Archive

1. Common Build: BMA Design Installation

   June 26, 2026 1:11 pm Comments Off on Common Build: BMA Design Installation

   About

   

   

   

   Please note: the open call for designers is now closed. Stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks.

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   Van Alen Institute and Broadway Mall Association are seeking emerging designers and artists for a temporary public design installation addressing the theme of “Eco-Mutualism.” The selected project will be on view March 2027–January 2028 at Mitchel Square in Washington Heights, Manhattan (map). See the PDF below for a field guide for installations at Mitchel Square.

   What is Eco-Mutualism?

   While this term is rooted in biological processes, it’s open to broader interpretations around sustainability of natural, cultural, and community resources. For this project, we’re defining Eco-Mutualism as an ecological interaction between two or more different species where every participating organism experiences a net benefit.

   Projects might consider the following:

   • Climate change: The challenges of trying to live in greater harmony with our natural and urban environments in the era of climate change (e.g. curbing the heat island effect, absorbing stormwater, or promoting biodiversity)
   • Health and wellbeing: The importance of fostering symbiotic relationships in nature at a micro level, and how that can impact the health and wellbeing of our communities on the macro level
   • Greater equity: The significance of protecting and sustaining our natural resources as a means of creating greater equity and improving quality of life across under-served neighborhoods

   Field Guide

   Click here to learn more about BMA’s ongoing public art programming.

   Info Session

   We hosted a virtual info session on Tuesday, July 7. View the session recording and presentation slides below.

   Open Call

   This Open Call is now closed. Please stay tuned for updates.

   Successful applications should demonstrate an understanding of the neighborhood’s ecological, cultural, and historical context. Designers and artists with a connection to Washington Heights are especially encouraged to apply. (Part of a team, collaborative, studio, or firm? Only one person needs to respond, but your responses should reflect the availability, opinion, and work of the group.)

   From this open call, three shortlisted designers/teams will be invited to submit a proposal. Van Alen will award shortlisted designers/teams $1,000 upon submission of their proposals.

   One winning proposal will be implemented. Van Alen will award the selected designer/team $8,000 as a fee for development and delivery of the project, and $25,000 for direct expenses for production, fabrication, and installation.

   Respond to the Open Call

   Project Partner

   

   Community Partner

   Broadway Mall Association

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   Program Manager

   

   Van Alen Staff

   Shiloah Coley

   Program Manager

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   Supporters

   

   Supporter

   New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

   

   Supporter

   New York State Council on the Arts

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2. NOT NOT: An Office, An Exhibition

   June 18, 2026 10:11 am Comments Off on NOT NOT: An Office, An Exhibition

   About

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   On view June 18–August 15, 2026
   Mondays–Thursdays, 10 am–6 pm
   303 Bond Street, Brooklyn

   Extended hours: Friday, August 14 + Saturday, August 15, 1–5 pm
   For this unique exhibition close-out, stop by during these final extended hours to view NOT NOT deinstalling their project. While visitors may not participate in the deinstall process, you’re welcome to observe and speak with NOT NOT founders Ekin Bilal and Celia Chaussabel as they work.

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   NOT NOT is an exhibition and temporary office space of the newly-launched design studio NOT NOT, founded by Ekin Bilal and Celia Chaussabel. For this witty, experimental project, they’re creating a space-within-a-space using off-the-shelf materials and custom clamps.

   Ekin Bilal and Celia Chaussabel are members of the Van Alen Vanguard, a network of 21 emerging design leaders. Activating Van Alen’s space at 303 Bond Street, the Vanguard develops public programs and exhibitions that reimagine designers’ roles in civic life. NOT NOT is the first exhibition presented as part of the Van Alen Vanguard.

   The office

   As NOT NOT’s first physical work space, this project is, in part, a response to the financial and material realities of launching a new office. The office space is constructed of standard building materials, including plywood, cinder blocks, and metal sheeting. Custom hand-like clamps hold these materials in place without damaging them, so they can be returned to where they came from — allowing others to use them and reducing waste.

   You’re invited to enter the space, interact with Ekin and Celia, and observe their design process up close.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   The exhibition

   On the office’s exterior walls, NOT NOT presents mix of the studio’s recent work alongside new designs, commissions, and proposals. Side-by-side with architectural drawings and models, the exhibition includes animations, video games, comics, furniture, and printed matter that expand how architecture can be made and shared.

   The exhibition makes often-hidden aspects of architecture visible — physical spaces as well as the profession’s ongoing grappling with climate crises and labor practices. NOT NOT offers an alternative future and way of thinking about overlooked spaces, resources, and the built environment, centered on care and transparency.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Upcoming Events

   October 20, 2026

   Public Art Party

   Van Alen is delighted to host the fourth edition of the PUBLIC ART PARTY, a bi-annual community-building event for people working across every part of the public art ecosystem.

   Urban Room

   

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   October 17, 2026

   Van Alen Fall Fest 2026

   Join us for our annual open house to learn more about Van Alen, meet your neighbors, and engage with our upcoming exhibition Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design.

   Urban Room

   

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   October 9, 2026

   Public Space as a Living Lab

   Organized by ANFA and X-Topia, this three-day immersive workshop explores practical tools to design healthier, more livable, and human-centered public spaces.

   Urban Room

   

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   August 13, 2026

   NOT NOT: Closing Talk + Fire Sale

   To close out their exhibition, NOT NOT invites three founding principals to talk about their firms’ unconventional beginnings.

   NOT NOT: An Office, An ExhibitionUrban RoomVan Alen Vanguard

   

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   Updates

   Press

   The Architect’s Newspaper

   At Van Alen, NOT NOT is part performance, part workspace, part event, and part exhibition

   Read More

   Press

   Archinect

   10 must-see architecture & design events to see this August

   Read More

   Updates

   Photos: An Evening with NOT NOT

   AIANY’s Committee on Residential Architecture hosted a special summer gathering at Van Alen to explore our exhibition NOT NOT.

