The Column

We are Williamsburg High School of Architecture and Design, and so, our students get a lot of experiences in technical education. However, the excellence of our core subject classes cannot be ignored. One such class that came about due to the efforts of our Junior year history teacher, Ms. Lauren Weinstein, and our Humanities Assistant Principal, Giovanni D'Amato is our Advanced Placement U.S. History class. WHSAD students deeply examine and discuss the events from our country's past that make us what we are at present. Additionally, students in the advanced placement class are beginning to have opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and experience some of the scholarly minds who make the study of history their life-long passions and … [Read more...]

The Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Program, otherwise known as the ACE Mentorship, provides students with mentoring from professionals in specific fields in which students are interested. These mentors, coming from established companies such as FxFowle, Gensler, and Turner Construction, work with students in a hands-on manner to provide real-world work experiences. Such a program helps our students go beyond theoretical work and get down to the nitty gritty of networking, hashing out ideas, learning from mistakes, and meeting deadlines, thus preparing WHSAD students for the rigors and competitiveness of the architectural world. Below, sophomore Akil Bristol provides his take on a recent experience he and his peers had in the … [Read more...]

Students at WHSAD know that if they have an interest in something, the school can usually accommodate in allowing them to pursue that passion. Whether looking into the various aspects of architecture, serving the community in volunteer projects, or developing career skills, WHSAD students can often find what they seek. This past week, Heather Butts and Anthony Antonucci, Co-Founders of Health for Youths and WHSAD’s Health for Youths partners, accompanied students and staff on an informational trip to the United Nations. Thanks to the generosity of Stina Nystroem, President of the UNSRC Gardening Club and UN Food Gardens Initiative, our students gained insights into global food issues and living more sustainably in support of the … [Read more...]

Congratulations to all of the students that made the honor roll for the first marking period! Keep up the good work! To see if you’ve made the honor roll, look for your grade in the report below. Remember, while your average may have been high enough, you can only make the honor roll if you’ve passed all of your classes. [gview file="https://www.whsad.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017_1_1_HONOR_ROLL.pdf"] … [Read more...]

WHSAD students get a lot of insight when it comes to innovation in the architectural field. They study history, consider feasibility and structural limitations, and design with both aesthetics and pragmatics in mind. On their trip to A/D/O, also known as Amalgamated Drawing Office, students learned about new ideas regarding living in the close-quarters of a city, a very real topic for all of us New York City residents. Students took in the ideas and structures realized by designers in the Mini Living Urban Cabin project and walked away with another aspect of designing a space. For a first-hand, student perspective on the day, please read Antonio Perez, Jonah Vasquez, and Ariana Lowery’s account below.   On the date of … [Read more...]

On Saturday, October 21, 2017 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, we honored Firefighter Carl Bedigian who lost his life saving others on September 11th, 2001. As part of our ongoing effort to improve our community, WHSAD students and staff members participated in a cleanup day of Fidelity Triangle, which honors World War I veterans and sits adjacent to Carl Bedigian Way. Fourteen years ago the street was renamed after Firefighter Bedigian in remembrance of his heroism. Courtesy of New Yorkers for Parks, we planted daffodil bulbs as well as removed trash, put down mulch, scraped and painted the benches in the triangle, and raked up leaves. The Parks Department also replaced the American flag. A huge thank you to all the participants involved … [Read more...]

Part of the experience of being a WHSAD student is the opportunity to participate in activities beyond the classroom. Through the efforts of dedicated and experienced staff members, WHSAD students expand their understandings of the architectural arts, which will, in turn, help such students amass a wider array of technical knowledge marketable in today's competitive climate. One trip in particular occurred this past Wednesday, October 18th, at Architectural Grille. Here students explored the intricacies involved in this specific aspect of design. For a student's perspective of the day, please read Antonio Perez's account below. On October 18 a select group of WHSAD students were invited to attend Architectural Grille, a custom … [Read more...]

Last Friday, Mr. Codio and Mr. Rodriguez took a few WHSAD students to glimpse the prospects of the manufacturing world. Students learned about the multitude of  possibilities that lay before them after they leave WHSAD and had opportunities to interact with some of those individuals with whom our students may someday find themselves working. A trip such as this one provides opportunities not only to familiarize oneself with the latest innovations and ideas of the profession but also develop social skills that will serve well in a professional context.  Below is sophomore Ariana Lowery's narrative of the day. On October 6th, a select group of students and I attended a networking mixer where we were able to meet program … [Read more...]

WHSAD students know they have an array of opportunities to participate in community events that provide for the betterment of both students and community residents. Such a chance took place when students painted and then unveiled a mural that raises awareness for both breast cancer and domestic violence. Tasked with this important project, students produced a piece that not only meets high-quality aesthetics but also provides important inspiration for people to keep such pressing concerns in mind. Our students, once again, rose to the occasion of community engagement and illustrated some of WHSAD’s attributes of autonomous learners: reflection, goal-orientation, and effective communication. Below is Antonio Perez's and Benito Montalvo's … [Read more...]

On Saturday, September 30th, WHSAD students and staff members partnered with community volunteers in Curb Your Litter NYC. Through this collaboration, students were able to experience firsthand the litter that too often covers our streets. Students came into the event with some knowledge of the litter problem that our city has, but the experience made the issue much more palpable. As observed by sophomore Antonio Perez, " I was bewildered by the amount of Litter that is truly present in the streets. To explain the sheer massiveness of the amount of hidden litter behind cars and in alleyways would be impossible." However, students were able to see that such dilemmas are not insurmountable if a group of concerned citizens works … [Read more...]