Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design

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CTA Newsletter – Installment One

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WHSAD Sophomore, Jesse Sanoff, devised and wrote this story and will continue to provide updates regarding the CTA program over the course of this year. CTA Architects is an architecture firm based in Manhattan. For the past two years, WHSAD has partnered with CTA Architects in an architectural program. This program is returning for a third year and now students are going to be creating proposals for the renovation of a retirement home. Students are split into groups, work with mentors from CTA, and compete to make the best design and presentation of a space given to them by the mentors. Students have to meet certain requirements for their design and are given pieces to work on in increments, such as having their program for their … [Read more...]

WHSAD’s Women in Architecture Series-Session One-Ms. Betty Fouché

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Providing students with a glimpse into their possible futures is what a high school should do. Therefore, giving our young women the opportunity to hear from professional women in the field is essential to show them that they have a place in the architectural field. In our Women in Architecture Series, WHSAD students listen to those who have worked hard to accomplish their goals and gain inspiration and insights as to what it takes hit the mark when you aim high. In the following narratives, students share their thoughts as to what they took away from the first session which featured Ms. Betty Fouché, who has experience as a project engineer, project manager, architect construction representative, and a variety other roles. On … [Read more...]

WHSAD Students’ Visit the Smallpox Memorial Hospital on Roosevelt Island

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Thank you to Friends of the Ruin, Walter B. Melvin Architects, and Stephen Martin for providing WHSAD students with numerous opportunities to envision a future for this integral part of New York City's architectural history. Below are narratives from some students who attended this site visit. Smallpox is a deadly infectious disease caused by the variola virus. The virus killed over 2 million people. As a WHSAD student, I was fortunate enough to go to the Smallpox Memorial Hospital which is located on Roosevelt Island. I learned that the building that used to be a hospital and a nursing school is now a historical landmark that highlights NYC's health history. The primary purpose of the Smallpox Hospital was for people to be quarantined … [Read more...]

Noelle Swanzy Shares Her Thoughts about the Pratt Young Scholars Program

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I have always enjoyed art. Animation and online tutorials have always been a part of my life. In middle school I did a ceramic class, and my teacher encouraged me to continue working in creative fields of work. This experience reinforced my aspiration of becoming an artist. When I joined WHSAD in the 9th grade, I learned about the Pratt Young Scholars program. Pratt teachers came to the school and did a presentation on the program during 4th and 9th period in an architecture classroom. It provides three years of exposure and various types of art and techniques taught by real college professors. The opportunity that the program offered was more than anything that I have ever been exposed to. I applied, interviewed, and submitted samples … [Read more...]

WHSAD Senior, George Pinto, Reflects on Her 2024 SRW Internship

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This summer I worked as an intern for an Architecture and Engineering firm through Saint Nick’s Alliance called SRW. I got the opportunity to work with professionals in the field on AutoCAD drawings, site visits, weekly meetings, and more. I’ve learned a lot about professionalism and communication, and the experience has helped me figure out what I’d like in a career.  A lot of what I did was editing AutoCAD drawings, which helped me apply what I learned in class to real life. My supervisor would give me an assignment, I would work on it as best I could, then we would meet again and discuss what still needed fixing. If I ever needed help operating a command, he would help me figure it out. In addition to the experience being … [Read more...]

WHSAD SYEP Students Reflect on Their Cole House Internship

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Each summer, WHSAD students have the opportunity to participate in various paying projects and internships through the New York City Department of Education's SYEP program. These endeavors provide students not only with remuneration but also with skill development opportunities. In the following article, WHSAD Seniors, Linda Foster and Felisha Solis, provide insights regarding their project on the Cole House on Staten Island. Thank you to AKT Architects for offering this opportunity to our students. For more information about the Cole House, click on the link here: … [Read more...]

Students Preparing Centerpieces for Columbus Citizens Foundation Gala

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Thank you to Ilaria Costa, Lisa Ackerman, and the Columbus Citizens Foundation for providing this opportunity to our students. For more information about the Columbus Citizens Foundation, visit their website: https://columbuscitizens.org/ Students working on this project responded to a few questions about their process, challenges, and skills they have developed. Read their responses below. What is the project and why is it important? Oscar: The project consisted of creating and designing center pieces for the Columbus Foundation which is an organization that commemorates Italian heritage. The center pieces include 3D printed models that showcase a building, structure, and sculptures made from Italian architects and sculptors. … [Read more...]

WHSAD Students Learn The Value of Critiques

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Thank you to the professionals at Robert A.M. Stern Architects for their continued efforts in supporting our students. One of the most daunting aspects of WHSAD/RAMSA summer program is critiques. Students need to learn how to weather the slings and arrows from professional architects who are providing feedback in the vein of what one might experience in the field. The first critique sometimes stings, but through the pain comes progress, and after the second, third times and beyond, students not only grow more comfortable with constructive criticism but also come to welcome the feedback as it assists in creating a more nuanced and sophisticated product. For their midterms, the students presented their designs, received feedback, and then … [Read more...]