   Read More

   

   Updates

   Photos: NOT NOT Opening

   Thank you everyone who joined us for the opening of NOT NOT! As promised, it was not not a party.

   See photos

   

   About NOT NOT

   NOT NOT is a design practice working across architecture, objects, and stories. The practice explores the overlooked spaces, materials, and systems that shape the built environment, from maintenance routines and demolition debris to regulatory gray zones and infrastructures that sustain buildings over time.

   NOT NOT’s output extends beyond conventional architectural formats (not not architectural formats), including video games, experimental animation, comics, machines, and illustrations. NOT NOT chooses these mediums deliberately to surface the political and material realities often hidden within architectural practice: questions of labor, regulation, maintenance, extraction, and care, in order to make them legible to audiences beyond the profession. Learn more at not-not.co.

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Ekin Bilal

   Co-Founder, NOT NOT

   Visiting Critic, Cornell AAP

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Celia Chaussabel

   Co-Founder, NOT NOT

   Reyner Banham Teaching Fellow, University at Buffalo

   Related Projects

   

   Ongoing

   Van Alen Vanguard

   A cohort of rising professionals reimagining cities, public space, and designers’ roles in civic life.

   See Project

   

   Ongoing

   Urban Room

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

   See Project

   Supporters

   NOT NOT is supported by Independent Projects, a grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts and The Architectural League of New York. Independent Projects is made possible by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

   

   Supporter

   New York State Council on the Arts

3. Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design

   June 11, 2026 12:05 pm Comments Off on Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design

   About

   

   The open call for this exhibition is now closed. Stay tuned for exhibition updates in late Summer 2026.

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   Van Alen Institute has spent more than 130 years at the intersection of design ambition and civic life. Its archive, comprising thousands of competition boards, jury records, photographs, and correspondence, is one of the most significant collections of American architectural history in existence. Much of it has never been seen by the public.

   Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design positions the archive not as a museum piece but as living material, something to be questioned, reinterpreted, and held accountable to the present. It also invites careful reflection on Van Alen’s 130-year influence within the field of design and upon the shaping of American cities.

   Van Alen invites emerging designers and creatives of all disciplines to delve into the currently accessible portions of our archive and consider its material through the lens of open and fair access. We are seeking project proposals that provoke deep reflection on how the pursuit of greater access to design can and must progress into the future, both within the profession and as a tool to reckon with society’s greatest challenges.

   We welcome a wide range of creative approaches and encourage applicants to propose the medium that best serves their concept—architectural models, drawings, images, projections, video, photography, writing, or other media. Projects can either respond directly to specific materials within the archive, such as competition prompts or submitted drawings, or engage the archive’s content more thematically. Projects that invite direct engagement and interaction are strongly encouraged, as are multi-disciplinary collaborations. Ideas for public programming to enrich your project, such as workshops, talks, or other events, are welcomed (but not required). 

   Five projects will be selected and all will be displayed together during the Open Access exhibition at Van Alen’s Urban Room, October–November 2026. Each project will receive an all-inclusive $3,000 honorarium (please note: production costs must be factored into this total). Selected projects will also receive curatorial and archival support from Van Alen, and access to Materials for the Arts for donated supplies.

   Considerations

   Van Alen’s archive is a living, active record; one that reflects how this institution has moved through questions of access and design over more than a century. Every competition brief, travel journal, submission, prompt, and departmental structure in it represents someone’s own interpretation of accessibility.

   We are drawn to work that opens up conversations on how access has moved through the institution. We seek projects that encourage us to ask:

   • How have definitions of quality design, along with the way design is taught and practiced, changed over time? 
   • How has the evolution of representing design ideas impacted the way we see and talk about cities? 
   • What challenges facing cities and their inhabitants did Van Alen’s community take up and which problems, perspectives, and narratives were overlooked? 
   • Who was invited into Van Alen’s community to shape space and exchange ideas, and who was left out, despite having valuable ideas and experiences to contribute?
   • If communities had been centered in design from the beginning, what might our cities look like today? What alternate paths might we have taken throughout history? What futures might have been (and could be) possible?

   Eligibility

   Applicants do not need formal architectural training. Individuals whose practices engage public space, cities, culture, or civic life are strongly encouraged to apply. This opportunity is open to emerging creatives across disciplines including but not limited to: Architects, archivists, artists, designers, educators, filmmakers, graphic designers, interdisciplinary practitioners, photographers, planners, researchers, scholars, and writers. Collaborative proposals are permitted; however, honoraria may need to be shared among collaborators.

   To be eligible, applicants must:

   • Be at least 18 years old
   • Be legally authorized to work in the United States, or capable of receiving an artist honorarium
   • Be available to participate in hybrid project check-ins between July and November 2026
   • Commit to delivering exhibition-ready work according to the project timeline

   Award

   Selected participants will receive:

   • $3,000 honorarium
   • Access to archival materials and curatorial support
   • Mentorship from Van Alen staff, advisors, and invited professionals
   • Inclusion in a public-facing exhibition at Van Alen Institute, October–November, 2026
   • Opportunities to participate in public programming and related events
   • Access to free materials through Materials for the Arts
   • Professional documentation of exhibited work

   Requirements

   Submission Requirements

   • Project Proposal: A written proposal (maximum 1,000 words) describing the archival material(s) or themes you intend to engage, the conceptual framework of the proposed work, the proposed medium, format, installation approach, how the work responds to, re-contextualizes, or critiques the archive, and any anticipated production or technical needs. Applicants may additionally submit sketches, diagrams, visual references, or preliminary drawings.
   • Portfolio / Work Samples: 1–3 examples of previous work (work relevant to proposed projects encouraged). Accepted formats include PDFs, images, video links, audio links, writing samples, and documentation of exhibitions or installations.
   • Artist Statement or Biography: A brief statement (maximum 500 words) describing your practice, interests, and relevant experience.
   • Public Programming Proposal: Applicants are encouraged to propose related public-facing programming — workshops, talks, readings, walking tours, performances, participatory activities, or educational engagements. (Note: Optional, but encouraged.)

