GMS is again sponsoring the ACE Greater New York Mentor Program Team #6 (Manhattan) and Team #35 (Long Island). Our staff serve as mentors to high school students to expose them to careers in Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE). GMS staff have proudly participated in the ACE Mentoring Program within the greater New York City region, the founding affiliate of this national organization, since 2006. The ACE teams of students and mentors meet weekly throughout the school year to develop a project which is then presented at the final competition against other regional ACE teams. And through the generosity of the sponsors and participating companies, ACE provides scholarships to students studying engineering, construction management and architecture in college. As the school year progresses, the students are exposed to the basic principles of each discipline and learn how these principles are applied to real world projects.
The teams use Mola Structural Model kits to simulate the structural behavior of real buildings. These models allow hands-on interaction, providing instantaneous feedback and allowing students the opportunity to really “see” how structures respond to loads and forces imposed on them. GMS was also involved in the development of the Mola kits, which had recently just released for sale.
The students of Team #6, in New York City, are developing plans to renovate/repurpose some of the old homes on Admiral’s Row in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. When this was an active military base, Naval Officers lived in these houses at the Yard with their families. Now, the homes are crumbling (http://ny.curbed.com/2015/6/11/9951238/revisiting-brooklyns-abandoned-admirals-row-before-its-gone).
Team #35, on Long Island, is designing a new building at Old Bethpage Village that will serve as a new modern gateway to the historic 19th century village. The building will be built into the existing hill to minimize impact on the surrounding landscape. It will have a reception area and exhibit hall with supplemental space for a gift shop, first aid and security. It will allow for a covered indoor area for classes or groups to gather before setting off to explore the historic village.
GMS staff participating this year include Carolyn Bai, Joseph Basel, Mark Beltramello, Hannah Garfield, Rama Kristam, Jessica Mandrick, Ricardo Martins, Kristi Miro, Joe Mugford, Alissa Oelsner, Dana Saba, and Scott Sternad. We look forward to learning about next year’s projects! For additional information, visit acementor.org.
