Since 1894, Van Alen Institute has sponsored public design competitions identifying critical issues and developing partnerships that engage the public sphere.

Van Alen Institute has initiated and collaborated on some of New York's most innovative open-call public design competitions, addressing sites ranging from Wall Street, Times Square to Governor's Island and Gateway National Recreation Area.

Parks for the People: A Student Competition to Reimagine America's National Parks
August 2011
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Life at the Speed of Rail
March 2011
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Envisioning Gateway: A Public Design Competition for Gateway National Park
January 2007
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Urban Voids: Grounds for Change
January 2006
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The Parachute Pavilion: an open design competition for Coney Island
December 2004
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Civic Exchange: Beyond the Kiosk
June 2004
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Queens Plaza: An Open Ideas Competition
May 2001
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TKTS2K: A Competition to Design a New York Icon
June 1999
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Pier Pressure: Pier 40 Competition
July 1998
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Design Ideas for New York's Other River
March 1998
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Sun Shelter: An Architectural Design Competition
March 1997
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Public Property: An Ideas Competition for Governors Island
January 1996
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