Campus reorganization Pratt Institute

dekalb avenue gate of enclosed campus

as part of white flight in 1950s , 1960s affected majority of new york city neighborhood of clinton hill began see transformation upper-class, affluent, white community 1 chiefly populated poor , working-class people of color. during time, pratt considered moving campus more affluent long island or manhattan , increase attractiveness decided stay @ original brooklyn campus due history , charles pratt s original mission.

as part of robert moses plan urban renewal in new york city, pratt’s physical campus saw greatest amount of change in history. prior 1950s, school located in separate buildings located on several public streets. however, after moses clearance of many of structures located between pratt s buildings, land given on school, , true campus established. ryerson street, grand avenue, steuben street, , emerson place ceased allow automobile traffic, , campus became enclosed, forming grand mall connect institute s buildings. elevated train running along grand avenue between east building/student union , engineering quad dismantled. result of new real estate, school able build several new structures, designed firm of mckim, mead & white, including men’s , women’s dormitories , new student union. in addition, moses construction projects around school helped build school of architecture. research funds granted school discover new building techniques. 1963, urban planning department formed pratt center community development in attempt revitalize pratt’s surrounding neighborhood , brooklyn.