On December 9, 2014, Van Alen Institute will open a ground floor space, functioning as a joint program hub, gallery, and workspace for the New York-based design nonprofit as it commemorates its 120th year. The new space will be activated by the launch of a robust season of programs surrounding Elsewhere: Escape and the Urban Landscape, a multi-year initiative exploring escape in the urban environment. As part of the season’s programming series, which explores the city as both a destination and departure point, the Institute’s new space will host four events, representing a dynamic range of conversations investigating issues of urban migrations, tech-secessionism, and new modes for navigating cities. The 30 West 22nd Street space will first open to the public on December 9 (7:30pm) with “Influx and Exodus: Two Conversations on Urban Density.” A late night public celebration of the new space will be held on Dec. 12 (10pm).
Executive Director, David van der Leer states, “At Van Alen Institute we work on a daily basis to improve the design of cities, landscapes and regions. Moving our full operation to this flexible street-level space allows us to engage more directly with the city around us.”
Stephen Cassell, Chair of Van Alen Institute’s Board of Trustees, said, “The finished space extends Van Alen’s long legacy of using innovative architecture to further its programming. We look forward to hosting an ever greater range of audiences.”
The new space represents the culmination of the 2013 Ground/Work competition, which drew submissions from over 120 teams, representing designers in more than 20 countries. The winning design was selected by over 1000 public voters and an official competition jury including Stephen Cassell (Architecture Research Office, and Board of Trustees, Van Alen Institute), Winka Dubbeldam (Archi-tectonics, and University of Pennsylvania), Mark Gardner (Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects), Mark Robbins (American Academy in Rome, and Board of Trustees, Van Alen Institute), Ada Tolla (LOT-EK), Marc Tsurumaki (LTL Architects), Marc Kushner (Hollwich Kushner, and Architizer), and David van der Leer (Executive Director, Van Alen Institute).
The winning team, Collective–LOK is a collaboration of Jon Lott (PARA-Project), William O’Brien Jr. (WOJR), and Michael Kubo (over,under). Titled Screen Play, their design concept for the re-envisioned ground floor is a highly flexible space utilizing a subtle interplay of surfaces and screens to allow for the diverse range of uses demanded by the activities of the Institute, from multimedia exhibitions and lectures to workshops and private meetings. Each changing function of the bowtie-shaped floor plan will be partitioned by silver accordion walls and a series of four semi-transparent curtains that descend from discreet tracks embedded within the perforated metal mesh ceiling. Explained architect Jon Lott, “So the concept then became based on the idea of providing all of the infrastructure to program the elements in a flexible way, but to screen them and either have them above you packed into the ceiling in this coffer system, or packing the programs into the bow tie of this pochet zone.”
The ground floor transformation was made possible through the generous gifts in kind from: our project contractor IA and from Vitrocsa, ABCO HVACR Supply and Solutions, Barco, Howe, Erik Bruce Inc, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc, Miele, Lighting Workshop, MechoSystems, Sonos, Technical Air Systems, Inc., USG, Duravit USA, Inc. Geberit, HOK, All Time Detection, Inc., HMWhite, Babo Construction, Belmont Electrical, Donato Plumbing, Cosentino, and Tuscany Marble and Granite.
This project was also made possible through: the charitable contributions from AECOM, Sharon Davis, Ennead Architects, Scott Newman, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), Jaros Baum & Bolles, Sherida Paulsen, Leslie Robertson and SawTeen See, McCarter & English, LLP, Stawski Partners; the leadership of the Van Alen Institute Board of Trustees and Transformation Committee Co-Chairs Sherida Paulsen (PKSB Architects) and the late Paul Katz (KPF).
The unveiling of Van Alen’s new programming hub parallels a renewed approach to reaching broader audiences in New York, around the world, and online. This season, the Institute has adopted a visual identity conceived by Bruce Mau Design, and will launch a new website by Helios Design Labs and Laurel Schwulst. Alongside the new physical space, this holistic approach to the organization’s design conveys better than ever Van Alen’s enriching scope of public programs, competitions, and research.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Steven Thomson Marketing & Communications Manager 212-924-7000 x 12 sthomson@vanalen.org
Mathilde Campergue Third Eye 917-881-9003 mathilde@hellothirdeye.com
Interviews and tours available by request.
ABOUT VAN ALEN
At Van Alen Institute, we believe design can transform cities, landscapes, and regions to improve people’s lives. We collaborate with communities, scholars, policymakers, and professionals on local and global initiatives that rigorously investigate the most pressing social, cultural, and ecological challenges of tomorrow. Building on more than a century of experience, we develop cross-disciplinary research, provocative public programs, and inventive design competitions.
December 9, 2014