Department of Design and Construction311Search all NYC.gov websites
March 29th 2017
NYC DDC Hosts Brooklyn Generation High School Students for “Meet the Builders”
The NYC Department of Design and Construction hosted thirty (30) High School students from the Brooklyn Generation High School for the “Meet the Builders” event, which is designed to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture/Art and Mathematics (STEAM) related disciplines.
NYC DDC STEAM Initiatives organized the event to compliment the school’s college and career readiness academic component, which highlights the field of Engineering. Breaking out into groups of five or six, students completed a “Rapid Engineering” challenge designed to enhance their ability to work together, think quickly, and communicate. They competed to see which group could build the tallest tower using just notecards, scissors and tape.
Students then had an opportunity during a panel discussion to question DDC professionals about projects they have worked on, their interests, career goals, and experiences in technically oriented fields at DDC. The three DDC professionals who met with the students were: Starling Keene, Deputy Director of Architecture in DDC’s Public Buildings division; Jorge Tua, a Director of Infrastructure Design; and Ershaun Harris, a Sewer Reviewer in the Safety and Site Support division. The professionals offered their advice on how the students could pursue similar career tracks, and the rewards and challenges they could expect along the way.
“There are excellent opportunities in the STEAM fields and we encourage students who participated today to consider careers in engineering, design, and architecture,” said DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora. “DDC’s new STEAM curriculum is a tool we have developed to help students unlock their potential. Soon, some of the students we hosted today may build the resilient and sustainable projects our City needs for its future.”
“Today’s session is about exposing students to new options, bringing non-traditional resources into the classroom, and showing them different trajectories to success,” said Claude Aska, East Coast Director for the non-profit Generations Schools network.
