VAN ALEN INSTITUTE IMPACT REPORT
Community Conversation: Points of Agreement at
Van Alen Block Party.
Photo: Cameron Blaylock
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROGRAMS
Although Van Alen Institute celebrates its 130th birthday this year, we’re a four-year-old toddler in our work to create equitable cities through inclusive design. 2023 and 2024 saw the continuation of this work through community-led design projects, public art installations, and co-created community-based initiatives aimed at improving the built environment.
Our work elevates community voices and holds space for dialogue among the many stakeholders involved in bringing an environment to life — designer-residents, architects, gardeners, graphic designers, and policy-makers, to name a few. We adhere to the truth that “change moves at the speed of trust,” as author Stephen Covey said, and poet and organizer adrienne maree brown applied to social justice work. Never has that been more true, and Van Alen’s work now centers on cultivating trust in service of the design process.
As we look back at our recent accomplishments, we look forward to imagining how we deepen our impact on design disciplines, bring more communities and designers into our network, and begin making the systemic change we need for a more equitable world.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Relish the role you’ve played in the projects described here. If you haven’t yet come to co-create with us, imagine the role you might play. Let’s think about our future together — in making our communities more joyful and places one would be proud to call home.
R. May Lee Chair, Van Alen Board VP and Chief Strategy Officer for Institutional Impact, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
In August 2024, I ended my tenure as Van Alen Institute’s Executive Director, which was the most exciting, transformative, meaningful leadership experience of my career. For 130 years, Van Alen supported architects in dreaming big, challenging boundaries, and building a better world. When I joined in 2019, my charge from our board was clear: build on this legacy with self-directed projects that deepen long-term impact.
Because design excellence is inseparable from justice, we evolved Van Alen’s mission in 2020: to create equitable cities through inclusive design. In the eventful years since, Van Alen — with the collaboration of partners across New York City — embraced one of the greatest challenges of our time: bridging the gap between those who benefit from the support of our culture, city and nation, and those communities burdened by exclusion and disinvestment. Van Alen alone can’t change embedded patterns of injustice, but we are sincerely, humbly, and wholeheartedly working to shift the balance towards justice in citymaking.
As of 2024, Van Alen has established programs that operate on a TIMELINE OF TRUST: short-term projects Design Sprints and Common Build; multiyear programs like Albany Hive; and the ongoing Urban Room, all of which you’ll learn about in this report.
These projects proceed from the conviction that communities should lead with their own expertise, and evidence of the success of this approach mounts daily. New partners — community leaders, designers and other professionals, and supporters — join these efforts at an accelerating pace, and I’m confident that Van Alen’s best days are yet to come. While its board searches for a new leader, senior staff members Andrew Brown and Kate Overbeck are stepping up as Interim Co-Executive Directors. I invite you to join me in supporting their able leadership through this transition.
Deborah Marton Executive Director, Van Alen Institute (2019–24)
8 WEEKS
DESIGN SPRINTS
Fast-paced co-design projects that build trust between community leaders and designers
3–12 MONTHS
COMMON BUILD
Public space activations that engage residents and lead to neighborhood investment
12+ MONTHS
MULTIYEAR
Multiyear projects like Albany Hive result in transformative, neighborhood-scale change
ONGOING
URBAN ROOM
Dignified community meeting space to support civic participation and our partners’ work
DESIGN SPRINTS
Fast-paced co-design projects that build trust between community leaders and designers
8 WEEKS
Van Alen Institute’s newest community-led design program, Design Sprints follows the lead of people working towards justice in their neighborhoods. Community partners identify a pressing challenge facing their area, and Van Alen shapes multidisciplinary design teams uniquely suited to those challenges. Over eight weeks, we facilitate these collaborations and provide each team with $5000 in seed funding.
“DESIGN IS POWERFUL. LET’S USE IT FOR GOOD. LET’S USE IT TO BE INCLUSIVE. LET’S USE IT TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR OWN
BUILT ENVIRONMENT.”
