Van Alen Institute

With the Urban Design Forum, we're seeking an empathetic storyteller to follow this year's work, as seven community-led teams in four boroughs continue their pandemic recovery and work to make their neighborhoods more equitable. Open to a wide range of mediums! Submissions due 2/17.

Learn more: https://www.vanalen.org/update/rfp-neighborhoods-now-storyteller/

New project update! This fall, we've been working in the Albany, NY neighborhood of West Hill on a community-led redesign of a public alley.

Lucid Project: Albany brings together local organizations Albany Victory Gardens and Albany 518 SNUG, the City of Albany's Department of Planning and Development, and design team The Urban Conga.

Together, we’re creating a temporary installation for the alley that addresses immediate local needs. Once in place next spring, this installation will also host public events that support long-term visioning with West Hill residents.

Learn more about our recent work in West Hill:

Community Engagement in Albany - Van Alen Institute After months of working with our local community partners, we launched the Lucid Project: Albany in September. This project aims to inspire transformational change in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood through the community-led redesign of a city-owned public alley. This vacant alley sits within a re...

Interwoven by Atelier Cho Thompson is now on view at the Flatiron Public Plaza through Jan 2! Stop by to activate its lights and music, and contribute to the story wall. More info here: https://www.vanalen.org/project/flatiron-design-competition-2021/

📷: Martin Seck, Flatiron District, NYC

Together with the Flatiron District, NYC, we’re so excited to share that Atelier Cho Thompson will create this year’s installation at the Flatiron Public Plaza!

On view November 22–January 2, their design "Interwoven" is all about the joy of connecting in public space. When you and another person cross through arches of the same color, you’ll activate synchronized lights and music. Learn more:

Flatiron Public Plaza Design Competition 2021 - Van Alen Institute Inspired by New York's tapestry of cultures and people, Interwoven by Atelier Cho Thompson celebrates the joys of reconnecting in public space.

Van Alen Institute seeks an Operations Associate to support our finance, human resources, operations, and office functions. We’re looking for an exceptional multitasker with excellent interpersonal skills who thrives on supporting a collaborative team.

https://www.vanalen.org/update/were-hiring-operations-associate/

We simply could not have a block party in Gowanus without the iconic GOWANUS WILDCATS DRILL TEAM / EXPLORER POST 588! This neighborhood institution — going 51 years strong — has performed everywhere from the Apollo Theater to the Greenwich Village Halloween parade. Catch them at 5 pm at our Block Party tomorrow.

Learn more about the Gowanus Wildcats & our Block Party, Saturday 10/2, 1-8 pm: https://www.vanalen.org/events/van-alen-block-party/

Join us to celebrate our new Gowanus community at our first ever Block Party! On Saturday, October 2 we’ll transform a stretch of Sackett Street into a joyful party bringing together Gowanus residents, local organizations, and our network of designers and urbanists. It’ll be a day full of musical performances, live DJs, family-friendly activities, locally-sourced food and drinks, and more. Stay tuned over the next two weeks for a full list of performers, activities and vendors.

Next City chatted with our Chinatown team about their partnership and night market pilot. The next Chinatown Nights is Fri 9/10 at Forsyth Plaza — see you there!

A Night Market Has Popped Up in NYC’s Chinatown "Chinatown Nights" is bringing art and excitement to a community that has been hit earlier and harder by COVID-19 than the rest of the city.