   Accepted file formats: PDF, JPG/PNG, MP4/MOV links, and web links to supporting materials. Please ensure your submission is complete. Incomplete applications may not be considered

   Selection Criteria

   Applications will be evaluated based on:

   • Artistic or design excellence
   • Critical engagement with archival materials
   • Feasibility within the exhibition timeline and budget
   • Potential contribution to broader public discourse
   • Relevance to the exhibition framework
   • Strength and originality of concept
   • Thoughtfulness regarding representation, historical inquiry, and interpretation

   The selection committee will include representatives from Van Alen Institute’s invited curators and staff, with additional support from advisors, Board members, and our external network.

   Exhibition Parameters

   Selected participants will be expected to:

   • Produce exhibition-ready work by agreed deadlines
   • Selected fellows will participate in three group check-ins: one upon selection, one at the midpoint of the project development period, and one in mid-August ahead of installation
   • Participate in regular 1:1 check-ins with Van Alen staff
   • Collaborate with exhibition staff on installation requirements
   • Provide digital documentation and descriptive materials for exhibition and promotional use
   • Participate in at least one exhibition-related public event, if requested

   Final works should be suitable for professional exhibition display and installation. 

   Note on Van Alen’s Urban Room: Space for presentation is limited. Selected projects will be one of five presented simultaneously during the exhibition. Please see the floor plan below and consider when determining dimensions and means of presentation for your project.

   Explore the Archive

   Van Alen’s archive is a living collection. The archives chronicle the 134-year history of the institution and is currently undergoing a multi-year project to organize and make accessible for public use. For this call, we are currently able to provide applicants with access to the following: 

   Digital Archive

   With more than 2,000 digitized objects, our existing digital archive is a rich window into a century’s worth of programs that have nurtured generations of architects and urban thinkers. Explore some highlights below or browse the full digital archive.

   

   An International Gateway of Friendship (1929)

    

   22nd Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture

    

   “At the suggestion of President Elect Hoover, it has been proposed to construct an international road furthering the link of friendship and commerce between the three Americas. This road will cross our border over the Rio Grande into Mexico, and this program proposes to erect on the brink of a river a monument symbolizing this new bond between the Republics of the new world.” (Excerpt from competition brief)

   

   A Community Building (1948)

    

   35th Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture

    

   “A community needs more than physical spaciousness in public and private areas, more than sunlight and air, more than convenient shopping centers and adequate schools. There must be a community spirit, a sense of neighborliness and a sense of pride in one’s community. There is a great need for a meeting place where people can learn the art of joy of getting along with one another.” (Excerpt from competition brief)

   

   A World Study Center for Philosophies and Ideas (1965)

    

   52nd Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture

    

   “Mankind will be confronted with proof of the existence or non-existence of extra-terrestrial life. Contrary to the results of past ‘discovery’ eras, it is hoped that by preparatory study the difficult transitions accompany great discoveries can be made more easily and successfully. To accomplish this, it is proposed to construct a center for the exchange of world philosophies and ideas.” (Excerpt from competition brief)

   

   National Center for Botanical Study (1986)

    

   73rd Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture

    

   “The prime focus of the Center will be botanic study of, and experimentation with, wild flowers and aquatic plants. Plant ecologies that are characters of various regions of North America will be recreated in greenhouses and natural settings. Public visitations and educational programs will be major aspects of the Center’s activities.

    

   “One of the major design opportunities will be the resolution of the built and the natural environments. Any solution must recognize the two sets of seemingly conflicting concerns that accompany such an environmental contract, allowing aspects of each to occur at various scales.” (Excerpt from competition brief)

   

   Desert Passage (X Marks the Spot) (1987)

    

   74th Lloyd Warren Fellowship, Paris Prize in Architecture

    

   “Individuals and small groups of pilgrims have journeyed for years to a site lying along the thirty-sixth parallel near Taos, New Mexico. Traces of a timeless energy issue from this high desert. Deeply personal voyages to this spot are undertaken in order to experience and comprehend the palpable emanations of the ancient source.

    

   “Emerging now, however, from the collective echo of the many travelers is a call to celebrate, in architectural form, the special status of this arid precinct. The design challenge to recognize the inherent sanctity of the site, to preserve its special aura, and to acknowledge the human processions and natural cycles occurring there. The architectural mandate includes construction of a shrine, a shelter for one to ten people and an observation point.” (Excerpt from competition brief)

   Explore digital archive

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   Institutional Records

   The following records are available on-site at Van Alen’s office and viewable by appointment during normal business hours (Monday–Thursday, 10 am–6 pm).

   • Publication materials, including press and newspaper clippings: 1894–present
   • Competition Programs and Jury Reports: 1894–2008
   • Paris Prize in Architecture: 1904–49, 1980–94
   • William Van Alen Memorial Award: 1972–94
   • Annual Reports: 1916–40, 1950–76
   • Van Alen Reports, including competition and exhibition brochures): 1996–2005

   Note: Gaps in time indicate records that are missing and unavailable.

   Email to request access

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   Finding Aid

   This is a list of archival boxes and binders containing a wide assortment of institutional documents such as competition prompts, jury notes, program-related correspondence, party invitations, financial statements, etc. The list, through its general descriptions of the boxes, provides a broad, categorical overview of the types of records in our possession. 

