Schools
Field School Students Interview Architect Jonathan Levi
Some students from the Field School sat down with architect Jonathan Levi recently, asking him questions about his design plans for the new Field School project.
Editor's note: This article was submitted by Matt Lucey, principal of the .
On Wednesday, October 25, 2011, ten Field School student met with Jonathan Levi, the principal architect of the “New” Field School. The interview was conducted by fifth graders Alexandra Laufer, Casey Goldstein, Isabel Kelly, Cate MacDonald, Helen Befekadu, Lia Herzig, Cade Rutkowski, Ellie Wisnia, Bredan Costello and Avery Tomaso. Mr. Levi was impressed by the range of questions and the maturity of the students.
Q: How long have you been an architect?
A: I have been and architect and a teacher of architecture for 35 years.
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Q: Did you design your own house?
A: Yes. It is in Brookline and it looks like a wooden tower with lots of glass.
Q: How many other buildings have you designed?
A: It is hard to say – but, perhaps 100 or 125 in many different types, shapes and sizes, including making old buildings better.
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Q: How may stars would you rank the new Field School from the old one?
A: Definitely 5 stars. The new Field School will be so much better in terms of how its rooms will work to make a better place to learn.
Q: Do you think designing buildings is fun?
A: Yes, but challenging.
Q: Do you think drawing a picture of the new building helps?
A: Yes, for two reasons. It helps us try out and evaluate different ideas. Second, drawings and models are used to explain our ideas to other people so they can understand and comment.
Q: How many schools have you designed?
A: We have design a number of school projects including new buildings and improving old ones.
Q: Do you design buildings other than schools?
A: Yes. My firm works on all types of places where people live, work and learn. These projects are of all different sizes too, from houses to whole portions of cities.
Q: How long will it take to make the new building?
A: It will take about 2 ½ years from now until children and teachers move in to the new building.
Q: What are some differences from the new Field School to the old Field School?
A: Bigger and light filled classrooms, new gym, new cafeteria, study center and outdoor classrooms. The new building will also be much more careful about the way it uses electricity and fuel so it will be better for the earth.
Q: Will there be a new playground?
A: Yes, it will be part of a path that connects the library and the Recreation Center.
Q: Will there be more than one floor?
A: Yes, but only where the gym and the cafeteria are. The rest will be one floor.
Q: There are computerized drawings in the lobby. Did you design them?
A: Yes.
Q: What will happen to the old Field School?
A: We will carefully knock it down, sending some of the parts for recycling just as you do at home.
Q: Who was your inspiration?
A: Though there are many influences that are important to me, my architectural inspiration has always been the American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. My inspiration for this project has been the energy and enthusiasm of Principal Lucey and Superintendent Maloney.
Q: How do you build models?
A:In my architecture studio we are fortunate to have one of only several pieces of equipment in Boston architecture offices that can manufacture plastic models directly from images in the computer. Essentially, we "print" our models rather than laboriously cutting and gluing them by hand. This is similar to the process used by industry.
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