• Home
  • About Us
  • Academics
  • Architecture Program
  • Internships
    • About Our Internship Program
    • Internship Opportunities & Resources
  • Calendar
  • Student Profiles
  • News
    • Twitter
  • Videos

Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design

Innovating Career & Technical Education for New York City’s Future

You are here: Home / The Column / Van Arsdale Library Redesign

Van Arsdale Library Redesign

January 9, 2019 By Antonio Perez

Share Button
Students from WHSAD, Brooklyn Prep, and Williamsburg Prep gathered in order to discuss the redesign of the Van Arsdale library space.

On January 5th, 2019, all of the schools in the Van Arsdale campus joined together for a good cause. Students from WHSAD, Brooklyn Prep., and Williamsburg Prep met to discuss the redesign of the V.A. library. The library as of now is outdated and has been in dire need of restoration. All the students proposals for what they wanted in a school library. Students then discussed with each other and offered valid and respectable criticism of their designs. This reflection is an essential part of any design proposal as all those involved get to each have a say in what choices will be made. This helps not only to please everyone but also to represent a wider audience in the design of the library.

WHSAD Architecture teacher, Mr. Abraham Rodriguez, discusses the project with students.

Mr. Codio, WHSAD’s Senior Architecture teacher, had this to say about the library redesign: “Students from all three schools came together to pitch in their ideas for the proposal. They looked at what the library looked like right now and what it could possibly look like in the future, especially in terms of new technology. A big aspect of this project is the incorporation of all three schools into the entire design process. The library belongs to the all three schools and it is only fair that the redesign is conscious of that by including all three schools. It is as much of A&D’s project as it is WP, and BP alike.”


Students presenting their design proposals for the library redesign.

Chamonte Greenfield said this about the redesign: “The redesign was an amazing idea because it incorporated all three schools into a collaborative project to better the school. It was nice seeing the schools work together for the project, which is a new experience for many of us.”

Students from all three schools on the Van Arsdale campus collaborated to examine attributes of the current library space in order to envision a more concrete redesign.

WHSAD senior, Brandon Ortega, writes, “The school library is dull, messy, and doesn’t even look like a library. For that reason, students from each school in the building are working together to design a new library. I’m one of the students working on the project to renovate the library, and we met on Saturday to research other libraries so that we could come up with ideas for the design of the new library. Working on the project is an interesting experience because I rarely get to interact with the other schools in the building. We all had to work together to measure the library. After, we all presented the ideas we had for the new library. It was a productive meeting and there were many creative suggestions for the new library.”

Filed Under: The Column

Recent Posts

  • WHSAD Students Reflect on Their Newtown Creek Alliance Green Roof Design Work May 14, 2025
  • Thony Cielo, Class of 2025 May 14, 2025
  • Peshal Pardasey, Class of 2025 May 9, 2025
  • Brian Matilde, Class of 2025 May 7, 2025
  • Maximus Mercado, Class of 2025 May 5, 2025
Avatar photo

About Antonio Perez

My name is Antonio Perez and I am the head WHSAD Student School Reporter. I am currently a Junior at WHSAD. Preparation for my future is key and my involvement with the school website allows me to do so, as I not only get to improve my writing skills but I also learn from all the people with whom I interact along the way.

Click here to read more articles written by Antonio Perez.

Copyright © 2025 Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design
Webmail Login | Website Login