Experiential Learning Program Development

I Build New York is our model for translating industry knowledge into meaningful student experiences. We handle the coordination and project management that bring these programs to life.

Year
2021

Client
Yoba Development

The Challenge

Commercial Real Estate (CRE) is an opaque, high-barrier industry with a significant diversity gap. While industry leaders like Yoba Development and RXR wanted to create a pipeline for diverse talent, there was no existing framework to translate complex, high-stakes development concepts into a curriculum accessible to public high school students. The challenge was not just teaching real estate, but demystifying an entire sector to empower students who had never seen themselves represented in it.

The Solution

We served as the lead consultants to bring the I Build NY vision to life, acting as the strategic connective tissue between four distinct stakeholders.

People walking past the Brooklyn Navy Yard sign on a tall building with large windows and a modern exterior.

The Delivery Partner: Brooklyn STEAM Center

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Modern multi-story building with illuminated white panel exterior, large glass windows showing interior offices, in an urban setting at dusk, with people on a brick courtyard and bicycles nearby.

The Visionary: Yoba Development (Malik Yoba)

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The Academic Anchor: Pratt School of Architecture

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The Industry Titan: RXR (Scott Rechler)

Our Strategic Approach

  • We transformed the "Real Estate Mix Tape" docu-series and raw industry case studies into a structured pedagogical model. We broke down the full lifecycle of development—Acquisition, Zoning, Financing, Design, and Construction—into digestible, hands-on learning modules.

  • We facilitated a unique "mentorship ecosystem" where Pratt undergraduate architecture students mentored high schoolers, while industry executives from RXR provided real-world site access

  • We managed the end-to-end launch of the pilot at the Brooklyn STEAM Center, ensuring the program met the rigorous technical standards of the Brooklyn Navy Yard's educational goals while remaining engaging for 11th and 12th graders.

The Results

Workforce Development Impact

I Build NY created a direct pathway from classroom learning to real-world experience. Students engaged with mentors, visited active project sites, and interacted with professionals across the industry, giving them practical exposure, career insight, and the confidence to see themselves in the field.

Scalable Framework

The pilot established a validated model now positioned for citywide expansion, proving that complex industry pipelines can be built within the public school system when the right partners are aligned.

Student Empowerment

Students moved beyond theory to practice, presenting capstone projects that reimagined real local sites, demonstrating a grasp of complex concepts like "highest and best use" and "community impact."

GSDC Projects