Operation Design’s inaugural project was generated in New York City.

Operation Design’s NYED initiative, originated from the belief that great design creates a better environment for learning.  With meaningful architect-to-student interaction, we are inspiring and challenging young people from New York City public schools to put their creativity and love for design and architecture to practical and important use.
Through NYED, New York City students are working side-by-side with highly accomplished and recognized design professionals to “makeover” and redesign classrooms and common areas in their schools.

NYED is a priority initiative under the umbrella of Operation Design, a 501c3 organization.
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The NYED initiative, how it is done

Operation Design, the organizing and driving force behind the NYED initiative, selected the most compatible NYC public high school for its inaugural NYED project.  After, careful surveying of many school buildings and intimate interviews with Principals and Custodians, The Urban Assembly’s School for Design and Construction, New York, NY, was chosen.

The inaugural NYED project includes six internationally renowned architectural firms:
  • Arquitectonica
  • Clodagh Design
  • EFM Design and Architecture
  • FX Fowle Architects
  • PellOverton Architecture Research + Design
  • Schefer Design.

These devoted and generous designers met and worked closely with students of UASDC.  Together, they devised and laid out viable plans for surface upgrades in common areas, selected classrooms and the principal’s office.

The students were responsible for creating the initial floor plan drawings.  The architects made several design presentations to the students, as if they were clients, and together they determined the final design plans.

Currently, Operation Design is securing vendor in-kind donations of construction materials, supplies, furniture, accessories, finishes, paints, ceiling tiles, flooring, lighting and more.  The team is securing contributing contractor and construction firms that will renovate one selected room/area each.

Renovation work will take place during all major holidays and school recesses.   Both the UASDC administrative and custodial staffs are in full support of the NYED initiative and have extended undivided cooperation.

The deeper benefits of the NYED Design Process

During the design process, the participating students succeeded in many lessons including how to survey and measure interior spaces; draft floor and elevation plans; use measuring and drafting tools; research and explore material, fixture and furnishing options; select finishes and colors; and verbalize design concepts.   But most important, they experienced and conquered the challenges of real-life working relationships with creative professionals.  They learned to work and compromise within groups.  Some students honed their managerial skills.   Most students gained confidence in their decisions and abilities.  And many of them simply blossomed out of their shells.

The NYED initiative offers opportunities to design professionals to give back to their community
The participating architects have all expressed their pleasure in the process and have admitted that they might actually have learned more than the students.

UASDC’s Principal and staff have expressed their delight in the potential designs and were most pleased with the response of their students.   They witnessed an attendance of only 6 interested students at the first NYED meeting, grow to an impressive participation of 45 interested students in all of the final design presentations.  As a result, several students entered extra-curricular design programs at various NYC design colleges.

“This is truly a fantastic and unprecedented opportunity for our students here at UASDC   …  as well as an experience that will raise their education in design to a whole new level.”
… Lawrence Pendergast, Principal  (2004-2008), Urban Assembly School for Design and Construction