CODE THE HOAN

Milwaukee’s landmark becomes your classroom.

Hands-on coding. Creative problem-solving. Real community connection.

Code the Hoan transforms Milwaukee’s illuminated Hoan Bridge into a hands-on STEAM learning experience for students in grades 6–12.

Working in teams, students program miniature Hoan Bridge models while exploring coding, engineering, creativity and the role technology can play in their community. No prior coding experience is required.

MORE THAN CODING

Students don’t just learn how to make lights change colors. They learn how technology can communicate an idea, tell a story and connect people to the community around them.

Through a six-mission learning experience, students:

DISCOVER
Explore the Hoan as Milwaukee infrastructure, public art and a shared community landmark.

BUILD + CODE
Learn how LEDs, circuits and microcontrollers work together while building foundational coding skills.

CREATE
Experiment with color, movement and animation to turn code into an original visual experience.

CONNECT
Explore how public spaces can celebrate communities and bring attention to stories that matter.

THE COMMUNITY DESIGN CHALLENGE

The experience culminates in a challenge:

How can you use the Hoan Bridge to bring attention to something meaningful to your community?

Student teams choose a Milwaukee story, organization, cause, celebration or idea. They design a lighting concept, code it on their miniature Hoan and present the creative, technical and community decisions behind their work.

Standout concepts may have the opportunity to inspire a lighting on Milwaukee’s real Hoan Bridge.

BUILT FOR MILWAUKEE STUDENTS

Grades 6–12
No prior coding experience required
Three students per bridge
Classroom, workshop + enrichment formats

Code the Hoan can be adapted for classrooms, after-school programs, summer learning, museums and other community education environments.

2026–27 PILOT

Light the Hoan is currently building a small group of school, education and community partners for the 2026–27 Code the Hoan pilot.

Our goal is to remove cost as a barrier for participating pilot schools and youth programs through corporate sponsorship and philanthropic support.

Interested in bringing Code the Hoan to your students?
Become a Pilot Partner →

Interested in helping more Milwaukee students participate?
Become a Code the Hoan Sponsor →

LIGHT UP A BRIDGE. OPEN A DOOR.

Code the Hoan is about more than learning technology. It’s about helping young people see how their skills and ideas can contribute to the community around them.

Schools • Community Partners • Sponsors

Let’s build what’s next.