AKA Side Quests
The evening of July 1st is free on the conference schedule, so we have organized some fun activities for you on the GT campus! We have four excursions planned and you can register for your favorite one! Each excursion has a limited capacity, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible. Your early sign-ups will also help us with organization.
Invention Studio Tour
The Invention Studio is a student-run makerspace open to all in the Georgia Tech community. They provide access to many tools, such as 3D printers, laser and waterjet cutters, woodworking/metalworking tools, and more. It is staffed by Prototyping Instructors (PIs) and student volunteers who are always on hand to help with projects.
The registrants will DIY a customizable catapult, and they get to keep it! It could be used to play a little game and placed on a desk as a decorative item.
Time: 5:15pm - 6:30pm
Capacity: 30 People
Registration Fee: $10
Recreation Center (CRC) Tour + Indoor Wall Climbing
The Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center is a beautiful, big building, equipped with extensive sports facilities, thanks to the 1996 Olympics hosted in Atlanta. We will show you around the facility in a 15-minute tour starting at 6:45 PM. For the rest of the time, we have the indoor climbing wall to enjoy bouldering and wall climbing. CRC will provide an orientation and all the necessary equipment, you are simply required to come in comfortable clothing. The entry to CRC will require a guest pass worth $15, which you can buy at the entrance on the day. You will need to carry a valid ID and the conference badge.
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Capacity: 30 People
Registration Fee: $15 paid at the CRC
Games + Trivia evening at CODA Rooftop
What's better than a relaxed evening with some games (think Pictionary, Jenga, Taboo), trivia (from math to movies), light snacks, and chit chat after a long day of talks? We have got you covered! Join us for the Games + Trivia evening on the CODA rooftop on the 20th floor of the building. What if it rains, you ask? Don't worry, we have ample indoor space along with the rooftop to occupy. This event is co-organized with Asha for Education, Atlanta: an organization that raises funds for the education of underprivileged children in India. Asha volunteers will be present on the day of the event, and you can feel free to donate to this cause.
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Capacity: 125 People
Registration Fee: Free
Kendeda Building (the living building) Tour
The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is the first building in Georgia and the 28th in the world to earn Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification, the world’s most ambitious and holistic green building achievement. The building is net-positive energy and water over the course of each year.
We have organized a tour of this living building for you! The tour is 1.5 hours long, and it will walk you through the architecture and the sustainable practices used to build and sustain this building.
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Capacity: 30 People
Registration Fee: Free
Other Georgia Tech Activites
Paper and Clay
Paper and Clay is an on-campus creative space with eight pottery wheels, pre-made ceramics for glazing, large format printing, and a variety of arts and crafts. Open until 8 pm. While we have officially not reserved this activities for the conference attendees, you can still feel free to visit!
Get to know the Georgia Tech campus
To explore the GT campus, follow this self-guided tour.
Activities in Atlanta
Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and one of the most populous cities in the United States. There are plenty of dining options and activities to enjoy during your stay. Here are a few we highlight.
Atlanta Foodies
If you instead prefer to explore things to do and places to eat in Atlanta, we've got you covered! Follow this link to some sample itineraries that you can follow, allowing you to focus on the fun, rather than the planning!
Outdoor activities
- The Atlanta Beltline is a 22-mile loop of walking/biking trails and parks surrounding a large portion of the city. While walking or biking on it, you will find multiple restaurants and can reach Piedmont Park.
- At the heart of Midtown is Piedmont Park. It has large green areas where you can enjoy sports or a picnic, picnic tables, a bike path, a small lagoon, etc.
- The Atlanta Botanical Garden is right next to Piedmont Park and has beautiful seasonal exhibitions that we recommend checking out.
- Georgia hosted the Olympic Games in 1996, and the Centennial Olympic Park serves as the Georgia legacy for these games. This park is a center for entertainment and multiple activities, including indoor activities listed below.
- A wonderful view of the city can be appreciated from the Ferris Wheel in the park.
- The Chattahoochee River flows through Atlanta and offers plenty of outdoor activities, such as hikes, biking, kayaking, tubing, etc. More information about the parks around this river can be found at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) at this link.
- Atlanta has multiple parks with creeks and nice, green, and shaded walking trails. Some of them are:
- Freedom park
- Tanyard Creek
- Memorial Park
- Westside Reservoir
- Proctor Creek
- If you have more time to drive (~1 hr), and like parks and hiking, here are our recommendations:
- Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona. Both lakes are surrounded by parks with picnic and camping areas.
- The Red Top Mountain Park, and the Stone Mountain Park are some of the most popular state parks in the area, and the Kennesaw Mountain Park is the most famous national park for a hike in the area.
- For more information about the state parks near Atlanta, you can visit this link.
Indoor activities
- Atlanta is home to multiple museums, including a history center, an art museum, and many more.
- Surrounding the Centennial Olympic park, there are several indoor activities that are unique to Atlanta. Some of them are:
- Martin Luther King Museum
- Civil and Human Rights Museum
- World of Coca-Cola
- Georgia Aquarium
- CNN studios building. Unfortunately, the CNN tours are permanently closed. However, the building is still interesting and has a cafeteria with multiple dining options.
- A couple of blocks away from the park, you will find the Mercedes Benz Stadium, that hosts several concerts and games every year.