   Note: while viewing these specific records is not possible during the proposal period, winning project teams will have access to these records if needed to further develop their projects.

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   Physical Archive (Videos)

   These videos show Van Alen staff handling specific records from the archive, providing a “feel” for the material. Featured material includes:

   • Student competition submissions across architecture, sculpture, graphic arts, and interior design
   • Materials from the Beaux-Arts Ball, 1927–1928
   • Institutional records and correspondence from the Society of Beaux-Arts, 1928–1930
   • The Beaux Arts Boys on the Boulevards: A book documenting a group trip to Paris with portrait drawings by Tony Sarg, 1933
   • Cassandra McGovern, Van Alen Fellowship 3rd Prize, 1981
   • Hawaii and Modernism: A travel report with photographs documenting an architecture expedition, 1986
   • Travel log from Joan Bassin for the National Institute of Architecture Education and Van Alen Endowment Fellowship, 1992

   View videos

   Contact

   

   Network

   Mina Morales

   Curatorial Assistant

   Email

   Supporters

   

   Supporter

   National Endowment for the Arts

   

   Supporter

   New York State Council on the Arts

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4. Friends from the Canal

   April 22, 2026 12:26 pm Comments Off on Friends from the Canal

   About

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Now on view through August 2026.

   Created by local artist duo Mookntaka, Friends from the Canal responds to Gowanus’ state of flux. Amidst new development and environmental remediation, this multi-site public art installation imagines gentle creatures emerging from the Gowanus Canal to investigate the commotion and meet their neighbors. These three “cheerful mutants,” known as Loofa, Shelby, and Pebbles, have unique silhouettes inspired by the canal’s aquatic fauna. Placed outside at three locations in Gowanus — Cafe Mars, Union Channel, and Wyckoff Gardens — the Friends create play in unexpected places and invite people to break their usual routine. During the day, they’re colorful, welcoming creatures, and at night, they provide a soft, radiating light.

   Mookntaka was selected through an open call held in Fall 2025, and chosen by a committee of local residents and community leaders in collaboration with Van Alen Institute.

   Friends from the Canal is produced by Van Alen Institute and made possible by a Public Realm Grant for Commercial District Lighting awarded through the NYC Department of Small Business Services; public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

   

   Network

   Mookntaka

   Locations

   • Cafe Mars, 272 3rd Ave at President St (map)
   • Union Channel at Gowanus Wharf, 240 3rd Ave at Union St (map)
   • Wyckoff Gardens, 1987 Nevins St at Warren St (map)

   Scavenger Hunt

   

   

   To encourage more exploration of Gowanus, Friends from the Canal is accompanied by a scavenger hunt of local cafes, shops, and restaurants. Visit each local business on the map to collect a unique sticker designed by Mookntaka. When you collect all 18 stickers, stop by Van Alen Institute to redeem prizes from local businesses. Printed maps with scavenger hunt locations and instructions can be found at Van Alen and From Here to Sunday, a local gallery and gift shop located at 567 Union Street.

   Enhancing the scavenger hunt, local artist HiBye has created ceramic tiles that resemble the Friends. Dubbed the “Mookntiles,” they’re installed at 16 unlisted locations around Gowanus — encouraging more unexpected discovery as you move around the neighborhood!

   View map (PDF)

   Updates

   Updates

   Photos: Creatures from the Canal block party

   On June 20, Mookntaka paddled their Friends from the Canal along the Gowanus Canal as part of a neighborhood-wide block party.

   See photos

   

   Updates

   Photos: Unveiling of Friends from the Canal

   On April 22, we had such a magical evening celebrating Mookntaka and their Friends from the Canal.

   See photos

   

   In the News

   Press

   Art Hag NYC

   Mookntaka | Friends of the Canal

   Read More

   Press

   NYCHA Journal

   Temporary Art Installation at Wyckoff Gardens That Will Make You Smile

   Read More

   Design Partners

   

   Network

   New Project

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Francesca Bastianini

   Co-Founder and Principal, Sighte Studio

   

   Network

   Buro Happold

   

   Network

   TYLin

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   Selection Committee

   

   Network

   Zaxx Abraham

   Project Manager, Neighborhood Planning, NYC Department of Small Business Services

   

   Network

   Sam Alison-Mayne

   Co-Founder, Tankhouse

   

   Network

   Tiffany Baker

   Artist

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Francesca Bastianini

   Co-Founder and Principal, Sighte Studio

   

   Network

   Emily C. Bell

   Communications & Outreach Senior Manager, Gowanus Canal Conservancy

   

   Network

   Rose Jefferson

   Community Advocate and Educator

   

   Network

   Jonathan Molloy

   Senior Associate, SO–IL

   

   Network

   Saloni Sharma

   Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Le Roi Capital

   

   Network

   Johnny Thornton

   Executive Director, Arts Gowanus

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   Timeline

   Jul – Aug 2025

   Open Call

   110 artists and designers responded to the Open Call.

   Sep – Oct 2025

   Request for Proposals

   Three shortlisted artists/designers were chosen by a committee of local residents and community leaders, and asked to create a proposal. Each shortlisted participant received $2,000 upon submission of their proposal.

   Oct – Nov 2025

   Winner Selected

   The winning proposal was selected by a committee of local residents and community leaders. The winning designer received a $23,000 fee for development and delivery of the project.

   Dec 2025 – Mar 2026

   Production and Fabrication

   The winning design is awarded $75,000 for direct expenses of the project’s production, fabrication, and installation.

   Apr – Aug 2026

   Display Period

   Program Manager

   

   Van Alen Staff

   Shiloah Coley

   Program Manager

   Email

   Related Projects

   

   Common Build

   Ongoing

   The Dear Neighbor Project

   On long-term view, Tiffany Baker’s public art project increases public awareness of flooding in Gowanus.

