CUNY STEM Institute Launches the Young Engineers Program

On Friday, October 5, 2021, the NYC Department of Design and Construction’s STEAM Team introduced the Young Engineers Program to students enrolled in the CUNY STEM Initiative at City College. The facilitators and students launched the DDC STEAM Young Engineers Program “Building the Future” curricula virtually for use with students from middle schools in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.

The Young Engineers Program is designed to educate students on the fundamentals of environmentally responsible City planning with a focus on public buildings and infrastructure. DDC STEAM’s “Building the Future” curriculum emphasizes the structural characteristics of 3D shapes, bridge engineering, constructing with I-beams, creating building models and green technologies such as bioswales, tower gardens and green roofs. The curriculum has been enhanced to be utilized both virtually and in-person. Educators use hands-on activities to present students with real-world issues and explain how architects, engineers, and other built environment professionals solve these issues on a daily basis.

In the first sessions, facilitators Alexandra Checa and Gabriella Reyes shared information about the varied careers of architects and engineers. They also helped students identify Greek columns in structures around the city; and explored the structural integrity of different types of columns. Students in turn determined the strongest shape used in construction by testing the structural integrity of triangular, rectangular, and circular columns.

Indi Barnes, 8th grader at Columbia Secondary School, created a short video showing her implementing the column strength activity. Indi illustrated the ‘test, adjust, and defend’ feature embedded into the “Building the Future” curriculum. The video can be viewed here.

“I have been supportive of the DDC STEAM Young Engineers Program from day one because I understand first-hand the importance of introducing students from underserved communities to a world of possibilities and cutting-edge new careers. Resource-rich, experiential learning like the DDC STEAM Young Engineers Program have historically only been available to a small number of students from affluent communities,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. “DDC STEAM brings these resources to the communities and students that need them most. I am proud to support STEAM education in upper Manhattan in partnership with DDC STEAM and the CUNY STEM Initiative.”

“Our goal for our Young Engineers is to have our students envision themselves as the engineers, architects and built environment professionals of the future. Over the course of the program, they work to implement the concepts they’ve learned in their own communities. DDC STEAM strives to bring math and science concepts to life and to bring engineering and problem solving to NYC students. Students learn about how to build a sustainable, resilient city by designing models that can better withstand climate change and rising sea levels,” said DDC Deputy Commissioner of Community Partnerships and STEAM Initiatives Lee Llambelis.

“The CUNY STEM Initiative at the City College of New York invests in enriching the educational experience of New York City youth so that by building on the strength and opportunities of the City they are prepared to design and assume leadership positions in the communities of the future,” said Doris Cintrón, Senior Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Accreditation, and Assessment.

“Using New York City as a school and their day-to-day life as a lesson plan, this partnership allows NYC middle schoolers the opportunity to understand the foundation of architecture and engineering. Watching students learn and experience the inner working of the city they live in changes them from residents to active participants. They take a deeper look at the buildings, bridges and foundations that surround them. They learn how it has been done and explore ways to do it better in the future. These children now have the opportunity to someday reshape the City they all know and love, and I am grateful to be a part of this amazing partnership,” said Allison James, Director of Strategic Initiatives at CUNY STEM Initiatives at City College.

“Teaching architecture after school to NYC public school students has been the highlight of an already positive and productive year. Since the pandemic we have adapted to platforms such as Zoom and Google Classroom. The silver lining of DDC STEAM/CUNY STEM’s Virtual YEP program is being able to reach middle schools all over New York City. It provides us with the opportunity to create a community with other schools and befriend those whom we would not have met under normal circumstances. DDC STEAM’s architecture syllabus relates to the times as we design for socially distant life and focus on sustainability and environmentally conscious technologies. We brainstorm about what cities could look like in 100 years and set up mock architecture firms and projects. It has been a highly rewarding experience to be a part of the STEAM partnership,” said Alexandra Checa, Assistant Plan Examiner at the NYC Department of Buildings.

“’Building the Future’ contains vocabulary and challenge materials on both construction methods and building codes. Scholars are left with the understanding that as future architects aesthetics are important, but their number one responsibility is to ensure the safety of occupants in a building. They are learning how a structure can last a lifetime because of construction materials and natural resources,” said educator Gabriella Reyes. The DDC STEAM program provides me with the opportunity to share my passion for design from a sustainable standpoint. Our scholars are excited to not only participate in the various challenges, but also to learn about infrastructure and construction methods,” added Ms. Reyes.

In the sessions to come, students can look forward to learning about how engineers and architects design stable and resilient bridges using tension and compression forces; green technologies in the built environment; and designing a city of the future.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction

The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15.5 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc