First Firsts and a Couple of Thirds

Of our many firsts at the architectural studios at AAP, we’ve tested our first prints, installed our net-prints, and moved in with our coffee pour-overs – who is to say that we won’t still be making frenzied runs down to Gregory’s Coffee between classes? It is safe to say though, that all of us at this point have made mental maps of our late-night food runs, had a couple of first late-night subway rides, and grown familiar with the various smells of the city we fortunately inhabit.

Of course, I’ll be taking the liberty (pun intended) of assuming a collective voice here, and say that we’ve all loved the first couple of sunsets with America’s Great Lady, Lady Liberty, until the glare on our computer screens tends towards the impractical. We’ve had our first pin-ups, our first of many of Bob’s history-of-the-neighborhood walks, and yet it still feels surreal. While the inside feels hauntingly familiar compared to Milstein, the city awaits us from within the frame of our windows. We are, so to speak, breaking in.

Speaking of firsts, we’ve had our rounds of first introductions at every class, but we’ve also been introduced to a group of extremely generous and talented alumni from the more prominent firms in NYC. We were fortunate to be part of the very first comprehensive portfolio review at the AAP NYC studios. Credits to AAP Connect’s lovable, list-loving Marjorie, we were able to monopolize on the opportunity of being in NYC, which would hopefully become integral to our professional careers as graduate architecture students.

From shorter sessions of general layout and strategy reviews, to more focused project-wise reviews of our drawings, we were each able to talk with about 2-3 alumni reviewers who, to say the least, were excited to walk our walk with us. Among others, we were fortunate to meet Mia from Snøhetta, Stefany from WRNS Studio (from downstairs), Luke and Lea (not to be associated with the Star Wars phenomena) from Morris Adjmi Architects, and Stephen Moser himself, from Stephen Moser Architects. All in all, we’ve been handed the ingredients to hopefully score our first round of interviews.

While we’re here talking about our firsts, let me tell you this: believe it or not, our class was also introduced, over a generous lunch and learn, to the office of The Architectural League of New York. Primarily academicians, architects, and theorists, they also take on the role of activists. From investigative series like “Type Cast,” on low-income housing typologies in the city, to a series like “The Location of Justice,” the essays string together our inner activist and policy maker with the architects that we are becoming. Among others, we met with the managing editor of the Urban Omnibus, Olivia Schwob, and had her speak of The League’s online publication. As members through a revolving network of AAP students, we have free access to the League’s events, including the one coming up this week, on the 21st of February. Yet to come, is also their Norden Fund Information session on February 26th, where we can listen to the 2017 grantee, Priyanka Shah, discuss her winning project.

While this blog will be delving into all of AAP’s architectural and artistic happenings in NYC, the Architectural League events may just be a regular feature as we indulge ourselves in the world of ideas.