BDCA is Preparing Students for Careers in Green Building

The Bronx Design and Construction Academy (BDCA) is one of the most progressive niche secondary schools in regard to how they’re preparing students for life in the real world... At a time when green building is on the rise but overall academic performance in the United States is sinking, schools like this one are filling the long standing gap between education and practical learning that can lead to income generation.

Taken directly from their site, BDCA’s mission is “to prepare graduates for advanced entry into the competitive construction trades of post-secondary education by arming them with cutting edge construction skills, best practices in transportation infrastructure and sustainability, and strong academic competency.”

But unlike so many mantras, this one is far from hollow... Rather, their approach to hands-on learning is exemplified in a variety of industry-theme pathways including carpentry, HVAC, pre-architectural drafting, and more. Students not only learn theories of sustainable technologies, but learn to manage actual projects. The video below is an example of one project being undertaken at BDCA through engagement with solar photovoltaics.

BDCA-Divvy Solar from Nathaniel Thayer Wight on Vimeo.

Hands On Approach

Instead of being outfitted with desks and chairs like the lecture halls of yore, many of BDCA’s classrooms resemble the real life trappings of the construction field... Even their roof acts as a classroom, featuring a green roof that utilizes solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system as both effective learning tools and functional building assets.

It’s this attitude and these types of interactive educational components that drove BDCA to win, among other awards, first place for Global High Schools in the Zayed Future Energy Prize earlier this year. With the award came a $100,000 grant to further pursue water quality studies through their integrated green roof system.

What is particularly intriguing about this momentous achievement is that the school was only just opened in 2011 and has yet to graduate its first class! But the success of the new approach to learning is a serious indication of the appetite among potential students, educational leaders and institutions in this country for a new approach to learning that integrates money making. Our current system, which only encourages (indeed almost forces) students to go into debt to get an education can only result in challenges to "old school" thinking. We need to give our students the tools, resources and support they need to engage in innovative, fruitful careers.

Learn to Work in Green Building

However, until such a shift takes place, if you’re a successful green building practitioner, you might consider giving back through the means available. Mentorship programs like EPROS Mentorship Program of the North Carolina chapter of USGBC and the national ACE partnership are great outlets for LEED accredited professionals to give back to the community and industry.

Such programs, as well as our project experience programsallow young and emerging green builders to connect and learn from seasoned professionals to better prepare them for the requirements of the green building and construction fields.