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BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE = PRISON ARCHITECTURE?

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Featured Event

Governors Island Climate Exchange Project Presentation by SOM Design Partner Colin Koop

Oct 22, 2025 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm • AIA Brooklyn | COTE

7 World Trade Center

Join AIA Brooklyn’s Committee on the Environment at the offices of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill for this special presentation by SOM design partner Colin Koop of their New York Climate Exchange project on Governors Island.

The New York Climate Exchange is the result of a bold initiative spearheaded by the City of New York and the Trust for Governors Island with support by Stony Brook University, SOM, MNLA, Buro Happold, and Langan Engineering to reimagine this treasured public space as a local and global hub for climate science.

The entire campus of historic and new buildings will embody the central mission of the project, achieving net zero targets in energy, waste, and water usage, becoming the first campus in New York City designed to meet the “Living Building Challenge.”

Colin Koop has been the driving force behind some of SOM’s most unexpected projects since joining the firm in the early 2000’s. A focus on the human experience is at the foundation of Colin’s design philosophy, and his relentless attention to detail and an emphasis on the best possible user experience are behind SOM’s design for the Walt Disney Company’s New York City headquarters at 7 Hudson Square, the National Museum of the U.S. Army, the completion of the Moynihan Train Hall and most recently, SOM’s competition-winning
design for the 2026 Olympic Village in Milan. A serious influence in the design world, Colin was included in Commercial Observer’s 2021 Power 100 list.

1 HSW
Sign up early — registration closes October 21
October 22, 6:00 doors open at 5:30

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Upcoming Event

October

What Would a Social Housing Development Authority in NYS Mean for Design?

Oct 28, 2025 • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • AIA Brooklyn

Van Alen Institute, 303 Bond Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

Join AIA Brooklyn’s new Housing Committee this fall for a three-event series on social housing. Connect with experts and peers to explore how design can foster healthier, more inclusive, and affordable communities for all.

Tuesday, October 28 – What Would a Social Housing Development Authority in NYS Mean for Design? (1.5 LU|HSW)
Tuesday, November 18 – Future-Proofing Housing: East vs West Coast (1.5 LU|HSW)
Wednesday, November 19 – Rethinking the Shape of the City: Single Stair Reform in Multifamily Housing (1.5 LU|HSW)

If you are interested in being involved in the Housing Committee, please fill out this survey.

What Would a Social Housing Development Authority in NYS Mean for Design?

What if New York reimagined how housing gets built—putting public good and great design on equal footing? This conversation explores what a new Social Housing Development Authority could mean for architects working in multifamily housing.

Hear from Susanne Schindler (Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies), John Paraskevopoulos (NYS Legislative Director), Iziah Thompson (Senior Housing Analysist at Community Service Society of New York), and Matthew Charney, AIA (VP of Design & Construction at NYCHA), as they unpack how new public frameworks could expand design’s role in shaping more equitable, sustainable housing across the state.

Moderated by Julie Torres Moskovitz, AIA

Tuesday, October 28
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Van Alen Institute
303 Bond St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
1.5 AIA LU|HSW

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Sip & Sketch: AIA Brooklyn WIA

Oct 29, 2025 • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • Women in Architecture (WIA)

725 Union Street Brooklyn, NY 11215

Sip & Sketch: AIA Brooklyn WIA

Join AIA Brooklyn’s Women in Architecture for a relaxed evening of creativity and connection. Bring your favorite pens or pencils, enjoy a glass of wine, and sketch alongside friends and colleagues in a beautiful Brooklyn loft.

This casual gathering is all about sparking ideas, sharing perspectives, and celebrating community through drawing

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Time: 6:30–8:30 PM

Location: 725 Union St, Brooklyn NY

Sponsored by: Kristi Spessard, Brown Harris Stevens

Space is limited — please RSVP to save your spot!

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November

Women in Architecture Regional Celebration: One Night, Seven AIA Chapters

Nov 10, 2025 • 6:15 pm - 8:30 pm

Cannon Design
300 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017

For the first time ever, Women in Architecture leaders and members from seven AIA New York chapters—Brooklyn, Bronx, Long Island, New York, Peconic, Queens, and Westchester + Hudson Valley—are coming together under one roof. This isn’t just another networking night. It’s the launch of a united voice for women in our profession—a chance to connect, collaborate, and shape the future we envision.

Imagine the energy of architects and designers from around New York State meeting face-to-face, sharing ideas, and building a network that spans the entire region. In one evening, you’ll meet chapter leaders from Women in Architecture Committees, exchange strategies, and take part in interactive groups designed to spark relationships that can shape your career for years to come.

Don’t just hear about this moment later—be in the room when it begins. Join us and be part of the story as we lay the foundation for the next evolution of Women in Architecture in New York State and beyond!

Speakers:
AIA Bronx WIA Co-chairs:
Sara Jazayeri, AIA
Leila Pena, AIA

Brooklyn WIA Co-chairs:
Alice Allan, AIA
Gemma Devesa Gasco, AIA

AIA Long Island WIA Co-chairs:
Graciela Carrillo, FAIA
Ebru Hunter, Assoc. AIA

AIA New York WIA Co-chairs:
Wells Megalli, AIA
Rosalind Tsang, AIA

AIA Peconic WIA Co-chairs:
Lori Beppu, AIA
Maria Fumai Dietrich, AIA

AIA Queens WIA:
Jacqueline Velez, AIA

AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley WIA:
Carol Kurth, FAIA, ASID

Organized by

AIANY Women in Architecture Committee

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Passive House Tour at 475 Building Supply

Nov 11, 2025 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm • AIA Brooklyn COTE

475 High Performance Building Supply
369 Warren Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Passive-house-certified office tour accompanied by a presentation on applying Passive House principles to venerable masonry buildings.

