Brisbin

On a quite different scale, Madison Square Garden recently completed the first phase of its own transformation, by the architects of Brisbin Brook Beynon.

Staging A Redesign Pia Catton 2012

Ms. Brisbin had written “Outstanding Work A+” across the top in big red letters.

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

Ms. Brisbin had said we needed to have a good reason to work alone.

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

According to Ms. Brisbin, we were supposed to write each other at least once a month, so Katie really owed me a letter.

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

Ms. Brisbin had once told me it was not grammatically correct to start sentences with the word “but,” but I had actually seen a lot of books with sentences that began with “but.”

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

Even Ms. Brisbin had said the mail was unpredictable.

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

“The only fair way to do this,” Ms. Brisbin said, “is for me to assign you randomly.”

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

Ms. Brisbin had also made room on the board to display the letters we got from our pen pals.

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

I remembered Ms. Brisbin telling us to write about what it was like to live in New York, and I started again: Dear Katie, I am sitting at my desk in my apartment in New York City.

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010

Ms. Brisbin turned back toward the front of the class.

Sincerely Courtney Sheinmel 2010