C. B. J. Snyder


Charles B. J. Snyder was an American architect, architectural engineer, and mechanical engineer in the field of urban school building design and construction. He is widely recognized for his leadership, innovation, and transformation of school building construction process, design, and quality during his tenure as Superintendent of School Buildings for the New York City Board of Education between 1891 and 1923.

Early life and education

Snyder was born November 4, 1860, in Stillwater, New York. He was the middle of three children born to George I. Snyder, a harness maker, and Charity Ann Snyder. His two siblings, both sisters, were Ella G. Snyder and Katy Snyder.
Snyder was a member of the Kane Lodge No. 454, Free and Accepted Masons ; the Jerusalem Chapter, No. 8, Royal Arch Masons ; Order of Harugari, Martha Lodge No. 1,830 of Union Hill, New Jersey; and the Royal Arcanum Huguenot Council, No. 397.
He completed public schooling in Stillwater, New York. In 1879, he arrived in New York City, and worked four years with builders in preparation for his profession. In 1883, he began the practice of architecture.
Snyder earned two credentials from Cooper Union technical schools: Cooper Union Free Night School of Science, Class C — Third-Year: May 28, 1881 — Certificate, Practical Geometry ; and Cooper Union School of Art, May 28, 1884 — Certificate, Elementary Architectural Drawing.

Career

From the mid to late 1880s, Snyder worked with William E. Bishop, a New York City master carpenter. Little is known about Bishop except that he was a lifelong volunteer fireman, holding leadership positions in various fire companies.

Superintendent of School Buildings

At its last meeting of the school year on July 8, 1891, the New York City Board of Education elected Snyder as Superintendent of Buildings to succeed George W. Debevoise after his resignation. Of the thirteen votes cast, Snyder received twelve.
While Snyder initially oversaw Manhattan and The Bronx, the 1898 consolidation of Greater New York elevated him to the ultimate role of Superintendent of School Buildings for the entire city.

School design innovations

As Superintendent, Snyder thought of school buildings as civic monuments for a better society.
  • The H-plan design was first implemented by Snyder on a school in 1898 and was inspired by the Hotel de Cluny in Paris, which Snyder had seen in 1896.
In 1896 Snyder began designing his first "H-plan," which provided two side courts. Snyder's H-plan improved the overall environmental quality by, among other things, allowing generous light and fresh air into classrooms. The plan also allowed for grand courtyard entrances. It also provided areas between the wings that were safe for recreation.
  • The use of steel skeleton framing for buildings over four stories allowed for cheaper and faster construction, as well as an increased span of window openings.
  • Because of the need to produce many buildings in a short time, Snyder's office improved the design and planning ideas of earlier schools and sometimes used the same basic design for several schools.
  • Snyder reorganized the Deputy Superintendents so that each was responsible for a single part of the building — such as design and planning, heating and ventilating, electricity, plumbing and drainage, furniture, and inspection and records — and each reported directly to him.

Notable architecture

As Superintendent, Snyder is credited with the design of over 400 structural projects — including more than 140 elementary schools. Snyder worked in several styles, including Beaux Arts, English Collegiate Gothic, Jacobean, and Dutch Colonial. He preferred mid-block locations away from busy and polluted avenues. One of his signature motifs was to design spaces for learning that would offer a respite from noisy streets and poverty.