   See Project

   

   Common Build

   Archive

   With Your Voice

   On view July 11—September 9, 2024, With Your Voice envisioned major changes coming to Gowanus, Brooklyn.

   See Project

   Supporters

   

   Supporter

   NYC Department of Small Business Services

   

   Supporter

   New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

   

   Supporter

   New York State Council on the Arts

5. Gowanus Yearbook

   January 20, 2026 5:06 pm Comments Off on Gowanus Yearbook

   About

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Gowanus Yearbook is a living portrait of Gowanus. The project invites neighborhood residents to be photographed, mark their photos with the year they arrived or were born in Gowanus, and draw a symbol answering the prompt: “What makes Gowanus Gowanus?”

   This work is grounded in a simple but urgent idea: everyone experiences and perceives where they live differently. In neighborhoods undergoing rapid development, local histories are often at risk of being lost or diminished. Gowanus Yearbook responds to that pressure by treating memory as something communal, lived, and worth protecting.

   The project team has collected portraits at community events held at Van Alen Institute, NYCHA’s Gowanus Houses Community Center, and Wild East Brewing Co. More than 50 portraits have been collected, culminating in a Yearbook Signing Party in June 2026. The yearbook will now be bound and stay at Van Alen as a living project. Stay tuned for future opportunities to contribute your photo and signature.

   Gowanus Yearbook is created by Rida Chaudhry, Ananaya Singh, and Kaye Yuvallos, who met in Parsons’ Resilient Mutual Development graduate course taught by Juanli Carríon. Juanli previously collaborated with Van Alen Institute on the multi-site installation With Your Voice, leading to an ongoing partnership with Van Alen to conduct community research in Gowanus.

   Project Leads

   

   Network

   Rida Chaudhry

   Creative Strategist

   

   Network

   Ananaya Singh

   Design Strategist and Researcher

   

   Network

   Kaye Yuvallos

   Designer and Researcher

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   Contact

   

   Van Alen Staff

   Shiloah Coley

   Program Manager

   Email

   Related Projects

   

   Ongoing

   Urban Room

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

   See Project

   

   Common Build

   Archive

   With Your Voice

   On view July 11—September 9, 2024, With Your Voice envisioned major changes coming to Gowanus, Brooklyn.

   See Project

   Supporters

   

   Supporter

   New York State Council on the Arts

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6. Van Alen Vanguard

   January 13, 2026 12:24 pm Comments Off on Van Alen Vanguard

   

   Launched in 2026, Van Alen Vanguard is a dynamic network of emerging leaders committed to civic life and design. Van Alen seeks to uplift and support the next generation of design thinkers aligned with our mission to create more equitable cities through inclusive design. We recognize Vanguard members as leading the way in socially responsible, innovative, and interdisciplinary design work.

   Over one year, they engage in learning and collaborative projects that further their practices and professional development. They’re also invited to showcase their work at our Urban Room, with an emphasis on projects that reimagine designers’ roles in civic life and center equity, resilience, and local knowledge.

   To date, Vanguard members have explored the integration of architecture and graphics; hosted a debate on the use of AI in the built environment professions; and launched a new design practice with a temporary studio constructed within Van Alen’s office.

   Upcoming Events

   October 20, 2026

   Public Art Party

   Van Alen is delighted to host the fourth edition of the PUBLIC ART PARTY, a bi-annual community-building event for people working across every part of the public art ecosystem.

   Urban Room

   

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   October 17, 2026

   Van Alen Fall Fest 2026

   Join us for our annual open house to learn more about Van Alen, meet your neighbors, and engage with our upcoming exhibition Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design.

   Urban Room

   

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   October 9, 2026

   Public Space as a Living Lab

   Organized by ANFA and X-Topia, this three-day immersive workshop explores practical tools to design healthier, more livable, and human-centered public spaces.

   Urban Room

   

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   August 13, 2026

   NOT NOT: Closing Talk + Fire Sale

   To close out their exhibition, NOT NOT invites three founding principals to talk about their firms’ unconventional beginnings.

   NOT NOT: An Office, An ExhibitionUrban RoomVan Alen Vanguard

   

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   2026 Cohort

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Farida Abu-Bakare

   Associate Principal and Director of Global Practice, WXY

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Annie Barrett

   Founding Principal, Aanda Architects

   Senior Critic, Yale School of Architecture

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Francesca Bastianini

   Co-Founder and Principal, Sighte Studio

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Ekin Bilal

   Co-Founder, NOT NOT

   Visiting Critic, Cornell AAP

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Diana Budds

   Journalist

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Pamela Cabrera

   Senior Associate, Transsolar KlimaEngineering

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Celia Chaussabel

   Co-Founder, NOT NOT

   Reyner Banham Teaching Fellow, University at Buffalo

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Justin Den Herder

   Vice President and Principal, TYLin

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Curry J. Hackett

   Clinical Assistant Professor, NYU Steinhardt

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Jerome Haferd

   Founder, JEROME HAFERD Studio

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Ekene Ijeoma

   Founder, Black Forest

   Founder, Studio Ijeoma

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Dione Lee

   Senior Designer, HUSH Studios

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Taylor Loutsis

   Creative Director and Founder, Studio Loutsis

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Jessie McGuire

   Managing Partner, Thought Matter

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Benjamin Meade

   Senior Design Director, Alloy Development

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Daniel Pittman

   Partner, TAD

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Sanjukta Sen

   Landscape and Architectural Designer, Field Operations

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Clara Syme

   Co-Director, a83

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Hermona Tamrat

   Founding Principal, hgt studio

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Paula Vilaplana

   Curatorial Associate, MoMA

   Instructor, Syracuse University School of Architecture

   

   Network

   Vanguard

   Charlotte Wessell

   Director of Development, GSAPP

   ---

   In the News

   Press

   The Architect’s Newspaper

   At Van Alen, NOT NOT is part performance, part workspace, part event, and part exhibition

   Read More

   Press

   Archinect

   10 must-see architecture & design events to see this August

   Read More

   Updates

   Updates

   Photos: An Evening with NOT NOT

   AIANY’s Committee on Residential Architecture hosted a special summer gathering at Van Alen to explore our exhibition NOT NOT.

