Beaux-Arts Institute of Design facts for kids
The Beaux-Arts Institute of Design (BAID) was a special school in New York City. It taught art and architecture. It was located at 304 East 44th Street in Turtle Bay, Manhattan. The school started in 1916. Lloyd Warren created it to train American architects, sculptors, and mural painters. They learned in a style similar to the famous French school, the École des Beaux-Arts. Today, the building is used by Egypt's mission to the United Nations.
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How BAID Started
BAID grew from a group called the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects. This was a club for American architects. All of them had studied at the famous art school in Paris, France.
Improving Architecture Education
Since 1894, the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects wanted to make architecture education better in the U.S. They created standard design challenges for students. These challenges were used in architecture schools and independent art studios. Their goal was to improve how students performed. It also helped make teaching methods similar across the country.
By 1900, most American architecture schools were using these challenges. By 1916, the Society had too much work. They were creating problems and judging many student projects. So, they started BAID to handle all this important work.
Helping Sculptors
For sculptors, BAID helped train many skilled artists. These artists could create decorative sculptures. This also allowed members of the National Sculpture Society to focus on fine art.
BAID's History
The National Sculpture Society gave BAID a building at 126 East 75th Street. Classes at BAID began on September 18, 1916. The school had three main departments. These were for architecture, sculpture, and mural painting. Each department worked with a committee from a related professional group.
Key People at BAID
Architect Frederic Charles Hirons was very important to BAID. He helped start the school in 1916. He also designed the BAID building in 1928. He even led the Society of Beaux-Arts Architects from 1937 to 1939.
Another founder was Lloyd Warren. He was the brother of Whitney Warren. Lloyd Warren helped bring top artists and architects to teach at BAID. They also helped judge student competitions. This was all done to help improve the art and architecture professions.
Student Success
In 1927, Carl Conrad Franz Kressbach won the first annual Whitney Warren architecture competition. He was a student at Harvard University. His winning design was for "An airport for a large city." People interested in future air travel found his ideas very exciting.
Name Changes Over Time
In 1956, the school changed its name. It became the National Institute for Architectural Education. This showed that it was moving away from old European traditions. Later, in 1995, it changed its name again. It is now known as the Van Alen Institute.
What Students Did at BAID
BAID held architecture competitions that were known across the country. University architecture schools and independent studios took part. All the student entries were sent to New York City to be judged. In 1929–1930, the school received the most entries ever. About 9,500 projects came in for judging that year!
Learning at the School
BAID also had classes and studios right at the school. The sculpture studios were open for many hours. They even stayed open late into the evenings. This was helpful for students who worked during the day. It also helped teachers who taught part-time.
Students from All Backgrounds
Many students at BAID were immigrants or first-generation Americans. They often came from working-class families. Their training helped them get jobs in the building trades. They were not always aiming to become fine artists. Many of these students also attended the Art Students League of New York.
Famous Alumni
Many talented artists and architects studied at BAID. Here are some of them:
- Edmond Romulus Amateis, sculptor
- Beniamino Benvenuto Bufano, sculptor
- Gaetano Cecere, sculptor
- Rose Connor, architect
- Herbert Ferber, sculptor
- Mitchell Fields, sculptor
- Harold H. Fisher, church architect
- Paul Fjelde, sculptor and professor
- Vincent Glinsky, sculptor and instructor
- Chaim Gross, sculptor
- Stratton Hammon, architect
- Milton Hebald, sculptor
- Henry Hensche, painter
- Oswald Hoepfner, student and instructor
- Herbert B. Hunter, architect
- Joseph Kiselewski, sculptor
- Ibram Lassaw, sculptor
- Ellamae Ellis League, architect
- John Gaw Meem, architect
- Arthur C. Morgan, sculptor
- Jules Olitski, painter
- Corrado Parducci, sculptor
- David K. Rubins, sculptor
- Louis Slobodkin, sculptor and children's book author
- Cesare Stea, sculptor
- Albert Stewart, sculptor
- Robert Edward Weaver, muralist, painter, sculptor
- Albert W. Wein, sculptor
- Paul R. Williams, architect
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