Yin Kong, Executive Director, Think!Chinatown
DESIGN SPRINTS
Fast-paced co-design projects that build trust between community leaders and designers
8 WEEKS
OUTCOMES
When Van Alen moved to Gowanus in early 2020, we joined many communitybased organizations already working to create a stronger, more connected neighborhood amid a major rezoning. So we opened our doors to our neighbors and listened. We learned that some lacked dignified, functional, inexpensive gathering space, and we made our flexible office and tech available at no cost. We also found inspiration in the UKbased Urban Room movement, which aims to create a network of spaces where
When Van Alen moved to Gowanus in early 2020, we joined many community-based organizations already working to create a stronger, more connected neighborhood amid a major rezoning. So we opened our doors to our neighbors and listened. We learned that some lacked dignified, functional, inexpensive gathering space, and we made our flexible office and tech available at no cost.
Trust built between community leaders, designers, and other professionals committed to creating more equitable cities
Now — as NYC’s first Urban Room — Van Alen hosts regular meetings of Brooklyn Community Board 6, Gowanus Houses Tenants Association, the Gowanus Oversight Task Force, and Gowanus Mutual Aid, among others. The flexibility of our space also allows us to respond to urgent community needs – recently, as an emergency clothing donation site for incoming migrants housed at Floyd Bennett Field.
Public realm advocacy tools, like an interactive map that demystifies
NYC’s redevelopment of a Lower East Side park or graphics and fundraising collateral for the renovation of a community space in Jackson Heights
By being present in our own community, we’re learning how to best support community partners, ensuring their visions and self-identified needs are at the core of our work. We’ve witnessed how these grassroots gatherings underpin our democracy, by building trust through discussion and collaboration across social and economic boundaries. Hosting community meetings isn’t just about showing up for our neighbors — it’s a
Public space campaigns, like a poster series for a citizen-led alternative to policing in Flatbush
Community engagement strategies, like a placemaking/placekeeping exhibition in Chinatown
Yin Kong, Executive Director, Think!Chinatown at Design Sprints summit.
Cameron Blaylock
Photo:
Branding for Loisaida Center’s environmental justice project Ecolibrium, designed with Pentagram
Interactive map of Sara D. Roosevelt Park for FABnyc, designed with Marvel Photos: Scott Kelly
Think!Chinatown’s placemaking exhibition, designed with Farzana Gandhi Design Studio, fwd|A+U, and Pentagram
Photos: Alisha Kim Levin
BUILDING HEATING & HOT WATER SURVEY
(Far left) Poster campaign for Equality for Flatbush’s Black Rapid Responders initiative, designed with BD Feliz and Youth Design Center
Branding for Spanish-language bookstore Librería Barco de Papel, designed with N H D M and Pentagram
Public space activations that engage residents and lead to neighborhood investment
10 COMMON BUILD
Since 2014, Van Alen has brought together long-standing local organizations with emerging and BIPOC designers to create community-led space activations. These pop-up projects — which include public art, advocacy actions, and small business markets — address neighborhood priorities and inspire a shared sense of civic purpose.
3–12 MONTHS
“I SEE THIS PROJECT AS BOTH A REMINDER OF WHAT BROOKLYN’S LANDSCAPES CAN OFFER US, AND A CHARGE FOR US TO DREAM WILDLY OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE.”
Curry J.
Hackett, artist, educator, and designer of Ugly Beauties
Public space activations that engage residents and lead to neighborhood investment
3–12 MONTHS
10 COMMON BUILD OUTCOMES
Public realm activations that inform and engage residents, and lead to larger-scale investments for the neighborhood
Since 2014, Van Alen has brought together long-standing local organizations with emerging and BIPOC designers to create community-led space activations.
15 public art installations in 3 NYC neighborhoods serving 600,000+ visitors
These pop-up projects — which include public art, advocacy actions, and small business markets — address neighborhood priorities and inspire a shared sense of civic purpose.
Seasonal markets and public space plans that celebrate local culture and boost local economies
Catalytic support and visibility for 24 emerging artists and designers
22 live performances that activate installations and foster community engagement
Curry J. Hackett in front of Ugly Beauties
Photo: Argenis Taveras for Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Residents and community organizers have been working to ensure current Gowanus residents benefit from the neighborhood’s recent 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.
