Project Series
Ongoing

Urban Room

Brooklyn

Projects in this series

Gowanus Yearbook Exhibition: The House Transformed

Contents

Using our HQ to host public programs and as a flexible community space.

Urban Room at Van Alen Institute
303 Bond Street, Brooklyn
Drop-in hours: Mondays–Thursdays, 10 am–5 pm

The Urban Room at Van Alen Institute is a flexible, accessible, street-level space located at 303 Bond Street in Gowanus. It’s a place for civic-minded organizations to meet and diverse groups to come together in dialogue, and serves as an information hub for the Gowanus community.

In addition to our public programs, we host the Brooklyn Community Board 6 general meeting and a community fridge operated by One Love Community Fridge. For values-aligned nonprofits and community groups, we offer this space and meeting tech on a sliding scale, while private rentals support our mission to create more equitable cities through inclusive design. To inquire about using our space, fill out this form.

Ask about using our space

Gowanus Yearbook

A living portrait of Gowanus, including long-time residents and newer arrivals.

Exhibition: The House Transformed

On view through May 22, The House Transformed presents new ideas for domestic architecture.

Upcoming Events

April 7, 2026

Wasted x Van Alen

Pratt Institute comes to Van Alen for their annual Wasted event — a public conversation about the status of waste in architecture.

April 8, 2026

CB6 Full Board Meeting

Brooklyn’s Community Board 6 holds their monthly Full Board meeting at Van Alen Institute. Open to the public.

April 13, 2026

Domestic Takes

How do members of Gen X, Y, and Z think about home? Join us for a talk with the curators of The House Transformed and Tiffany Jow of Untapped.

Exhibition: The House Transformed Urban Room

May 13, 2026

CB6 Full Board Meeting

Brooklyn’s Community Board 6 holds their monthly Full Board meeting at Van Alen Institute. Open to the public.

June 10, 2026

CB6 Full Board Meeting

Brooklyn’s Community Board 6 holds their monthly Full Board meeting at Van Alen Institute. Open to the public.

Ongoing Activities

Brooklyn Community Board 6
Full Board Meeting
Second Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 pm
Click here for current calendar

One Love Community Fridge
Open 24/7 outside 303 Bond Street
Restocked and maintained by One Love Community Fridge

Event Recaps

Photos: Van Alen Fall Fest 2025

At Van Alen Fall Fest 2025, we welcomed more than 450 neighbors and visitors for a lively open house held in collaboration with Gowanus Open Studios, Archtober, and Open House New York.

Photos + Video: Van Alen Fall Fest 2024

We had so much fun at Van Alen Fall Fest! Whether you’re a longtime Van Alen collaborator or were just passing through because of Gowanus Open Studios or Archtober, we’re so glad to have seen you there.

Photos + Video: Van Alen Block Party 2023

The Block Party was all about our community of Gowanus — a community deeply and actively committed to ensuring that the needs of every single resident are met.

Supporters

Jared Della Valle

CEO & Founder, Alloy

New York State Council on the Arts