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Press Releases

December 3, 2015

New York City DDC in partnership with the School Construction Authority (SCA) Present “Meet the Builders”

Contact:
Shavone Williams
Public Information Officer
718-391-1583

New York—The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) in collaboration with School Construction Authority (SCA) and New York State Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, hosted 30 middle school students from I.S. 392 in Brownsville today to “Meet the Builders” as part of their pilot STEM Lab Design Program.

The Meet the Builders event featured a panel discussion and Q&A session with engineers and architects from the SCA and DDC. Students learned about interior design, functional engineering, artistic choices in projects, and differences in urban planning across the globe. Additionally, the distinguished panel members spoke about career paths and future opportunities for students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, architecture and design.

Following the panel, students were exposed to scale models and renderings of DDC and SCA projects. Afterwards, the students participated in an interactive building activity, in which they worked in groups to design a model of a classroom that included modular chairs, desks, and storage space.

Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte has worked with Teach to Excel, a non-profit organization that is currently implementing the Program with I.S. 392 and is in the process of re-designing their classroom. The students have used Sketch Up and mathematical measurements to recommend a re-design plan for their room.

“I am thrilled to witness the partnership between our public schools, such as IS392 and DDC promoting science, technology, engineering, architecture and mathematics,” said Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte. “The students will have the opportunity to meet role models in the engineering and architecture fields as well as tour different design models from DDC that will help them map out innovative ways to design their own School Lab ultimately setting the stage and pipeline of interest in the STEAM field.”

“In support of Mayor de Blasio's vision for strong and just city we are proud to collaborate with to provide educational opportunities to advance underrepresented youth in fields related to STEAM. The Meet the Builders program is an example of our commitment to mentoring and preparing our young leaders for future career paths in math and science,” noted Dr. Feniosky Peña-Mora, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Design and Construction.

“The SCA is proud to partner with DDC in demonstrating to these students the already existing energy efficient schools and buildings in New York City and inspiring them to continue their diligent pursuit of STEM studies to become our future architects and engineers capable of achieving Mayor de Blasio's sustainability goals for the City," said New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) President and CEO Lorraine Grillo.

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 lenses 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, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $10 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