows & doors
• Columns under compression, but beam under tension
• Have you ever seen a roof, ceiling or doorway sag or
dip down in the middle?
• This happens because the beam is under tension. Either
columns too far apart, or materials not strong enough
Try this! 
• Make your own column & beam with blocks
and stryofoam. Can you make the beam sag?

5. THE 7 STRUCTURES:
Cantilever
• A horizontal beam that is held up at only one end
• Used when the space underneath the beam
needs to be free and clear, like over doorways,
balconies or diving boards
• Column under compression, but beam under tension
____________________________
Try this! 
• Make your own cantilever with blocks and stryofoam
• How do you position the beam so it doesn’t tip over? How does
adding weight to the beam change that?

6. THE 7 STRUCTURES:
Truss
• A series of triangles connected side by side
• Used when its necessary to withstand strong
forces, carry heavy loads or span long distances
• Triangles are the most stable shape because they
balance the forces of tension and compression
• Lighter than, but equally strong as, a solid beam of
same size

7. THE 7 STRUCTURES:
Arch
• Curved opening that holds a heavy load across a long span
• Used to create a wide, tall openings
• Compression is the force that holds an arch together
• The keystone (top piece) exerts compression on the
voussoirs (side pieces) – all voussoirs under compression
Types of Arches

8. THE 7 STRUCTURES:
Vault
• Curved structure created through a series of arches
placed back-to-back
• Often used to make tunnels because of ability
to hold heavy loads
• Compression is the force that holds vaults together
Barrel Vault Ribbed VaultCross Vault
Types of Vaults

9. THE 7 STRUCTURES:
Dome
• A curved structure created by arranging a series of
arches in a circle
• Without the help of any columns, domes
enclose an enormous amount of space
• Often used in government buildings, churches,
museums and sports stadiums
• Compression is the force that holds a dome together
Try this! ➔
• Make your own dome
using a bowl and blocks
• How many toys can you
fit underneath?

10. Walk. Look. See.
You can find almost all the seven structures of
architecture in our neighborhood
Walk around and see how many you can find
When you find one of the seven structures, think about:
• What forces are effecting the structure?
**Tension, compression or both?
• What job is the structure doing?
**Is it holding something up?
**Is it carrying a heavy load?
**Does it create an opening?
If you want to learn more, visit http://www.architecture.org/learn or
www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/index.html.

11. Columns

12. Columns & Beams
You can often tell where the columns & beams are by looking
at the pattern of windows.

13. Cantilever

14. Truss
The only truss I could find nearby was in O’Brien Park, but you
see trusses all around the city
O’Brien Park
875 N. Michigan Ave.
The “L”

15. Arch
A series of side by side arches is called an arcade. When arches
are filled in by a wall or other material, it’s called a blind arch

16. Vault
I couldn’t find any vaults nearby, so I’ve included a few from
around Chicago
Macy’s (Marshall Field’s) on State Street
190 S. LaSalle Street Blue Line Station at Monroe

17. Dome
I could find only a few domes nearby, so I’ve included some from
around the state
Ascension Church, Oak Park
Illinois State Capital Building, Springfield
Backyard Fun – Truss helps make strong
Top of Water Tower is Dome