• Parks for the People Winning Schools Announced
• VAI Elects New Board Chair and Trustees
• Upcoming Bookstore Talks and Events
• Neighborhood Preservation Center Benefit
• Funding and Research Opportunities
  
• Kick off the year with a Van Alen Membership

PARKS FOR THE PEOPLE WINNING SCHOOLS ANNOUNCED

The jury has deliberated, the votes are in, and congratulations to the winning schools that have been selected for the Parks for the People Competition! Nine design studios will advance to the next round of the competition, partnering with the National Park Service to promote well-designed public parks in America. Thank you to all the schools that applied, it was a difficult selection among excellent proposals!
And the winners are…

Florida International University College of Architecture + the Arts
Biscayne National Park (Miami, FL)

Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Atlanta, GA)

University of Pennsylvania School of Design
Civil War Defenses of Washington (Washington, DC)

Pratt Institute School of Art and Design
Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (Elverson, PA)

The City College of New York, The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture
Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning, and Design
Nicodemus National Historic Site (Nicodemus, KS)

University of Washington College of Built Environments
San Juan Island National Historical Park (Friday Harbor, WA)
                                                                                             
Rice University School of Architecture
Valles Caldera National Preserve (Jemez Springs, NM)

We are thrilled to see what these dynamic teams dream up as their collaborations progress. Visit our Parks for the People site to learn more about the project, and stay tuned for a packed semester of site visits, charrettes, and reviews!

San Juan Island National Historical Park, Friday Harbor, Washington

Civil War Defenses of Washington, Washington, D.C.

JANUARY 26: GATEWAY CELEBRATION AT VAN ALEN BOOKS

We’re kicking off the year in full swing with a terrific lineup of launches and discussions at Van Alen Books. We open with a celebration of Gateway: Visions for an Urban National Park on Thursday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. Join editors Alexander Brash, Jamie Hand, and Kate Orff, along with photographer Laura McPhee and contributor Sarah Williams of Columbia University's GSAPP, who will convene for a conversation about the new publication, the international ideas competition that sparked fresh visions for Gateway National Recreation Area, and the future of urban nature. Be sure to make it to Van Alen’s first event of 2012, and please RSVP!

BOOKSTORE TALKS AND EVENTS

On Friday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. stop in for Four Conversations on the Discourse of Architecture, the second installment of Architecture on Display, a two-part series exploring the vexed relationship between architecture and its publics, published by the Architectural Association. Four Conversations features interviews between Aaron Levy of Slought Foundation and William Menking of the The Architect's Newspaper, who will both be joined by editor Thomas Weaver for a lively Q & A.

On February 9 at 7:00 p.m., we are delighted to celebrate the first issue of another new journal, CriticalProductive, a biannual publication focused on covering the processes of urbanization in the world’s fast-moving economies and geographic environments. Milton Curry, Peter Gilgen, and Shawn Rickenbacker will bring issue V1.1 Theoretic Action to the bookstore to discuss student and worker movements of 1968.

We welcome the architecture magazine CLOG to launch their second issue, a lively look at Apple. On Friday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m., editors move beyond the company’s iconic consumer products to discuss their exploration of Apple’s approach to architecture, from Foster + Partners’ spaceship-inspired Apple Campus 2 to the brand-savvy series of retail stores.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES RETURNS

Finally, our Spotlight series continues with two upcoming programs presenting publishing work of design nonprofits in New York. On February 16, SUPERFRONT founder Mitch McEwen will lead a panel discussion on the creative work and architectural experimentation the organization fosters. And come back the following week, on February 23, when Eva Franch i Gilabert takes the stage to give us the latest from Storefront for Art and Architecture.

VAI ELECTS NEW BOARD CHAIR AND TRUSTEES

Stephen Cassell has been elected chair of Van Alen Institute Board of Trustees. Principal of Architecture Research Office, Cassell is a leader in bold design with a commitment to the public realm. We’re excited for Cassell to bring his energy and expertise to Van Alen, and we salute departing chair Abby Hamlin for her leadership in advancing Van Alen’s role as a leading advocate for public architecture.

We also welcome three new Trustees to the Board in 2012: Matthew Blesso, Founder and CEO of Blesso Properties; Seth Harrison, Managing General Partner of Apple Tree Partners and Co-founder of Harrison Atelier; and Anthony Vidler, Dean and Professor of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union. Read the full press release here.

NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION CENTER BENEFIT

On January 17, EuroCircle is hosting a benefit for the Neighborhood Preservation Center at Van Alen from 6 to 9 p.m. A unique partnership between the Historic Districts Council, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, and the St. Mark’s Historic Landmark Fund, the Neighborhood Preservation Center is a forum for the public to exchange information regarding safeguarding historically and culturally significant buildings and neighborhoods. Come celebrate the fantastic work performed by the NPC and other preservation groups in taking care of New York’s rich legacy. The evening’s program entails an introduction to historic preservation, a musical performance by Paula Jaakkola, a raffle, and plenty of time to mingle! You can purchase tickets here.

NYFA VAN LIER FELLOWSHIP

The Van Lier Fellowship in Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design pairs emerging immigrant artists with mentors, engaging them with the broader creative community in New York City. Fellows in the Architecture/Environmental Structures/Design category can include individuals working in environmental design, the making of places, spaces, constructions, and landscapes, as well as traditional and experimental forms of architecture (built or unbuilt). Winners will be awarded a stipend to assist in their work. The deadline is January 31.

2013 U.S./ JAPAN CREATIVE ARTISTS' PROGRAM

Start polishing your portfolio if you have a passion for Japanese design and culture! Creative artists are encouraged to apply for the U.S. Japan Friends Commission’s 2013 U.S. Japan Creative Artists’ Program. Intended for mid-career professionals, this grant provides $20,000 for a three-month residency during which awardees will complete work on a project as they act “as seekers, as cultural visionaries, and as living liaisons to the traditional and contemporary cultural life of Japan.” The deadline is March 1.

CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION GRANT

RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A VAN ALEN MEMBERSHIP

What better way to start the new year than with Van Alen membership? Our supporters in 2011 helped make programs like Design Speed Dating, Van Alen Books, and Life at the Speed of Rail possible. We invite you to join us in creating a more vibrant public realm for 2012 by becoming a Van Alen member. Join today, and you’ll be a part of our diverse community of designers, planners, policy-makers, and urban thinkers—anyone with a passion for the public realm. Of course, current supporters already enjoy the 10% members’ discount at Van Alen Books, along with complimentary VAI publications, special members-only events, and more. Join us today by signing up here.

As always, it’s easy to keep in touch with Van Alen: Browse our home page at www.vanalen.org, find us in your in-box via our monthly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Van Alen Institute’s ongoing programs are made possible through the generous assistance of our individual contributors and partners, and are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and by Furthermore: a program of the J.M. Kaplan Fund and Seed Fund. We gratefully appreciate their assistance, and acknowledge the generous support of the following organizations: