Our Insights
What’s Special
Design and construction classes
The Downside
Attendance could be better
The Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction (UASDC) is a tinyl high school where students build skills in design and architecture through hands-on classes and partnerships with professionals in architecture, engineering, construction, and the arts.
Academics and instruction: All 9th grade students take Design and Drawing for Production, where they study hand drawing and design skills. In 10th grade, they choose an art or architecture pathway, which they follow through 12th grade, taking one class per day in their track.
Students in both tracks learn how to use industry-standard software like AutoCAD, SketchUp and Adobe Photoshop. Architecture students who complete the program and 54 hours of work-based learning can earn a Career and Technical Education (CTE) endorsed diploma, which guarantees them admission to some CUNY architecture programs.
The school offers literacy and math periods in 9th and 10th grade to build core skills. By 11th and 12th grade, students are encouraged to handle college-level coursework. They may take AP language and AP United States history in 11th grade, and AP literature, AP biology, environmental science, or calculus in 12th grade.
Students may pursue internships at companies like Perkins Eastman, Bold Architecture, and Beam Center, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit.
Culture and environment: This is a small school with two to three classes per grade. Classroom desks are arranged in circles, not rows, to support discussion and group work. Most students say they feel safe. There are no uniforms. Clubs include jujitsu, sneakerhead club, gamer club, and campus cheerleading. Sports are shared across the Park West Complex and include basketball, volleyball and baseball.
Attendance could be better. More than half of students miss a month or more of school, making it harder to keep up, and for teachers to support the whole class. As an incentive, those with an attendance rate above 90 percent attendance and an 80+ GPA may join an annual trip.
Special education and English as a new language (ENL): The school has classrooms with two teachers to support students who need extra help. A speech therapist is on staff, and an occupational therapist visits a couple of times per week. Students learning English take regular classes with their peers, except for one separate ENL class per day.
Building and facilities: The school is located on the fourth floor of the Park West Campus, which it shares with the Facing History School, Manhattan Bridges High School, Food and Finance High School, and High School of Hospitality Management. They enter the building through metal detectors. Facilities for art and architecture classes include a fabrication lab with laser cutters, 3D printers, and a wall saw. Students have free access to a health clinic in the building.
College and careers: A dedicated staff member helps students prepare for college and career. Students also take a work-based learning class, and one that prepares them to visit colleges and submit applications.
Every year students participate in a career fair, where they participate in workshops and learn skills like networking, resume writing, and mock interviewing. (Dashiell Allen, interview and web reports, October 2025)
Get more from InsideSchools
School Stats
Academics
Students
Race/Ethnicity
Safety & Vibe
Faculty & Staff
Teachers’ Race/Ethnicity
College and Career Readiness
Programs & Admissions
From the 2024 High School DirectoryUrban Assembly School of Design and Construction (M44X)
Offerings
From the 2024 High School DirectoryLanguage Courses
Spanish
Advanced Courses
Algebra II (Advanced Math), AP Calculus AB, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, Chemistry (Advanced Science), Physics (Advanced Science), Science (Advanced Placement), World Languages (Advanced World Languages)
Boys PSAL teams
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball
Girls PSAL teams
Basketball, Volleyball
Read about admissions, academics, and more at this school on NYCDOE’s MySchools
Contact & Location
Location
525 West 50th Street
Manhattan
NY
10019
Trains:
,
to 50th St
Buses: M104, M11, M12, M20, M31, M34A-SBS, M42, M50, M57
Contact
Other Details
This school shares the Park West Educational Campus with four other schools
Was this information helpful?
Get more from InsideSchools
You may also like …
Food and Finance High School
Manhattan, NY 10019
High School of Hospitality Management
Manhattan, NY 10019
Comments