   Read More

   

   Updates

   Photos: NOT NOT Opening

   Thank you everyone who joined us for the opening of NOT NOT! As promised, it was not not a party.

   Read More

   

   Updates

   Photos: Death: A Salon on Ethics of Technology

   On March 5, 2026, Justin Den Herder, TYLin hosted a debate on the use of AI, machine learning, and data-driven workflows in the built environment professions.

   Read More

   

   Updates

   Photos: What Language Leaves Behind

   An evening of conversation and discourse on interdisciplinary design practice with Studio Loutsis, REX, and Snøhetta.

   Read More

   

   Updates

   Photos: Announcing the Van Alen Vanguard

   Announcing the Van Alen Vanguard: a dynamic network of 21 emerging leaders committed to civic life and design.

   Read More

   

   Related Projects

   

   Urban Room

   Ongoing

   NOT NOT: An Office, An Exhibition

   On view through August 15, Van Alen transforms into an exhibition and temporary office space of the newly-launched design studio NOT NOT.

   See Project

   

   Ongoing

   Urban Room

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

   See Project

   Contact

   

   Van Alen Staff

   Emily Conklin

   Network and Public Programs Manager

   Email

7. Education Partnerships

   January 2, 2026 11:39 am Comments Off on Education Partnerships

   Van Alen Institute has a long history as an educational institution. Founded in 1894 as the Society for Beaux-Arts Architecture, the organization provided free design education for American architects for decades, with teaching methods originally modeled after France’s École des Beaux-Arts. With these roots in education, we continue to work with teachers and students through in-depth collaborations, independent research projects, and classroom field trips.

   To inquire about educational partnerships, contact Shiloah Coley, Program Manager at scoley@vanalen.org.

   Collaborations

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Princeton University School of Architecture (2026–present)

   Inaugurating our Urban Room as a venue for thought-provoking design exhibitions, Van Alen is currently hosting The House Transformed. Organized by the Princeton University School of Architecture (SoA), this exhibition presents new ideas for domestic architecture and is accompanied by a series of public programs with exhibition participants and SoA faculty. The House Transformed is curated by Mónica Ponce de León, Princeton School of Architecture, with Shoshana Torn and Massimo Giannone.

   Baruch College (2025–present)

   For three semesters, Baruch students in the Information Sciences department have been building a data collection platform to help track the impact of Van Alen’s projects in public space. The Spring 2025 class build a proof-of-concept and demo for the application, and the Fall 2025 class successfully built out the app’s back end. The Spring 2026 class is now finalizing the front end, with plans to pilot in Spring/Summer 2026. Van Alen also plans to make this app available for our community partners across NYC, helping us all gain insight into how the public is interacting with our work.

   The New School (2025–present)

   In partnership with Professor Juanli Carrión, co-creator of public design installation With Your Voice, Van Alen is collaborating with graduate students in the New School’s Resilient Mutual Development course. Students conducted field research in Gowanus and implemented mapping frameworks (such as sociograms, landscape analysis, and economic ecologies) to propose community engagement strategies for activating our Urban Room.

   They proposed Gowanus Yearbook, a living portrait of the neighborhood featuring long-time residents and newer arrivals. Students Rida Chaudhry, Ananaya Singh, and Kaye Yuvallos are now taking this project forward, and have collected more than 50 community portraits.

   MS 447 — The Exploratory School (2025)

   As part of our Common Build initiative, Tiffany Baker’s public art installation The Dear Neighbor Project was incorporated into the Art for Social Justice curriculum at local middle school MS 447 – The Exploratory School. With instruction from educators Cheryl Grau and Davielle Morton, students designed symbols exploring themes of flooding and community support. Baker then incorporated these symbols into her design for an outdoor mural at the school.

   Pratt Institute (2023)

   Graduate students in the Transformation Design program at Pratt Institute worked with Van Alen to identify pressing questions for community members in the Gowanus neighborhood. Students designed and implemented three exploratory research stations at Van Alen’s 2023 Block Party and collected data to gauge impact of the event.

   Research

   

   Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2026–present)

   As part of an independent study, undergraduate students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are collaborating with Van Alen to conduct condition assessments of select materials from our archive. Focusing on design competition boards from the 1950s and 60s, they’re also exploring how AI‑assisted cataloging methods may support preservation planning and improved access to unique archival materials.

   Baruch College (2024–25)

   Then an undergraduate student at Baruch College, journalist Valerie Conklin conducted archival and qualitative research to help contextualize the current state of public housing in Gowanus with the original goals of public housing in the 1940s. Valerie had the opportunity to share her research with participants in Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange fellowship, which held a Gowanus-focused learning day at Van Alen Institute.

   Field Trips

   

   

   

   

   Van Alen hosts field trips from classes at the K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels. We collaborate with educators to present on our work or create more tailored learning experiences. Recently we’ve welcomed visits from Atlas Workshops, Berkeley Carroll School, Columbia GSAPP, MS447 — The Math & Sciences Exploratory School, Pratt School of Architecture, and the School of Architecture at the University of Arizona, among others.