Created by Juanli Carrión and Rodolfo Kusulas, With Your Voice envisions change resulting from the 56 Points of Agreement. Megaphoned-shaped sculptures called “Voicers” are installed across Gowanus, each showing images of how that location will be impacted by the POAs.
Photo: Cameron Blaylock
Made of construction netting and steel scaffolding, Curry J. Hackett’s Ugly Beauties features images of Black people juxtaposed with native and invasive plant species — so-called “weeds” — that flourish in New York City, prompting viewers to consider society’s perception of beauty and belonging.
Photo: Cameron Blaylock
ALBANY HIVE
Multiyear projects
like Albany Hive result in transformative, neighborhood-scale change
12+ MONTHS
Partnerships forged through Design Sprints and Common Build can expand to multiyear collaborations seeking transformative, neighborhood-scale change.
In Albany’s West Hill neighborhood, a coalition of 10+ community organizations and city agencies transformed a neglected public alleyway into a safe space for gathering and remembrance. Together we’ve engaged 400+ residents in an inclusive design process resulting in Albany Hive, a new public green space which debuted in 2024.
“ UNITY AND COLLABORATION CREATES POSITIVE CHANGE, AND THIS IS A REFLECTION OF THAT.”
Eva Bass, Chief Executive Officer, Bridge Tha Gap Community Resources
& Outreach
ALBANY HIVE OUTCOMES
Multiyear projects
like Albany Hive result in transformative, neighborhood-scale change
12+ MONTHS
Partnerships forged through Design Sprints and Common Build can expand to multiyear collaborations seeking transformative, neighborhood-scale change.
Transformational change in the way that communities, designers, and city leaders come together to co-create shared spaces
Stewardship plan for ongoing maintenance and programming
In Albany’s West Hill neighborhood, a coalition of 10+ community organizations and city agencies are transforming a neglected public alleyway into a safe space for gathering and remembrance.
Increased community health, wellbeing, and safety
Decreased local gun violence since project’s inception
150 artworks created by residents for public display
Together we’ve engaged 200+ residents in an inclusive design process resulting in a new public park set to debut in 2024.
Albany Hive Photo: Mars and Moon Films
Albany Hive
Photo: Mars and Moon Films
Albany Hive
Photo: Mars and Moon Films
URBAN ROOM
Dignified community meeting space to support civic participation and our partners’ work
ONGOING
When Van Alen moved to Gowanus in 2020, we opened our doors to neighbors and learned many lacked a dignified, inexpensive, and accessible gathering space. Now — as home to NYC’s first Urban Room — Van Alen makes our office and tech available to partners at no cost, and hosts meetings for Brooklyn Community Board 6, NYCHA Gowanus Houses, and the Gowanus Oversight Task Force, among others. It’s also a flexible space for our partners’ co-design sessions, exhibitions, and celebrations, making it a true hub of our inclusive design network.
“VAN ALEN HAS SERVED AS AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER THAT HAS GRACIOUSLY OPENED ITS DOORS AND ALLOWED US TO HOST COMMUNITY BOARD MEETINGS AND D39’S PARTICIPATORY BUDGET MEETINGS. WE’RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY.”
63 Tiffany Tenants Association
URBAN ROOM OUTCOMES
Dignified community meeting space
to support civic participation and our partners’ work
ONGOING
Partnerships forged through Design Sprints and Common Build can expand to multiyear collaborations seeking transformative, neighborhood-scale change.
Dignified public space that supports resident civic participation in the co-creation of a more equitable neighborhood
30+ free community meetings and 1700+ attendees hosted
In Albany’s West Hill neighborhood, a coalition of 10+ community organizations and city agencies are transforming a neglected public alleyway into a safe space for gathering and remembrance.
Community fridge available 24/7
Donation site for local mutual aid organizations
Info hub for resident self-advocacy tools on the Gowanus rezoning, Gowanus Canal water quality, and other neighborhood planning issues
Together we’ve engaged 200+ residents in an inclusive design process resulting in a new public park set to debut in 2024.
