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(New York, NY—October 1, 2025) — Van Alen Institute and Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) are pleased to announce Los Círculos, on view October 1, 2025 through July 2026, and made possible through a $100,000 Public Realm Grant from the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS). Inspired by how people form circles for dancing, celebration, and gathering, this multi-site lighting installation aims to increase a sense of joy, unity, and belonging in Washington Heights. Los Círculos is designed by multidisciplinary design studio Marvel, in collaboration with an interdisciplinary coalition of neighborhood organizations and design experts.
Los Círculos illuminates two locations in Washington Heights:
- Plaza de las Americas, located at 175th Street and Broadway, directly in front of Washington Heights’ landmarked theater United Place — through NYC DOT Art Partners, a collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation’s Art Program, NYC DOT Art
- David Friedland Square (also known as Duarte Triangle), a small public park located at 170th Street and Broadway — through the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation’s Art in the Parks Program
Soft illumination from two large undulating circles transforms these spaces, creating an inviting space for interaction while increasing visibility at night. The piece harnesses the kinetic energy of the neighborhood, embodying a sense of movement within the design. Los Círculos emphasizes the significance of public space and its critical role in the social and cultural life of the Washington Heights community. Made with LED lights and aluminum, Los Círculos has a lightweight design and minimal footprint, ensuring uninterrupted access to these public spaces and their ongoing events, such as the seasonal GrowNYC farmers market at Plaza de las Americas.
On Tuesday, September 30, CLOTH and Van Alen Institute hosted a public unveiling event. The project team illuminated both locations of Los Círculos, accompanied by a drum line led by Manhattan Samba and salsa music by María y Simón.
In the coming months, CLOTH and United Palace will also host a series of public events centered under Los Círculos, including salsa evenings, silent dance parties, and holiday activities. Visit cloth159.org and unitedpalace.org for information about upcoming events.
PROJECT TEAM
- Producers: Community League of the Heights, Van Alen Institute
- Designer: Marvel
- Lighting Designer: Buro Happold
- Structural Engineer: TYLin
- Fabricator: A05 Studio
- Community Partners: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation, NewYork-Presbyterian, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, United Palace
- City Partners: NYC Department of Small Business Services, NYC Department of Transportation, NYC Department of Parks
Yvonne Stennett, Executive Director, Community League of the Heights, said: “We are thrilled to once again partner with Van Alen Institute on this unique and inspirational project! The professionalism and experience integral to this process resulted in a stunning lighting installation for our Washington Heights community and beyond to enjoy. We look forward to seeing the awestruck expressions on everyone’s faces. A special recognition to all of our community partners for their diligence, dedication and patience, and hats off to Marvel for their one-of-a-kind designers’ eye.”
Hayley Eber, Executive Director, Van Alen Institute, said: “Los Círculos exemplifies Van Alen’s commitment to creating a welcoming, vibrant public realm in New York City. Encouraging togetherness and joy, Marvel’s design is a true spotlight on these important public spaces serving Washington Heights. We’re honored to continue our longstanding partnership with CLOTH, and sincerely thank our coalition of designers, local leaders, and city agencies for their dedication to community-building through collaboration.”
Tim Fryatt, Partner, Marvel, said: “Los Círculos is inspired by communal celebration in the public square, a cultural tradition deeply embedded in the neighborhood’s Latin American diaspora. We hope Los Círculos fosters interaction and promotes a sense of belonging, adding light and joy to the neighborhood — perhaps inspiring people to dance! Marvel is grateful to be working with such a dedicated team: the incredible vision and leadership at Van Alen, the insights of our community partners, the ingenuity of the fabricator A05 Studio, and our creative and thorough design colleagues at TYLin and Buro Happold.”
NYC Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross said: “SBS’s Public Realm Grants are about making our neighborhoods brighter and more livable for the New Yorkers living, working, and visiting them. This public art project, Los Círculos, at Plaza de las Americas does exactly that, and will serve as an example of what our shared spaces can be. We are proud to support both Van Alen Institute and CLOTH as they do the work to strengthen our commercial corridors with real, tangible improvements to the public realm.”
NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said: “Everyone loves a good September ‘glow up,’ and thanks to Los Círculos, the iconic Plaza de las Americas and David Friedland Square will shine bright for all New Yorkers to enjoy. Our agency is proud to administer one of the largest municipal public art programs in the nation and we are grateful to Van Alen, CLOTH, and Marvel for their partnership.”
NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa said: “Public art has the power to transform our shared spaces, enhancing our parks and plazas and creating moments of wonder and reflection. With Los Círculos, New Yorkers are invited to interact with our urban environment in new and engaging ways, shining a new light — literally — on these beloved neighborhood spaces. We’re grateful to our partners at CLOTH and Van Alen Institute as well as our sister agencies for their work to bring this beautiful art to Washington Heights.”