   In the News

   Press

   The Architect’s Newspaper

   The House Transformed, an exhibition curated by Mónica Ponce de León, opens at Van Alen Institute

   Read More

   Press

   Baruch College

   ExCEL’s Newest Partner, Van Alen Institute, Expands Impact-Driven Learning

   Read More

   Press

   Brooklyn Paper

   ‘The Dear Neighbor Project’ examines flooding and community resilience in Gowanus

   Read More

   Contact

   

   Van Alen Staff

   Shiloah Coley

   Program Manager

   Email

   Related Projects

   

   Ongoing

   Urban Room

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

   See Project

   

   Urban Room

   Ongoing

   Gowanus Yearbook

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

   See Project

   

   Urban Room

   Archive

   Exhibition: The House Transformed

   On view in Spring 2026, The House Transformed presented new ideas for domestic architecture.

   See Project

   

   Common Build

   Ongoing

   The Dear Neighbor Project

   On long-term view, Tiffany Baker’s public art project increases public awareness of flooding in Gowanus.

   See Project

8. Urban Room

   June 2, 2025 12:15 pm Comments Off on Urban Room

   About

   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.

   Van Alen is committed to ensuring that all of our events are inclusive and accessible for all participants. Our event space is on the ground floor and ADA-accessible. If you require accommodations or have any questions about access needs, please email vai@vanalen.org and we will do our best to support your participation.

   Ask about using our space

   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

   Upcoming Events

   October 20, 2026

   Public Art Party

   Van Alen is delighted to host the fourth edition of the PUBLIC ART PARTY, a bi-annual community-building event for people working across every part of the public art ecosystem.

   Urban Room

   

   ---

   October 17, 2026

   Van Alen Fall Fest 2026

   Join us for our annual open house to learn more about Van Alen, meet your neighbors, and engage with our upcoming exhibition Open Access: Exploring 130 Years of American Design.

   Urban Room

   

   ---

   October 9, 2026

   Public Space as a Living Lab

   Organized by ANFA and X-Topia, this three-day immersive workshop explores practical tools to design healthier, more livable, and human-centered public spaces.

   Urban Room

   

   ---

   August 13, 2026

   NOT NOT: Closing Talk + Fire Sale

   To close out their exhibition, NOT NOT invites three founding principals to talk about their firms’ unconventional beginnings.

   NOT NOT: An Office, An ExhibitionUrban RoomVan Alen Vanguard

   

   ---

   Related Projects

   

   Urban Room

   Ongoing

   Education Partnerships

   Working with teachers and students through collaborative projects, research, and field trips.

   See Project

   

   Urban Room

   Ongoing

   NOT NOT: An Office, An Exhibition

   On view through August 15, Van Alen transforms into an exhibition and temporary office space of the newly-launched design studio NOT NOT.

   See Project

   

   Urban Room

   Ongoing

   Gowanus Yearbook

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

   See Project

   

   Urban Room

   Archive

   Exhibition: The House Transformed

   On view in Spring 2026, The House Transformed presented new ideas for domestic architecture.

   See Project

   Updates

   Updates

   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.

   Read More

   

   Updates

   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.

   See More

   

   Supporters

   

   Network

   Supporter

   Jared Della Valle

   CEO & Founder, Alloy

   

   Supporter

   New York State Council on the Arts

   ---

9. The Dear Neighbor Project

   April 22, 2025 11:53 am Comments Off on The Dear Neighbor Project

   About

   Created by Brooklyn-based artist Tiffany Baker, this multi-site mural installation turns the voices of Gowanus residents into public art and illustrates their experiences with flooding in the neighborhood.

   To create The Dear Neighbor Project, Tiffany connected with community leaders, local organizations, business owners, and residents to learn more about the impact of flooding in Gowanus. She then organized interviews with residents about their personal experiences with flooding, ranging from long-time residents to newer arrivals, and middle schoolers to older adults.

   Her murals illustrate and directly quote from these residents’ stories — sharing their experiences, advice, and stories of community support during flood events. An audio archive of their stories lives permanently at dearneighborproject.com.

   Select locations remain on view long-term; see below.

   

   Network

   Tiffany Baker

   Artist

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Locations

   Ongoing locations

   Brooklyn Public Library — Pacific Library, 25 4th Ave (indoor; on view during opening hours)
   FDNY EMS Station 32, 347 Bond St
   MS 447 — The Exploratory School, 345 Dean St (Pacific St side)

   Past locations

   David Foulke Memorial Garden, 248–250 Bergen St
   Thomas Greene Playground, Nevins St between Douglass and Degraw
   Old Stone House / Washington Park, 3rd St & 4th Ave
   Powerhouse Arts, 322 3rd Ave
   Van Alen Institute, 303 Bond St

   In the News

   Press

   All Arts

   How art changed visual artist Tiffany Baker

   Read More

   Press

   Brooklyn Paper

   ‘The Dear Neighbor Project’ examines flooding and community resilience in Gowanus

   Read More

   Public Programs

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   The Dear Neighbor Project: Art Workshop
   Saturday, April 26, 1–4 pm
   Van Alen Institute, 303 Bond St, Brooklyn

   Artist Tiffany Baker gave a brief mural tour and talk, followed by an artmaking workshop. Participants listened to excerpts from community interviews that informed The Dear Neighbor Project, and respond through drawing, writing, and storytelling prompts.

   The Power of Story: An Intro to Oral History
   Friday, May 16, 6–7 pm
   Brooklyn Public Library — Library of Arts and Culture, 10 Lafayette Ave, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn

   In this workshop led by Emmy-nominated storyteller and photographer Naeem Douglass, participants learned how to craft compelling interviews, develop thoughtful questions, and record stories.

