Urban Interest

Program from 1950 Société des Architectes Diplômés (SADG) dinner honoring Robert Moses. The Société des Architectes Diplômés was a National Institute of Architectural Education affiliate group of Ecole de Beaux-Arts alumni.

Invitation to the 1950 SADG dinner honoring Robert Moses.

"It is one of the most charming, naive and irrepressible assumptions of our American democracy that any inhabitant who can read, write, and figure can fill any public office, no matter how exacting, and plan and direct public improvements of great scope."

Moses’ acceptance speech in which he expresses appreciation for recognition by like-minded colleague who respect the “rhythm and harmony of old principles.”

A 1956 newsletter advertising a roundtable discussion on urban design, to be broadcast on the WNYC radio station.

In 1958 the NIAE developed a series of public housing competitions in conjunction with the New York State Division of Housing. Here, we have an annotated memo to the Competitions Committee about the program.

Programs for the 1958 public housing competition series. The aim of the competition was to encourage the development of ideas that would lead to better public housing design.

An invitation to a symposium on the subject of “Parks in an Urban Renewal Program.” This event was part of a pilot program by the NIAE as an effort bridge education and professional practice.

A review of submissions for “A Park in an Urban Renewal Development.” The program was deemed a success as it provided guidelines more in tune with the actual experience of a professional architect. For example, the program was based on an existing site and had to be designed within a given project budget.

A proposal for the development of an airport island in New York Harbor, just south of Governor’s Island. The proposal was meant to address the demands on transportation by the growing New York population.

Since the early days of our rich history, there has been a thread of investment in the ideals of urbanism among the architects and members of our organization. However, urbanism took a new, fortified hold on the Institute’s work in the 1960s when we moved away from the Beaux-Arts method of pedagogy to focus on more culturally relevant topics. It then only continued to increase: When the NIAE became Van Alen Institute in the early 90s the public realm took center stage.

In 1950 the Société des Architectes Diplômés (SADG), an affiliate group of the Ecole de Beaux-Arts alumni, gave their annual medal of honor to Robert Moses. Moses’ acceptance speech represents a critical moment in the organizational commitment towards urban ideology and is evidence of his own attitude towards the subject.