This year, fourth grade students at Columbus Magnet School in New Rochelle are working on a math and design project funded by a $2500 grant from Cappelli Enterprises of New Rochelle.

Students, working under the guidance of architect-in-residence, Yves Roger, from the New York Institute for Architecture, will be transforming their school’s 100’ by 60’ gymnasium into a convention-style display area for their “Math, Science and Technology EXPO to be held May 29th and 30th.

The public EXPO hours are 9 a.m. 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. 3 p.m.  The EXPO will also be open on Thursday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Through this project, students are learning about the mathematical concepts of measurement, area, perimeter, scale and budgeting as well as the architectural principles of building, design and safety.

On Wednesday, May 7th at 10 AM, students will present their final projects before a panel of architects and designers who will select the winning plan to be constructed in the gym. This panel of judges includes Mr. Peter Wim, Project Manager of Trump Plaza New Rochelle, Mrs Leona Hess,  Master Kitchen Designer at EXPO Home Design Center in New Rochelle, Ms Jill Korostoff of Jakdesign, New York City and Mr. Kevin Lalli, Architecture Teacher at New Rochelle High School.

Additionally, the fourth graders are being mentored by four New Rochelle High School seniors from the high school architecture program. These students, Brittany Miller, Dana Wellsley Stein, Peter Alfano and Michael Messier, have been coming to Columbus on a weekly basis to help youngsters work on their designs .They will also be joining the 4th grade teachers to accompany our students on architectural trips to New York City on June 10th, 11th and 12th. . Two classes each day will be taking Metro North to New York City where they will meet architect Yves Roger for a walking trip of New York landmarks such as Grand Central Station, the New York Public Library,  Rockefeller Center, and the Chrysler Building.

Before the exhibit opens at the end of May, the students will build wall dividers out of pvc pipe and cover them with mural paper.  These dividers will serve as “walls” for the exhibit booths.  Then the winning design will be measured and marked out on to the gym floor, the wall dividers will be placed outlining the 20 exhibit areas, and the floor plan the students have designed will be created in real life!