Van Alen Institute is a Brooklyn[1]-based independent nonprofit architectural organization that works to create equitable cities through inclusive design.

Van Alen Institute's current executive director is Deborah Marton,[5] who also serves as President of the New York City Public Design Commission.

[9] The institute was also a partner in Rebuild by Design[10] and Changing Course: Navigating the Future of the Lower Mississippi River Delta.

[11] In 2020, Van Alen Institute collaborated with the Urban Design Forum on Neighborhoods Now, a COVID-19 pandemic response initiative that paired businesses in hard-hit neighborhoods with pro-bono design support.

[12] Outcomes included outdoor restaurant seating,[13] a night market in Manhattan's Chinatown,[14] and safety protocol posters.