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Rendering courtesy of AE COM
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Construction to Begin on Myrtle Avenue Pedestrian Plaza in Fall 2013 Myrtle Plaza, New York City's $6-million capital project to reconstruct the streets and sidewalks of Myrtle Avenue between Hall Street and Emerson Place, is scheduled to break ground in the fall. The project (shown in rendering above) will create approximately 25,000 square feet of new pedestrian space by reconfiguring two blocks of the four-block service road and the southeast corner of Myrtle at Hall. In addition to improved crossings and new bus stops, the plaza will feature dozens of new trees, large planters with ornamental shrubberies, game tables, a water fountain, a permanent art installation, and movable tables and chairs. Given the long and narrow geometry of the site, the plaza was designed with different “rooms” to offer various amenities to shoppers, residents, and students.
The project, which will enhance the area adjacent to Myrtle Hall and Pratt’s new Film/Video facility at 550 Myrtle Avenue, was spearheaded by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, which is chaired by President Thomas F. Schutte. The Partnership will be the city’s maintenance partner and will be responsible for upkeep and programming. The project is part of the first round of the New York City Department of Transportation’s (NYC DOT) capital Plaza Program. Funding was provided by Councilmember Tish James, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and NYC DOT. Construction is expected to last 18 months.
2013 Alumni Achievement Awards Celebrate Accomplished Leaders On March 21, Pratt Institute honored six accomplished alumni at the annual Alumni Achievement Awards luncheon in Manhattan. The awards recognize outstanding graduates who have distinguished themselves in their fields, have earned a high degree of respect among their colleagues and in the general community, and whose impact has been felt on a regional, national, or international level. Selected by a jury of accomplished professionals, the 2013 recipients were Michael Flynn (M.S. City and Regional Planning ’06), New York City Department of Transportation director of capital planning and project initiation, who received the Early Career Award; Bill Gold (Advertising Design ’40), prolific creator of more than 2,000 movie posters including those for Casablanca, The Exorcist, Dog Day Afternoon, and Dirty Harry, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Sherry Onna Handlin (B.F.A. Art and Design Education ’67), Dance Theater of Nepal co-founder, who received the International Career Achievement Award; Dwight Johnson (B.I.D. ’72), Black Alumni of Pratt co-founder, who received the Distinguished Service Award; Louis Nelson (B.I.D. ’58, M.I.D. ’64), visionary artist and designer, who received the Career Achievement Award; and Yuko Nii (M.F.A. ’68), founder of the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, who received the Community Commitment Award. Left to right top row: Bill Gold, Michael Flynn, Dwight Johnson; Left to right bottom row: Louis Nelson, Yuko Nii, and Sherry Onna Handlin