Announcement

Continuing our work at the Charlestown Navy Yard, we are currently in Schematic Design for the Gateway Center as we explore exciting opportunities for an enhanced visitor experience at the new welcome center. Located on a culturally significant site, the new building will serve as an anchor point of the Freedom Trail, a pathway that winds its way through historic landmarks in Boston. It will house the National Parks of Boston Orientation Center and the USS Constitution Museum, one of Boston’s most frequently visited museums.

The new center will include expanded outdoor space, museum and exhibition space, theater space, an observation deck, and unique 360 degree views of the harbor and surrounding cityscape. Integrating the interior activities of the building with the historic and cultural importance of its site, the design will provide a unique destination that welcomes visitors to the Boston Harbor and sparks curiosity in the rich shared history of the Charlestown Navy Yard, National Parks of Boston, and City of Boston.

Our renovation at the Center for Brooklyn History is nearly complete and soon to be open to the public! 
Leading up to the renovation, we worked closely with Brooklyn Public Library and CBH staff on an assessment report to identify challenges, opportunities, and short- and long-term strategies to transform the once private institution into one that could be utilized and enjoyed by the public. Our renovation includes the revitalization of the entry plaza with new furniture for public seating, centering the entry doors and making them accessible, enhancements to the entrance lobby including a welcome desk and display monitor, adding an accessible ramp to connect the new main entry to the historic landmarked interior entry, flexible lounge seating, custom wayfinding and a new retail area. Stay tuned for more information on the grand opening.

This is the inaugural year of the Barnard Architecture + Design Summer Institute – a program that offers young women in high school an opportunity to learn about how design and architecture shape the built environment through project-based learning, field trips, and opportunities to meet designers and others involved in this work. Founded by partner, Karen Fairbanks, and supported by many at Barnard College, this three-week program is generously funded by the IDC Foundation for two years.

The program is developed for students who may not have access to such a specialized design program. And while all costs such as travel, museum admissions, meals and similar expenses are covered, it also provides a generous $1,000 stipend, so students don’t have to choose between a summer job and this experience. We are optimistic that opportunities like this will ultimately increase the diversity of students interested in pursuing the study of architecture and related fields.

The program is being taught by Barnard faculty member, Lindsay Harkema, and an alumna of the Barnard + Columbia Architecture (B+C | A) Department, Elsa Mäki CC’17. Course Assistants are from the architecture major and include Hazel Lu CC’24, Georgia Dillane BC’25, and Sebastian Bango CC’23, and the program is also collaborating with the Barnard Design Center. The committee who worked with Karen to shape this program included: faculty member, Kadambari Baxi; Barnard and Columbia alumni Elisa Ours BC’98, Jane Lea BC’00, and Josh Foster CC’16; and architecture majors: Amiziah Vaughn BC’23, Sophie Sebuh CC’23, and Logan Shorthair CC’23; with additional support from MFA and Barnard alum Rebecca Siqueiros BC’20 and Department Assistant Rachel Garcia-Grossman. The program is designed to create a multi-tiered mentoring structure between faculty, alumni, undergraduates, design professionals, and high school students that can become a model for pipeline development.

It was an honor to attend Urban Dove’s 21st Annual Evening with the Dove. Each year, we look forward to the UD Gala as an opportunity to celebrate this incredible organization, the Urban Dove Community, and those that are dedicated to supporting the growth of the young people that Urban Dove serves. We are looking forward to all of the success and exciting work that the next year will bring for the school. Congratulations to all of the individuals that were recognized!

We kicked off our work with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) on a feasibility study for their Gladys Marcus Library, located within the Shirley Goodman Resource Center on the FIT campus. The library houses a repository of resources and provides a multitude of services and programs that support the university’s academic community and the international fashion industry.

We recently hosted tabling sessions and workshops with students, faculty, and the greater campus community, who have been eager to share their thoughts and visions for the new library space. Stay tuned for project updates over the following months, as we continue to work to transform the Gladys Marcus Library into a vibrant and innovative hub that meets the evolving needs of FIT.