Public Voting Opens for Best Vision of NYC Nonprofit’s New Venue
NEW YORK, September 4, 2013–Van Alen Institute today released three design proposals by the Ground/Work competition finalists for a street-level space to house the New York–based design organization’s new home.
In May, Van Alen launched Ground/Work, a design competition calling on emerging architects to propose visions for a new ground-floor venue that will house the more than century-old nonprofit’s program of events, competitions, and curatorial projects exploring innovative architecture and urbanism.
The finalists—Collective-LOK (Jon Lott, William O’Brien Jr., and Michael Kubo); EFGH (Hayley Eber, Frank Gesualdi, Spencer Lapp, Pat Ruggiero, and Ani Ivanova); and Of Possible Architectures (Vincent Appel, Ethan Lay-Sleeper, Jaime Magaliff, Paul Miller, Heather Murtagh, Franklin Romero Jr., and Emily Ruopp, in collaboration with Jay Atherton)—were invited to develop proposals from an international Call for Portfolios in July, which generated submissions from more than 120 teams.
Now, the three finalist teams have revealed their design ideas, and the Institute has partnered with Architizer to seek the public’s vote on the best proposal and contribute to the jury process. Voting will take place from September 4 to September 10, 2013. Full details on the finalist teams and their proposals can be found at the Ground/Work online gallery.
“We are excited and intrigued by the finalists’ visions for the Institute’s next incarnation,” said Van Alen Institute Executive Director David van der Leer. “We thank each of the teams for their hard work and for joining us in exploring this important next step for Van Alen.”
Stephen Cassell, Chair of Van Alen Institute’s Board of Trustees, said, “The three design proposals demonstrate sharp thinking from talented architects, and extend Van Alen’s long legacy of using competitions to spur innovative architectural visions. We look forward to a lively jury deliberation.”
Marc Kushner, Co-Founder of Architizer, said, “Van Alen embodies exactly the spirit of innovation and inspiration we’ve always championed at Architizer. We’re pleased to add the public’s voice to the Ground/Work competition through Architizer’s newly redesigned platform.”
In addition to the public vote, finalist design proposals will be evaluated by the competition jury composed of 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 (International Center of Photography, and Board of Trustees, Van Alen Institute), Ada Tolla (LOT-EK), Marc Tsurumaki (LTL Architects), David van der Leer (Van Alen Institute), with the addition of Marc Kushner (Hollwich Kushner, and Architizer).
The winning design will be announced in late September, with construction expected to begin in winter 2013.
For more information, visit the competition website at past.vanalen.org/groundwork.
View the Ground/Work press kit for images and additional information.
Ground/Work is produced by Van Alen in collaboration with Kind Aesthetic, a New York–based arts consultancy.
MEDIA CONTACT
Zach Postone
Communications Coordinator
Van Alen Institute
212-924-7000 x 12
ABOUT VAN ALEN INSTITUTE
Van Alen Institute is an independent nonprofit architectural organization whose mission is to promote innovative thinking about the role of architecture and design in civic life. Since its founding in 1894, Van Alen has informed debate and advanced design through competitions, fellowships, publications, and forums that connect designers, urban thinkers, civic leaders, and the broader public. Find out more at past.vanalen.org.
MEDIA PARTNER
[ARCHITIZER LOGO]