Imagine yourself getting off the train at Jay and Metrotech. Once you get off the trains there are many exits but you must take the easiest exit which is Jay street and Wilghony street. You take the elevator up and make a left and walk down that street. You will see a couple of buildings like the Credit Union, a sunglasses store and across from you will pass the NYU building and Starbucks. As you keep walking down you will come across Kings County Family Court. You continue to walk straight but now you are crossing the street. Now you are on the campus of City Tech and across the street you will find City Tech’s new building under construction. Both of these buildings belong to City Tech however both of them are very different when it comes to their exterior. This is a clear representation of juxtaposition, which can be defined as, the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect. These two buildings have the same purpose to educate but their design is so different. The modern look of the new building is a representation as how our society is evolving with technology.

The building across the street is very modern. The exterior itself is all glass which gives it a very modern taste. A glass building gives a reputation of being sophisticated which is the contrary to the building we are in now. The building we are in has a old design but not antique. Many educational buildings have smart boards but our school has chalkboards. The truth is before I came to City Tech the last time I had a chalkboard when I was in 6 grade. Our hallways are also kinda bland they lack that modern touch the building across the street has. Getting to this location was not very long but very hectic because Jay street is very busy in general. The area that has most traffic is usually outside the train station because everyone is rushing to get to work.

I decided to chose these building because I really like to see the huge difference of buildings in New York. I like to see the change of designs architects apply to our buildings nowadays. These new buildings really help us see the change in the world we live because we have modernized. The new design of buildings help testify how much as a nation we have industrialized and how we continue to grow. The buildings that are yet to be remodeled help us see how our New York was before. These buildings have history and culture tied within them so they still have relevant value. In the reading “City Limits” written by Colson Whitehead helps support my statement multiple times. On page 3 paragraph 2 we read that Whitehead also witnessed change in his neighborhood. On the same page but 1 paragraph, Whitehead goes on to further state that he was close to the buildings but to those who an business in them. He states, “if you had known, perhaps you would have stepped behind the counter and shaken everyone’s hand, pulled out the disposable camera and insured posing instructions”. A final supportive part of the passage can be found on page 3 paragraph 3 Whitehead states that he wished his part buildings could piece his life together to show his evolution as a person.

Personally, I have mixed feeling about juxtaposition because of the effects it brings to many neighborhoods. Many neighborhoods are made by immigrants and they integrate their culture within them allowing this mixture of culture make them feel closer to home. However, this modernization takes away with this sense of home. Although, this is a downfall, our neighborhoods are becoming a more representation as a society. This is a perk because as a nation we seem more industrialized and wealthy. Unfortunately, to achieve this representation many of our beloved neighborhoods have to be sacrificed. In conclusion, juxtaposition has a beauty to it but it overshadowed other beauties within our home.