Bond Street Bash
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Bond Street Bash 2025
Tuesday, June 10, 7–10 pm
Van Alen Institute
303 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Join friends, peers, and design leaders at Van Alen Institute’s annual Bond Street Bash! Celebrate the collaborations, connections, and community that make our network so extraordinary.
We’ll raise a glass to four incredible changemakers pushing the boundaries of inclusive design through bold innovation. Through their design practices, thought leadership, and advocacy, our Bond Street Bash 2025 Honorees are creating more vibrant public spaces in New York City and beyond:
Hana Kassem, Principal, KPF
Mark Gardner, Principal, Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects
Luke Hayman, Partner, Pentagram
Yvonne Stennett, Executive Director, Community League of the Heights
This year’s Bash will be especially memorable, as we also welcome our new Executive Director Hayley Eber. As founder of award-winning practice Studio Eber and Acting Dean of The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union, Hayley brings a wealth of leadership experience and commitment to our values of community-building and just urban futures.
Please join us at the Bash to celebrate our honorees and welcome Hayley!
Host Committee
Katie Swenson, Senior Principal, MASS Design Group (Chair)
Taylor Loutsis, Founder and Creative Director, Studio Loutsis
Sebastian Mendez, Founder, Tankhouse
Kia Weatherspoon, President, Determined by Design
Tickets and Sponsorship
As with everything we do, accessibility is our goal, so Bond Street Bash tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested $75 donation. Space is limited, so secure your tickets now!
Donations of $1,000 and above go directly towards supporting Van Alen’s ongoing inclusive design collaborations and come with sponsorship benefits. Click here to learn more about event sponsorship opportunities.
For questions about tickets, sponsorship, or event details, contact Pratik Dubey at pdubey@vanalen.org.
Limited Edition Merch
For the first time ever, we’re offering limited edition Van Alen apparel and accessories for sale when you RSVP for the Bond Street Bash.
This year’s collection features some of the most whimsical and wildly creative imagery from Van Alen’s archive. For the 1989 William Van Alen Memorial Fellowship, Michael Sorkin wrote a poetic prompt inviting designers to imagine a celestial space where world leaders gather to work towards conflict resolution. Nearly four decades later, the question of how design can work in service of peace remains as vital as ever.
Only available while supplies last — don’t miss out!
Honorees
NEXUS AWARD
Honoring dedication to bridging disciplines and advancing collaboration
Hana Kassem, Principal, KPF
Since joining Van Alen’s Board nine years ago, Hana has cultivated an ecosystem of innovative design collaborators — enabling us to connect communities to the best possible design support. With an international perspective, her leadership has helped Van Alen shift the paradigm of how residents, community leaders, and design professionals relate to one another.
TORCHBEARER AWARD
Honoring collaborative practices rooted in equity and justice
Mark Gardner, Principal, Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects
Over nine years of service on Van Alen’s Board, Mark has steered us toward our mission of creating more equitable cities through inclusive design. Through his practice and his mentorship at Brooklyn’s Youth Design Center, Mark is deeply committed to democratizing access to design education and tools.
KEYSTONE AWARD
Honoring steadfast support for community-centered initiatives
Luke Hayman, Partner, Pentagram
A trusted collaborator for five years — beginning with pandemic response program Neighborhoods Now — Luke has consistently met our community partners where they are. His thoughtful approach gives form to their visions, building trust between residents and design professionals in the process.
COMMUNITY CATALYST AWARD
Honoring transformative changemaking through design and advocacy
Yvonne Stennett, Executive Director, Community League of the Heights
Over five years of collaboration, we’ve witnessed how Yvonne’s kindness, spirit, and dedication have expanded Washington Heights’ access to crucial resources. Building on our Neighborhoods Now collaboration, she’s shaped a brighter future for her community through a longterm vision for its public realm.