The Column

The first day I stepped into this school, the environment was so much different from my regular high school. Similar to how we have art pieces all over the school of things that were designed by students, Co-op has as well. The only difference is there are different trades in that school and so the art pieces are completely different. I applied for carpentry because it goes hand and hand with my career goal of being an architect. When I walked into the class, the sounds of drills, hammers, and all types of other noises greeted me. This surprised me because I did not think that people would be getting straight to work. My teacher, Mr. Fernandez, is honestly one of the most down to earth people I have ever met. He teaches the class more … [Read more...]

In senior year, students in Mr. Codio's Business of Architecture class focus on developing a mastery of two crucial software applications: AutoCAD and Adobe Photoshop. Learning these two programs will provide students with a leg up when entering architecture and design programs at the college and university level. Additionally, the continued advancement of their knowledge base provides students with the fundamentals to further their ideas and inspirations, gaining a greater sense of autonomy so that they can realize creative visions attuned to their own styles. The following house design projects are perfect examples of students processing the basics of AutoCAD and Photoshop and then turning that understanding into original designs that … [Read more...]

Sustainable United Neighborhoods was formed in 2018 by Jay Solly, CEO, and co-founder. In early 2019, Jay and his team joined the Bushwick Generator as the space's core non-profit. Toby Moskovits discussed the history of the Bushwick Generator and her plans for the future. She explained the structure's architecture and the components of each room. Jay spoke about his non-profit, Sustainable United Neighborhoods, which works to build communities and promote the green economy by raising public awareness, adopting green regulations, and educating employees. Also, SUN assisted and distributed around 700,000 food meals to individuals in need in the neighborhood. They also helped with the distribution of meals to households over the holidays. … [Read more...]

During this fourth installment of WHSAD's Heritage Equity Lecture Series, Matthias Hollwich presented "The Future of Work" and how architecture is beginning to account for the work habits and behaviors that manifested out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Discussing green initiatives, flexible office spaces, and worker comfort, among other aspects of innovative design, Mr. Hollwich spoke to a future in which the person comes first and a vision in which structures fit seamlessly into surrounding environments. Matthias Hollwich, the founder of HWKN, is a New York-based architect, artist, social strategist, and inventor dedicated to using architecture to change the world. Matthias was born and raised in Germany, where he studied architecture. He … [Read more...]

This holiday season students are getting festive in Mr. Codio's AutoCAD Drafting class. From ornaments to Christmas houses, students have filled the room with their creations. Using Mr. Codio's 3D printer and AutoCAD, a few students created Christmas ornaments that they have hung from the Christmas tree. Below are a few students' artist statements along with their ornament designs. Lauren Henriquez, Senior The idea of the ornament was meant to include different cultures to show the diversity of the world we live in. Although Christmas is celebrated by many, it can be celebrated differently and mean something to different people. By incorporating different languages it brings a new light to how important other people are. My … [Read more...]

As part of WHSAD's Heritage Equity Lecture Series, Mr. Von Engel discussed different aspects of NYC city planning. Students gained insights as to how population shifts determine projects and funding, how ethnic distribution throughout the city plays a major role in planning, and what new projects are on the horizon. In the following narratives, students share some of what they learned during the session. Thank you to Toby Moskovits and Heritage Equity Partners for coordinating this series. This afternoon Mr. Winston Von Engel, Deputy Director of the Brooklyn borough office for the NYC Department of City Planning, shared his experience of being part of great projects that have shaped our city into what it is today and what it will be … [Read more...]

Students during their third year of architecture were challenged to create a 3-D model of a building or structure made entirely out of cardboard. The requirements of this project were to create two scored pieces of cardboard and ten rectangular or square pieces along with ten triangular pieces of cardboard. While working on this project, students were also given tools such as an x-acto knife and a paper cutter (abbreviated as CARL). The purpose of this activity was to test student’s ability to design while having the liberty of creative freedom. This type of activity is also commonly found during real life projects that architects work on. When asked to create an artist statement on their designs, students answered three main … [Read more...]

Last Wednesday, December 1st, we were in a meeting with High Rock in the lab once again. We mostly learned about what an RFP meant along with what we had to do in the slides about the presentation of the trail bridges. Apparently an RFP is a Request For Proposals which helps with design, formatting, and production services. Afterwards, for the slides we had to include statements of the team's strengths and unique abilities. I was in the same group as Mahalia Saint-Eloí and Waylon Gomori, so we wrote that one can do a lot of the documentation of the project, the other does more hands-on work, and the other can also help with analyzing the area of the park. In a second slide, we did a work timeline for the project and because we had just … [Read more...]

We gathered again on November 17  to continue our discussion about maintaining equity in High Rock park's cleanliness and preservation of its natural history. During this meet, Mr. Codio, senior architecture teacher and one manager of all WHSAD's projects, with a collaboration of Chris, discussed the setup and how we use tools, how to handle them, and how to put them together without injuring others if they were accidentally trodden on. Learn about the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), which consists of clothes, helmets, goggles, and other garments or equipment that protect the wearer's body from damage or illness. A sledgehammer, a tiny sledgehammer, a pickaxe, a stone rake, a multifunctional garden hand tool, and a … [Read more...]