Join AIA Brooklyn’s COTE (Committee on the Environment) for this tour of 475 Building Supply’s new passive-house-certified office accompanied by a presentation on applying the latest Passive House principles to venerable masonry buildings. The evening will conclude with a memorable social visit to their rooftop.
1.0 HSW Presentation by Jeremy Latriano.

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BKEP “Ask Me Anything:” Parallel Pathways

Nov 13, 2025 • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • AIA Brooklyn + BKEP

FXCollaborative
 235 Duffield Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Exploring Nontraditional Careers in Architecture
Marketing | Leadership | Medicine | Mentoring

AIA Brooklyn’s Emerging Professionals Committee invites you to join six dynamic professionals as they share how architectural training can lead to unexpected and impactful career paths – from government and medicine to construction strategy, academia, and entrepreneurship. This panel explores how design thinking, technical expertise, and curiosity can redefine what it means to “practice” architecture today.

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Future-Proofing Housing: East vs West Coast

Nov 18, 2025 • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • AIA Brooklyn

Van Alen Institute, 303 Bond Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

Tuesday, October 28 – What Would a Social Housing Development Authority in NYS Mean for Design? (1.5 LU|HSW)
Tuesday, November 18 – Future-Proofing Housing: East vs West Coast (1.5 LU|HSW)
Wednesday, November 19 – Rethinking the Shape of the City: Single Stair Reform in Multifamily Housing (1.5 LU|HSW)

If you are interested in being involved in the Housing Committee, please fill out this survey.

Future-Proofing Housing: East vs West Coast

What can architects learn from coast-to-coast approaches to designing housing that endures—and thrives—in the face of climate, health, social and affordability challenges? This conversation brings together leading voices advancing high- performance multifamily projects centered on resiliency, passive survivability, healthy
materials, and community well-being.

Hear from Michael Eliason (Larch Lab, Seattle), Sophie Nahrmann (Studio Luz Architects, Boston), and Heather McKinstry (Dattner Architects, NYC) as they share insights on prefabrication, Passive building innovation, and the creation of vibrant, climate-adaptive housing. We will cross-compare government agencies’ efforts and policy incentives in their respective cities and states to address affordability and the housing crisis.

Moderated by Julie Torres Moskovitz, AIA

Tuesday, November 18
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Van Alen Institute
303 Bond St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
1.5 AIA LU|HSW

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Rethinking the Shape of the City: SingleStair Reform in Multifamily Housing

Nov 19, 2025 • 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm • AIA Brooklyn and CityTech

CityTech Voorhees Hall
186 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Tuesday, October 28 – What Would a Social Housing Development Authority in NYS Mean for Design? (1.5 LU|HSW)
Tuesday, November 18 – Future-Proofing Housing: East vs West Coast (1.5 LU|HSW)
Wednesday, November 19 – Rethinking the Shape of the City: Single Stair Reform in Multifamily Housing (1.5 LU|HSW)

If you are interested in being involved in the Housing Committee, please fill out this survey.

Rethinking the Shape of the City: Single Stair Reform in Multifamily Housing

What if a simple change to the building code could transform how we design and experience housing in New York? This timely conversation examines how single-stair reform could enable more livable, light-filled multifamily buildings—reshaping urban density while enhancing community and design quality.

Hear from Michael Eliason (Larch Lab, Seattle), a national voice on single-stair reform and author of Building for People; Jonathan Molloy (So–IL, Brooklyn), whose work with Tankhaus explores innovative housing typologies; and Stephen Smith (Center for Building in North America), leading zoning initiatives around single-stair, elevators, and more.

Moderated by Julie Torres Moskovitz, AIA

Wednesday, November 19
6:30 – 8:30 PM
City Tech Vorhees Hall
186 Jay Street, Brooklyn
1.5 AIA LU|HSW

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“MODEL” BUILDINGS

NAVIGATING BRUTALISM IN AFRICA

ACCESSIBILITY

THE COST OF “HOUSES”

ADU’S

UPFRONT COSTS

FORGOTTEN WOMEN

NYC CITY OF YES

A LITTLE BLACK, A LITTLE WHITE, A LITTLE SNOW

INTO THE BREACH

METROPOLITAN ADVENTURE!

LONGWOOD GARDENS

CITY OF YES!

MORE BRUTALISM!

BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE = PRISON ARCHITECTURE?

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Explore

“MODEL” BUILDINGS

NAVIGATING BRUTALISM IN AFRICA

ACCESSIBILITY

THE COST OF “HOUSES”

ADU’S

UPFRONT COSTS

FORGOTTEN WOMEN

NYC CITY OF YES

A LITTLE BLACK, A LITTLE WHITE, A LITTLE SNOW

INTO THE BREACH

METROPOLITAN ADVENTURE!

LONGWOOD GARDENS

CITY OF YES!

MORE BRUTALISM!

BRUTALIST ARCHITECTURE = PRISON ARCHITECTURE?

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