Oldest
School at General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen
By
Sybil Maimin
Among
the many wonderful secrets waiting to be discovered in New York City is the
Mechanics Institute, a tuition-free school started in 1820 that trains workers
in the construction trades about the finer points of their crafts. Founded by
the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, a fraternal organization begun
in 1785 to aid members in distress, the school has been housed since 1898 in
a magnificent 1891 landmark building at 20 West 44th Street along “Club Row.”
Behind the eclectic Renaissance façade is a wonderfully preserved turn of the
century interior that holds six lecture classrooms, six architecture drafting
rooms, and three computer labs as well as a striking, open-spaced, four-story
private membership library topped with a domed glass roof. A unique small museum
containing a fascinating collection of over 400 locks as well as other items
of historical or mechanical interest can be found in the building, which is
open to the public. Library membership is available to all for
a small fee.
Continuing its traditional educational mission, the Institute today offers free
classes in four areas related to the construction trades: architecture and construction,
electricity, plumbing, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), as
well as project management. The courses, which number over 50, are rigorous
and intended for serious students already employed in a particular field who
want to enhance their technical skills with the “why’s” behind the “how’s” in
order to advance their careers. The program requires a three-year commitment
(fall and spring semesters) of two courses (5 to 7 PM and 7 to 9 PM) in one
concentration taken two nights a week. It is intended to fine-tune aspects of
a trade that cannot
be learned on the job, for example, drafting or blueprint reading. It conveys
informational knowledge rather than the practical, hands-on experience that
is gained in apprenticeships or in courses offered by unions. A professional
development course that prepares students for job searches is mandatory. About
200 students (10 percent women and growing) and 16 instructors are in the program.
Applicants must be high school graduates, fluent in English, employed in the
area of intended study, and sincere in their desire for enrichment in their
chosen trade.
As the Institute prepares for the future and what it hopes will be a role as
a bridge between different sectors in the industry and between union and non-union
interests, it hopes to add
a greater range of offerings. The project management course and a computer-assisted
drafting (AutoCAD) course for stagehands can be
completed in one and a half years. The Institute is contemplating a course for
building maintenance workers. The certificate of completion awarded at graduation
does not have a degree equivalence but is recognized and respected by those
in the construction industries.#
For further information: www.generalsociety.org