The Column

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...]

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...]

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...]

Thank you to the Gensler staff and interns for taking the time to meet with WHSAD SYEP students. Students entering their junior and senior years took advantage of yet another opportunity WHSAD’s partnerships offer when they attended a meet and greet panel with college students who are working in Gensler’s summer internship program. The program runs over ten weeks and involves the interns working both with clients and on one collaborative project with their peers. The twenty-seven interns attend various schools throughout the country and pursue diverse majors that include architecture, interior design, finance, etc. During this panel, WHSAD students asked questions related to finding one’s footing in college, and the interns provided … [Read more...]

My first week went pretty well. I'm currently working on a restaurant design where I mostly work on interior designs, slides, and the presentation of the work. Working on a restaurant design project has been both exciting and exhausting since it’s a lot of work with lots of responsibilities. Most challenging was doing the research, which has taught me a lot about designing a functional and appealing restaurant space. From understanding the target audience to finding the flow of both customers and staff, each small detail that might seem irrelevant plays a big role for the project's success.  One of my personal goals is to work more on my communication skills, especially in large groups. Communication is key to everyone being on the … [Read more...]

My first week was not what I was expecting, but I did overall enjoy it. This first week gave me a chance to work on my teamwork skills and to become a better leader. My project is MAOarch retail store design. This project is about coming up with ideas that the space can be used for and how it fits in with the area. Our project is located at 595 Madison Ave in Manhattan.  The most challenging aspect of this project so far was actually trying to get the other members of the group to add their input and their ideas because a few people in the group talk about ideas while others stay quiet and do not add anything. Plus if you ask them what they think, they will just go with what you said.  By participating in this project, I hope to … [Read more...]

This project I have been assigned to an art piece to which I am to get a good look and feel from and use the art piece as inspiration to my creativity. Once I have an idea in my mind, I am to put it on a paper and sketch different forms of our idea based on our art piece, until we are content or are given the sign that our best sketch can move forward to the physical form. We are to make our best model with whatever material we think is best suited to make it come to life. Our mentors check up on us throughout the making of our sketches and models and after which they notify us that we are able to move forward with our project in Rhino and Photoshop till our presentation. This whole project tests our creativity and … [Read more...]

Thank you to Two Trees Managing Director of External Affairs, Mr. David Lombino, for the historical and design insights and the inside look at The Refinery. Amina Clyde, Class of 2025 What was once known as a prominent sugar factory housing many workers during the 1900s, Domino Sugar Factory debuted in 1856 and was operated by Fredrick C. Havemayer Jr. After a fire and several industrial failures, the factory was rebuilt in 1882 by Theodore A. Havemeyer, Thomas Winslow, and J. E. Its revival was short lived as the factory inevitably closed, leaving many without work. The shut down of the factory also left a good portion of the area closed off from the public, leaving a large unused space. For many years, the building remained … [Read more...]

The ACE Mentorship Program of NY has been paired with WHSAD for over 7 years. Within the ACE program itself there are multiple teams from which WHSAD students can select. One of the most innovative and renowned teams is team 6. Although team 6  incorporates fields like engineering, acoustics, mechanical engineering, plumbing, construction management, its main focus is architecture.  Each year a group of WHSAD students end up selecting team 6 and learn to sharpen their skills in drafting and rendering while also gaining new knowledge and connections. In ACE, students get to interact with professionals from various fields. Students like me go to ACE because we get to learn about the intricate and useful parts of architecture that you … [Read more...]

See WHSAD students' Newtown Creek StoryMap and student reflections below: -Derek Ramos Matos, 2024 WHSAD Valedictorian Participating in the Newtown Creek Alliance “Living Dock” project has been a transformative journey, blending art, science, and community activism. This initiative, aimed at revitalizing and sustaining the ecological health of Newtown Creek, has not only been working on reshaping the local environment but also deeply influencing the personal and academic growth of students like myself. The Living Dock, a remarkable synthesis of art and ecology, serves as a floating ecosystem designed to foster marine biodiversity. This initiative stands as a testament to how innovative environmental solutions can rejuvenate … [Read more...]