Community Board 6 meeting
Photo: Shiloah Coley
Info hub about Gowanus Canal water quality.
Photo: Evan McKnight
One Love Community Fridge dinner.
Photo: Troi Williams
COLLABORATORS
82nd Street Partnership
Albany 518 SNUG
Albany and Troy Lions Club
Albany Victory Gardens
Asian Americans for Equality
Barco de Papel
BD Feliz
Bed-Stuy Gateway BID
Bedford Stuyvesant
Restoration Corporation
Bednark
Bridge Tha Gap Community Resource & Outreach
Brooklyn Community Board 6
Buro Happold
Community League of the Heights
Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong
Curry J. Hackett
Equality for Flatbush
FABnyc
Farzana Gandhi Design Studio
Fu Wilmers Design |
Architecture + Urbanism
Gowanus Houses
Tenant Association
Gowanus Oversight
Task Force
Grateful Villages
Growhouse International
Juanli Carrión
Lewis Latimer House Museum
Loisaida Inc.
Marvel
N H D M
One Love Community Fridge
Pentagram
Rodolfo Kusulas
School of Architecture at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
SFDS Fabrication & Design Shop
Silman
Stantec
Stuart Lynn
The Urban Conga
Think!Chinatown
United Palace
Youth Ministries
Alloy
Architecture Research Office (ARO)
Ares
Arup
Atelier Office
Bednark Studio
Buro Happold
Carol E. Rosenthal
Civitas
Denzil Gallagher
Determined by Design
Diana Reyna
Strategic Consulting
DPR Construction
Effectus Group
SUPPORTERS
Ennead
Fried Frank
General Innovation
Capital Partners
Han Chang
Holland & Knight LLP
Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects
KPF
Loci Architecture
MASS Design Group
MBB Architecture
MIKYOUNG KIM DESIGN
M2G Ventures
National Endowment for the Arts
New York State Council on the Arts
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
NYC Department of Small Business Services
Olson Kundig
On Time Supply
Perkins&Will
Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute
Round Peg
Seam Social Lab
Sharon Davis Foundation
Studio Libeskind
Thinc Design
UAG
WRNS Studio
Xylem Projects
VAN ALEN BOARD
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BOARD MEMBERS
Chair
R. May Lee, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Vice Chair
Carla Swickerath, Studio Libeskind
Treasurer
Jenn Gustetic, Innovation and Technology Executive
Secretary
Kia Weatherspoon, Determined by Design
Jared Della Valle*, Alloy
Mark Johnson, Civitas
Hana Kassem, KPF
Raymond Quinn*, Arup
*Board term ended in 2023–24
Robert Bernstein, Holland & Knight
Allison Freedman Weisberg, Round Peg
Mark Gardner, Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects
Casey Jones*, Perkins&Will
Latoya Kamdang, Ennead Architecture
Nnenna Lynch, Xylem Projects
Daniel Maldonado, Unispace Life Sciences
Carlos Menchaca, Open Society Foundations
V. Mitch McEwen*, Atelier Office
Diana Reyna, Diana Reyna Strategic Consulting
Carol Rosenthal, Fried Frank
Katie Swenson, MASS Design Group
Claire Weisz, WXY
Thomas Yu, Asian Americans for Equality
Byron Bell, Byron Bell Architects & Planners (Emeritus)
VAN ALEN STAFF
Andrew Brown, Interim Co-Executive Director
Shiloah Coley, Project Manager, Programs
Pratik Dubey, Strategic Partnerships Associate
Annie Ferreira, Strategic Partnerships Manager
Anthony Gomez, Operations Manager
Sabria Islam, Intern
Scott Kelly, Communications and Graphic Design Associate
Alisha Kim Levin, Director of Communications
Joseph Messana-Croly, Project Manager, Programs
Kate Overbeck, Interim Co-Executive Director
Ren Reese, Chief Financial Officer
Kelvin Thomas Cruz, Intern
FINANCES
REVENUE
2,041,901
1,464,209 2,099,513