Van Alen Institute

Understanding Cities is a multiyear initiative which aims to improve our understanding of cities via different lenses, from design and policy to activism and visual and performing arts. Through talks, debates, and excursions, we tackle compelling questions about the nature of cities from the perspective of varying disciplines.

This series was made possible through our Program Leadership Council, co-chaired by Andy Bernheimer (Bernheimer Architecture), Katherine Chia (Desai Chia Architecture), Koray Duman (Buro Koray Duman), Mark Gardner (Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects), Sara Grant (Murphy Burnham and Buttrick Architects), Stephan Jaklitsch (Jaklitsch / Gardner Architects), Amy Lau (Amy Lau Design), and Joel Sanders (Joel Sanders Architect).

Thank you to council members Elliot Berkowitz, Matthew Bremer, Jerry Caldari, Demetrios Comodromos, Powell Draper, Dunia Dupont, Kevin Erickson, Lisa Frazar, Chris Hughes, Scott Hughes, Julie Iovine, Hauke Jungjohann, Andrew Kotchen, Drew Lang, Gareth Mahon, Michael Manfredi, Philippe Meyersohn, Matthew Moss, Ted Porter, Juergen Riehm, Jane Stageberg, Carol Swedlow, Michael Szivos, Marion Weiss, and Stephen Yablon.

The programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.