Building of the Day: 29 Fort Greene Place, Brooklyn Tech, Part 2

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Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Brooklyn Technical High School
Address: 29 Fort Greene Place
Cross Streets: Between DeKalb and Lafayette Avenues
Neighborhood: Fort Greene
Year Built: 1930-33
Architectural Style: Collegiate Gothic meets Deco skyscraper
Architect: Walter C. Martin
Other Buildings by Architect: Franklin K. Lane HS, Bklyn; Samuel Gompers Vocational HS, Bronx; Andrew Jackson HS, Jamaica HS, Queens; George Washington HS, Manhattan, and more
Landmarked: No
The story: Architect Walter C. Martin, the Superintendent of Buildings for the New York City Board of Education had his hands full building Brooklyn Tech. The massive school building was constructed during the first three years of the 1930s, when the country was reeling under the effects of the Great Depression. Thanks to Federal money, the school continued to rise above the brownstone streets of Fort Greene, overlooking Fort Greene Park. Brooklyn Tech was conceived as a specialized school, open to boys only. Part One of this history appears here. It would offer a curriculum that was heavy in mathematics, science, engineering and related subjects, preparing them for higher education or a good job in the industrial sector. The school was the brainchild of Dr. Albert Colston, once the head of the Mathematics department at Brooklyn’s Manual Training School in Park Slope. He would become the new school’s first principal. Walter Martin designed his school on the principles of skyscraper architecture. Had the building risen another 40 stories, it still could have had this same base. It then would have had a much more exaggerated set back and ziggurat style towers, typical of the Art Deco skyscrapers going up across the river and in Downtown Brooklyn. There’s not much difference between this school and the 1930s skyscrapers of Court Street, not all that far away. They are just taller.

1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

This elite school had other perks besides the curriculum. It had many state of the art features that any student and teacher would have loved. Desiring to produce well-rounded student athletes, the school has a swimming pool. Not many NYC public schools have a swimming pool. There are two gymnasia in the building; one on the first floor, the other on the eighth. Originally, the 8th floor also had a bowling alley. The larger first floor gym has a mezzanine running track, and had a weight room next to the third floor locker rooms. The roof, covered with a metal cage roof, has handball and tennis facilities. Fort Greene Park, across the street, also offered opportunities for physical activities. The building also had many specialized classrooms with dedicated equipment. There were wood, metal, machine and other shop facilities. Today, many of those are now computer and robotics labs, as well as general classrooms.

One of the wood shops. 1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

One of the wood shops. 1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

The school had a foundry on the 7th floor, where sand casting and metal smelting was taught. Students made wooden gears and other parts, cast them in metal and used them in other projects. But, as the school moved into a more high tech curriculum, the foundry was eliminated in the 1990s.

The foundry. 1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

The foundry. 1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

The school has a fully functional radio station, with a 456 foot transmission tower. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been used since the 1980s. There are many other specialized classrooms, including an aeronautical lab with a wind tunnel. Art and culture have a home in the school, as well. Brooklyn Tech has the third largest auditorium in the city, behind only Radio City Music Hall and the Metropolitan Opera House.

Auditorium. Photo: Criterion Acoustics

Auditorium. Photo: Criterion Acoustics

Auditorium stage. Photo: Criterion Acoustics

Auditorium stage. Photo: Criterion Acoustics

As part of the WPA (Works Progress Administration) program, which sponsored public art projects to employ artists and artisans during the Depression, artist Maxwell Starr was commissioned to paint a mural in the main hallway celebrating “The History of Mankind.” As Starr envisioned it, Mankind was very buff. The murals were restored by the Alumni Society in 1998, after years of fading away, and being covered up.

Euclid, Archimedes and Hero with the first steam engine. 1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

Euclid, Archimedes and Hero with the first steam engine. 1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

Dr. Colston was principal of the school for twenty years. He retired in 1942. A long series of principals, most good, one really bad, followed. The many changes in society have been reflected in the school’s student body and in the curriculum. It continues to change to meet new challenges. Girls were not admitted to the school until it became of the four specialized NYC high schools, with admission through testing, established in 1972.

1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

1935 photo: Brooklyn Public Library

There have been so many famous alumni at this school; the list would be too long to post here. Many students went on to become leaders in science and industry, while others achieved fame in the arts, in business, sports, the military and politics. They include Charles P. Wang – co-founder of Computer Associates, Harvey Lichtenstein of BAM, Tom and Harry Chapin – musicians and humanitarians, Gerry Goffin – lyricist, John Catsimatidis – developer and owner of Gristedes, Anthony Weiner – politician, and Frederick Pohl – science fiction writer. George Bing – Tuskegee airman, was a student here, as was Steven Sasson, the inventor of the digital camera, Leonard Riggio – chairman of Barnes & Noble, Erinn Smart – 2008 Olympics, women’s fencing silver medal winner, Dr. Laurie C. Zephyrin, MD — Physician, Public Health Leader, Health Systems Innovator, and many, many more. Although much has changed since Dr. Carlson opened his school, he would be pleased to know that Brooklyn Tech remains one of the most sought after schools in the city’s public school system. Brooklyn Tech continues to graduate students who go on to achieve great things. Above photo:Scott Bintner for PropertyShark

Photo: Christopher Bride for Property Shark

Photo: Christopher Bride for Property Shark

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