Fall 2017 Thesis Projects at NYSID

You could say that understanding the importance of adaptive reuse, the process of adapting an existing structure for a new purpose, is a cornerstone of NYSID’s BFA program. At the NYSID Gallery through February 24, 2012, newly minted alumni display their mastery of this concept in the BFA Thesis Projects exhibition.

The fifteen students who graduated from the BFA program in December developed their projects during their final semester under the guidance of faculty advisors Peter Brandt and Lee Stout. The students then got the opportunity to present their work to a jury of design professionals .

One project that clearly demonstrates the principles of adaptive reuse is Randall Paul Harmon’s O.I.L. (Once In a Lifetime), a proposed design studio and production facility for home furnishings inside an 18th century cavalry stable located on The Presidio of San Francisco (image right). Based on the Hannover Principles, a set of statements about the importance of environmental impact in the design of buildings and objects, O.I.L is a successful solution to a common problem facing many cities today – how do you preserve abandoned, yet significant, institutional structures while simultaneously invigorating the local economy.

In a similar vein, Tiffany Gomez’s GROW.MARKET.EAT– an urban agricultural center, marketplace and eatery located in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx – addresses economic, social and environmental issues in urban communities through the lens of food production and consumption. The building Gomez chose is fittingly within close proximity to one of the largest food distribution centers in the world.

These are only two of the fifteen projects on view so if you want to see the full range of our students’ creative vision be sure to check out the Fall 2011 Thesis Projects exhibition at the NYSID Gallery, 161 East 69th Street, NYC.