   The Dear Neighbor Project: Artist Talk + Viewing
   Tuesday, May 20, 5:30–7:30 pm
   Brooklyn Public Library — Pacific Library, 25 4th Ave, Brooklyn

   The Pacific Library hosted an evening celebrating The Dear Neighbor Project, featuring a viewing session, artist talk, and Q&A session with Tiffany Baker.

   Mapping Memory: Flood Lines & Storylines
   Friday, August 15, 6:30–8 pm
   Powerhouse Arts, 322 3rd Ave, Brooklyn

   At this guided art workshop led by artist Tiffany Baker, participants co-created a large-scale community flood map of Gowanus based on their personal narratives.

   Points of Promise

   The Dear Neighbor Project was the second installation in our initiative Points of Promise, which uses art and design to support civic engagement in Gowanus amidst the neighborhood’s redevelopment.

   In 2021, the New York City Council approved the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan, transforming (or “rezoning”) former manufacturing sites into residential and mixed-use properties, including an estimated 8,200 new apartments. Residents and community organizers have been working to ensure current Gowanus residents benefit from the rezoning. Their advocacy resulted in the 56 Points of Agreement (POAs) — commitments made by New York City to support housing, infrastructure, public space, community amenities, and business programs. In total, NYC will invest $450 million for these improvements in Gowanus. Approximately $200 million of that total will address high priority needs in Gowanus’ NYCHA developments.

   Points of Promise calls on artists and designers to create local temporary art installations or public space activations that help inform Gowanus residents about these immense changes. Artists are invited to respond to an RFP (request for proposals) that addresses a topic present in the 56 Points of Agreement. To create these public art and design tools in truly community-led and responsive ways, Van Alen seeks artists and designers with demonstrated experience facilitating community-engaged social practice work that centers the lived experiences and needs of the respective communities they collaborate with.

   This initiative was developed with the support of a selection committee of Gowanus residents and local stakeholders from the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Gowanus Houses Tenants Association, the Gowanus Oversight Task Force, and Gowanus Mutual Aid.

   An artist open call was held in Spring 2024, seeking fresh ideas for community engagement in order to provide Gowanus residents with new, enriching ways to stay informed about issues shaping the neighborhood. The open call received more than 100 responses, and approximately half of the applicants had close ties to Gowanus or personal experience of flooding in New York City. The winning artist is awarded $50,000 to complete the project, with low bono engineering review services provided by Silman.

   Finalists were asked to consider the following:

   • How do residents currently deal with living in the flood zone? What are their stories? Is it possible to make their experiences, along with the physical impacts of flooding, more visible?
   • Looking ahead, how might the threat of flooding evolve over time in Gowanus? How might the neighborhood’s communities be impacted in the future? How might your piece inform the public of efforts led by community groups and/or city leaders to help Gowanus manage water and bounce back from flooding?
   • There’s a lot of new construction in Gowanus’ flood zone – how might you reach potential future residents about flooding in Gowanus, in addition to long-time residents?

   Related Projects

   

   Common Build

   Archive

   With Your Voice

   On view July 11—September 9, 2024, With Your Voice envisioned major changes coming to Gowanus, Brooklyn.

   See Project

   

   Ongoing

   Common Build

   Surfacing the work of emerging designers and testing new strategies to bring people together in public space.

   See Project

   Finalist Proposals

   Futures Without Flooding

   Created by artist Ali Rufrano-Ruffner, Futures Without Flooding proposes a series of vibrant mural panels that vividly depict stories of flooding — and futures without flooding — in Gowanus. During community activations and pop-up events, youth participants contribute their own ideas and visions to interactive mural panels. The project’s journey is compiled into a coloring book that prompts young people to continue envisioning their own futures for Gowanus.

   

   Network

   Ali Rufrano-Ruffner

   

   

   

   Tidal Shift

   Created by Leah Harper, Tidal Shift proposes a collection of public art interventions to raises awareness of flooding in Gowanus. At the canal’s edge, colorful, phosphorescent asphalt murals — painted with local residents — draw attention to flooding threats. In the water, sails installed on flotation devices rise and fall with the tides, bringing the sea level to eye level. Additionally, Van Alen Institute’s storefront windows serve as an information hub about the future of flooding in Gowanus and solutions for mitigating floodwaters.

   

   Network

   Leah Harper

   

   

   

   Program Manager

   

   Van Alen Staff

   Shiloah Coley

   Program Manager

   Email

   Selection Committee

   

   Network

   Andrea Parker

   Executive Director, Gowanus Canal Conservancy

   

   Network

   Andreas Tyre

   Community Activist

   

   Network

   Elisa Smilovitz

   Publicist

   Member, Gowanus Mutual Aid

   

   Network

   Karen Blondel

   Executive Director, Public Housing Civic Association

   

   Van Alen Board

   Sebastian Mendez

   Co-Founder, Tankhouse

   

   People

   Steven Koller

   Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies

   

   People

   Tony Ruiz

   Communications Committee Co-Chair, Gowanus Oversight Task Force

   

   People

   Tracey L. Pinkard

   Community Liaison

   Former Vice President, Gowanus Houses Resident Association

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   Supporters

   

   Supporter

   National Endowment for the Arts

   

   Supporter

   New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

   

   Supporter

   New York State Council on the Arts

   

   Supporter

   New York City Council

   

   People

   Rainproof NYC

   

   Network

   TYLin

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10. Common Build

    April 1, 2025 4:12 pm Comments Off on Common Build

    About

    

    Since 2014, Van Alen Institute has connected longstanding local organizations with emerging and BIPOC artists to create community-led public art and design installations. Through these space activations, Common Build amplifies the advocacy work of Van Alen’s community partners, brings together local residents to connect and celebrate, and supports emerging artists and designers as they execute meaningful public realm projects.

    Common Build also explores the value of public art and design as a tool for local information sharing, community organizing, issue advocacy, and social justice.