Domingo Cruz, Executive Director, Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation said: “We are proud to contribute to a project that literally and figuratively lights up our community. The flowing, skirt-inspired lights echo the traditions and stories carried by our people, while creating an open, inclusive space where neighbors can connect. Together with our partners, we are illuminating both our heritage and our shared future.”
Mike Fitelson, CEO, United Palace said: “The United Palace has long hoped Plaza de las Americas would grow into the welcoming community space we all know it can become. We hope Los Círculos inspires a new cohort of artists and community organizers to imagine how they can help transform the Plaza into a welcome mat for all of Washington Heights.”
Sandra Harris, Vice President, Academic and Community Partnerships at Columbia University Irving Medical Center said: “We’re proud to partner with our community to help revitalize Duarte Triangle. Los Círculos will stand as a beacon of life and safety. Special thanks to Yvonne Stennett and CLOTH for their unwavering leadership and commitment to uplifting our neighborhood.”
Niria E. Leyva-Gutiérrez, Executive Director, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance said: “NoMAA is delighted that this innovative public light installation is coming to Plaza de las Américas. Los Círculos promises to not only visually enliven the plaza but also to reinvent its purpose as a dynamic, immersive, and collective arts space.”
John Sloane, Senior Lighting Designer, Buro Happold said: “Too often, our cities are flooded with intense illumination whose primary purpose is to light roadways, sidewalks, and provide lighting for surveillance. When applied thoughtfully, light can be an agent for gathering and interaction in our shared public spaces. The organic forms and soft illumination from Los Círculos adds a human scale to these two sites, encouraging gathering, social interaction and dance.”
Anne Sperling, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, NewYork-Presbyterian said: “When we brighten public spaces, it enhances the health and well-being of our community. NewYork-Presbyterian is proud to support our northern Manhattan community and celebrate projects like Los Círculos.”
Maya Stuhlbarg, Associate, TYLin said: “As part of TYLin’s Building Equity Initiative, we’re very excited for the opportunity to apply our structural engineering experience to this project. The design process has been collaborative from start to finish, and we’re sure the installation will be valuable in providing lighting and engagement in this community. We hope the project will help to activate these public spaces and encourage community interaction and celebration. Thank you to Van Alen Institute, CLOTH, Marvel, and Buro Happold for such a wonderful partnership on this project.”
Los Círculos is supported by the NYC Department of Small Business Services and, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Van Alen Institute’s work is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts.
About Community League of the Heights (CLOTH)
CLOTH is a multi-service, non- profit community development organization dedicated to supporting and empowering the economically disadvantaged residents of Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. CLOTH’s holistic approach to community development provides a comprehensive framework of services to stabilize and strengthen family life.
CLOTH was founded by Lucille Bulger in 1952 as a neighborhood volunteer organization. Ms. Bulger led the organization until 1994 and was succeeded by Yvonne Stennett, the current Executive Director. The organization impacts hundreds of people each day and for many, CLOTH is their last resort for housing, food, or other basic human needs. CLOTH offers programs in four key areas: Affordable Housing, Education, Workforce Development, Health and Wellness. Learn more about cloth159.org.
About Van Alen Institute
Van Alen Institute is a driving force behind community-led urban design, which believes that local knowledge and care enrich the design process. Since 1894, Van Alen has invested in people with a passion for improving cities through the power of architecture and design. Our public space projects build unconventional coalitions of designers, local stakeholders, and city leaders, and we support their visions through project scoping, hands-on guidance, and seed funding. From our home in New York City, our work confronts longstanding power imbalances in citymaking, showcases the vanguard of community-led design, and supports the next generation of designers in creating more just cities. See all work at vanalen.org.
About Marvel
Marvel is a comprehensive collective that embraces the challenges of a design process driven by collaboration and curiosity, where every voice matters, producing meaningful places that reflect the responsibility to our communities and environment. Learn more at marveldesigns.com.
About the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 888-SBS-4NYC, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About NYC DOT Art
The New York City Department of Transportation’s Art Program (NYC DOT Art) partners with community-based, nonprofit organizations and professional artists to present temporary public art on NYC DOT property throughout the five boroughs for up to eleven months. Artists transform streets with colorful murals, dynamic projections and eye-catching sculptures. Sidewalks, fences, triangles, medians, bridges, jersey barriers, step streets, public plazas and pedestrianized spaces serve as canvases and foundations for temporary art. Since 2008, NYC DOT Art has produced over 500 temporary artworks citywide. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dotart and @nyc_DOTArt on Instagram.
Media Contacts
Alisha Kim Levin, press@vanalen.org
Elisa Smilovitz, elisa@elisasmilovitz.com
