WINNER, THE VICTORIAN SOCIETY NEW YORK, 2022 BOOK AWARD How a
prolific yet little-known architect changed the face of education
in New York City As Superintendent of School Buildings from 1891 to
1922, architect Charles B. J. Snyder elevated the standards of
school architecture. Unprecedented immigration and Progressive Era
changes in educational philosophy led to his fresh approach to
design and architecture, which forever altered the look and feel of
twentieth-century classrooms and school buildings. Students rich or
poor, immigrant or native New Yorker, went from learning in
factory-like schools to attending classes in schools with
architectural designs and enhancements that to many made them seem
like palaces. Spanning three decades, From Factories to Palaces
provides a thought-provoking narrative of Charles Snyder and shows
how he integrated his personal experiences and innovative design
skills with Progressive Era school reform to improve students’
educational experience in New York City and, by extension, across
the nation. During his thirty-one years of service, Snyder oversaw
the construction of more than 400 New York City public schools and
additions, of which more than half remain in use today. Instead of
blending in with the surrounding buildings as earlier schools had,
Snyder’s were grand and imposing. “He does that which no other
architect before his time ever did or tried: He builds them
beautiful,” wrote Jacob Riis. Working with the Building Bureau,
Snyder addressed the school situation on three fronts: appearance,
construction, and function. He re-designed schools for greater
light and air, improved their sanitary facilities, and incorporated
quality-of-life features such as heated cloakrooms and water
fountains. Author and educator Dr. Jean Arrington chronicles how
Snyder worked alongside a group of like-minded, hardworking
individuals—Building Bureau draftsmen, builders, engineers,
school administrators, teachers, and custodians—to accomplish
this feat. This revelatory book offers fascinating glimpses into
the nascent world of modern education, from the development of
specialty areas, such as the school gymnasium, auditorium, and
lunchroom, to the emergence of school desks with backs as opposed
to uncomfortable benches, all housed in some of the first
fireproofed schools in the nation. Thanks to Snyder, development
was always done with the students’ safety, well-being, and
learning in mind. Lively historical drawings, architectural
layouts, and photographs of school building exteriors and interiors
enhance the engaging story. Funding for this book was provided by:
Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund
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