Elementary schools

The Bronx
  • Public School 17; now
  • PS 27 NYC Landmark
  • PS 28 - a.k.a. The Mount Hope School, a plaque at the entrance verifies that Snyder was the architect, designing it in 1896–7, but the numeric designation on the plaque is altered
  • PS 32 in Little Italy area, 183rd and Beaumont- a beautiful red-brick, terra-cotta & gargoyle redstone Gothic structure
  • PS 50 172nd and Vyse Ave
    Brooklyn
  • PS 95, 345 Van Sicklen Street
  • PS 157, 850 Kent Avenue
  • PS 133, 375 Butler Street
  • PS 130, 70 Ocean Parkway
  • PS 132, 320 Manhattan Avenue
  • PS 154, 1625 11th Avenue
    Manhattan
  • PS 1, Alfred E. Smith School ; this building featured what some believe was the world's first rooftop playground
  • PS 3 ; built in 1905-1906 after a previous school at that site had burned down. Now the Charrette School.
  • Public School 9 (historic building) ; PS 9 moved to a new building nearby in 1965, and the old building is now the Mickey Mantle School.
  • PS 11, one of few New York City public schools to have a swimming pool
  • PS 12, which also contains a swimming pool and two water-fountain adorned courtyards.
  • PS 17, now PS 212 Midtown West
  • PS 20, now the Rivington House
  • PS 23, now a community center that houses, among other things, the Chen Dance Center.
  • PS 40
  • PS 42
  • PS 44
  • PS 61
  • PS 64 NYC Landmark
  • PS 67, later HS of Performing Arts; later Liberty HS, currently Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School NYC Landmark
  • PS 90, built in 1905, the building had been abandoned for several decades, but artistic graffiti transformed the fence and walls into a shrine honoring several deceased renowned African Americans. On April 4, 2008, the City deeded the property to "West 147th Associates LLC," a condominium entity created in 2004 by the developer. With little fanfare, the developer, L+M Development Partners Inc., commenced construction of mixed-income condominiums; the aim is to refurbish the original facade and keep the "H pattern" design intact. The building is now addressed 217 W 147th St.
  • PS 95, now HS 560 City As School
  • PS 109, now El Barrio's ArtSpace PS 109, an affordable housing project for artists; National Register
  • PS 110
  • PS 150; later Hunter College Model School; later MachinrefMetal Trades HS; currently Life Sciences Secondary School
  • PS 160, now home to Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center
  • PS 157, apartments since 1990, about to convert into a co-op National Register
  • PS 165, now housing selective middle school Mott Hall II in addition to the Robert E. Simon School, which is a pre-K through 8 school.
  • NYC Landmark
  • PS 168, now a community health facility
  • PS 171, now PS/IS 171, the Patrick Henry School. Built 1899.
  • PS 186, in 1975 this structure was so run down that parents held protests and the city opened a new school across the street. The Convent Avenue Baptist Church bought it January 1986 with the intention of creating a new space for its M.L. Wilson Boys' Club. The mortgage was satisfied February 2006. But, as of 2008, no improvement have been made and the building is still vacant. The contract between the New York County Local Development Corporation and the M.L. Wilson Boys Club required that significant development be completed on the property within three years of the contract date.
    Queens
  • Public School 66 National Register
    Staten Island
  • PS 28; Richmondtown Historical Society NYC Landmark

High schools

The Bronx

Structural additions

Brooklyn

Demolished structures

The Bronx
High School of Commerce, Demolished 1964.

Professional affiliations

Snyder joined the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers in 1895, served on its Board of Governors from 1900 to 1904, and was elected President in 1907. He joined the American Institute of Architects in 1901 and was elevated to Fellow in 1905.

Retirement

In 1922, Snyder began openly exploring retirement. He said that he hadn't had a vacation in 18 years and was tired and completely worn-out and that it was time to go fishing. On July 1, 1923, Snyder officially retired. He was succeeded by another noted school architect Snyder helped train: William H. Gompert.

Personal life

Snyder married Harriet Katharine de Vries on September 11, 1889, at the home of the bride's parents in Jersey City Heights.. They had two sons, Howard Halsey Snyder and Robert Maclay Snyder

Death

Snyder died November 14, 1945, with his son, Robert, when they were overcome with natural gas poisoning, or carbon monoxide, or both, in their cottage in Babylon, New York. Apparently, upon retiring for the evening, the Snyders had lit the burners on the range oven to heat the rooms; but during the night the flame had been extinguished, possibly by a draft. The elder Snyder was 85, the son was 51. They both are buried in a family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.