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The ICAA and Marymount School Celebrate the Culmination of New Heights

The ICAA and Marymount School celebrated the culmination of New Heights: Discovering Classical Architecture with a showcase of student work last Thursday, February 18^th. A special collaboration between the school and the ICAA, New Heights introduced eighth grade girls at Marymount to classical architecture and the related arts through interactive classroom instruction and weekly field studies. The classes were led by ICAA educators, architects, architectural historians, and artisans over the course of 10 weeks.

After the completion of the classroom sessions and walking tours, the students created final projects inspired by what they learned during the program. Guided by their teachers at Marymount, Nettie McCormick and Ana Morris, the girls innovatively paired the classical and the cutting edge, employing a variety of tools in the school’s fabrication lab and art studio to create final projects. At the showcase, parents and members of the ICAA observed the students’ work, walking through the galleries in Marymount’s 5^th Avenue beaux-arts building.

Students used scale drawings and mathematical proportions to design their own columns and created them using 3d printers in Marymount’s innovative fabrication lab

Representatives from both Marymount and the ICAA spoke at the showcase, including Marymount Headmistress, Concepcion Alvar, and ICAA President, Peter Lyden, as well as New Heights instructors Francis Morrone, Liz McEnaney, and Adrian Taylor. Mr. Lyden told those in attendance: “Our goal in creating New Heights was to change how these young women think about the cities and neighborhoods they live in and to give them the tools and hands on experiences to know that, one day, each one can have an impact on our built environment …. Even if we inspire one of these young ladies to pursue architecture through this exposure, then we’ll have proven our success.”

ICAA President, Peter Lyden

Mr. Taylor, who is Principal at Hyde Park Mouldings, said: “To me, the classical tradition in architecture and design is not about the rejection of technological advances and new building typology, but an openness to celebrating the successes of the great masters of the past by continuing to embrace the inclusion of natural forms and human proportions into the work we do today. I believe that it is the responsibility of architects to sculpt for the world a beautiful future rather than a future of mere concrete and glass, and I believe this program for school age children will go a long way to help in making that future a reality.”

Marymount students echoed this idea. According to Charlotte D., “Learning the history of the Marymount buildings, as well as the buildings of other schools like Regis and Sacred Heart opened my eyes to the rich history of New York.”

Ellie S. commented, “With our studio classes, we were able to use techniques real architects and designers use in their own projects, which was very exciting.”

“This architecture program helped me to realize just how hidden the history of my neighborhood was to me,” noted Grace C. More student reflections can be found here.

“The enthusiasm and visual engagement of the eighth grade students and the quality of their projects took my breath away,” remarked ICAA Board Member, Anne Kriken Mann, who was in attendance at the showcase.

Also present were ICAA Board Members Suzanne R. Santry and Michael Mesko; ICAA Southern California Chapter Board Member, Mary Kate Spach, an alumna of Marymount who was instrumental to the conception of New Heights and its launch; Francis Morrone, New Heights Instructor and a member of the ICAA’s Council of Advisors; Martin Brandwein, New Heights Instructor and ICAA Fellow; and Karen Pascoe.

“It was a joy to meet and hear the girls, who were so poised and articulate,” commented Mrs. Santry. “The lectures and walking tours opened their eyes to the architectural characteristics of their own school buildings as well as the many glorious architectural masterpieces in the Marymount neighborhood.”

ICAA President, Peter Lyden, speaks with Marymount students about their projects

ICAA Board Members, Michael Mesko and Suzanne R. Santry, viewing student work

New Heights Instructor, Francis Morrone, with Karen Pascoe and ICAA President, Peter Lyden

Caroline Saudek with ICAA Board Member, Anne Kriken Mann

Marymount Students with (from left to right) Martin Brandwein; David Gardiner of Hyde Park Mouldings; Mary Kate Spach, Marymount ‘92; Peter Lyden, ICAA President; Adrian Taylor, Principal at Hyde Park Mouldings