Design Speed Dating returns at Van Alen on Saturday, May 19 with our seasonal brunch and portfolio review series that pairs emerging designers with architects, educators, and critics for a session of fast-paced round-robin reviews.

At a time of critical need for designers’ voices in shaping the future of the public realm, Van Alen invites an interdisciplinary team of jurors—architects, design critics, scholars, graphic designers, publishers, gallerists, real estate professionals, policymakers, and nonprofit leaders—to critique not just portfolio presentations but how today’s young designers can best bring their visions to the broader civic conversation.

Past reviewers include Vishaan Chakrabarti (Columbia GSAPP), Wendy Feuer (NYC Department of Transportation), Daniel Hernandez (Jonathan Rose Companies), William Menking (The Architect’s Newspaper), Lars Müller (Lars Müller Publishers), Signe Nielsen (Mathews Nielsen), Charles Renfro (Diller Scofidio + Renfro), Michael Sorkin (Sorkin Studio and City College of New York), Suzanne Stephens (Architectural Record), Frederieke Taylor (Frederieke Taylor Gallery), Marc Tsurumaki (LTL Architects), and Anthony Vidler (The Cooper Union).

Submit your work by Wednesday, May 9 to be considered for a coveted spot at the table. Please send your portfolio as a PDF attachment, 5MB maximum, to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We’ll pair four lucky emerging design professionals with four jurors for a round-robin of ten minute reviews, followed by a dialogue between participants, jurors and attendees.  All Van Alen members, friends, and supporters are invited to take part in the action, enjoy a festive brunch in our public gallery, and explore innovative ideas and fresh talent in the company of the greater New York City design community.

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Kingspan Benchmark has joined forces with the AJ on a 'Sketch a Facade' Competition, to get Chartered Architects and Student Architects sketching.

The AJ invited Alan Dunlop to talk about sketching on 21st March at Kohn Pedersen Fox's new gallery on Langley Street, London. Alan's lecture was truly inspiring, showcasing Paul Rudolph, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, Ed Ruscha and many more. All fantastic pieces of work with their own interpretation, whether it was showing the whole landscape, a focused area, in black and white or full colour. In case you missed it, please feel free to download the presentation here.

Now it's your turn! It can be any facade, building - iconic, industrial, shed, tower. We want to see what buildings inspire you - whether it's the shape of the building, the textures, the landscape, you show us.

To enter the competition, please email your sketches and drawings to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , titling your email 'Benchmark sketch', or post them to: Stephanie Geisler, Emap, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7EJ. The deadline for entries is Friday 18^th May.

The best will feature in the AJ and the winning sketch will receive £500. The best sketch by a student will win an annual subscription to both the AJ and the Architectural Review.

We wish you the best of luck!

http://www.kingspanbenchmark.com/news-and-events/news/sketch-a-facade-competition

Kingspan Benchmark has joined forces with the AJ on a 'Sketch a Facade' Competition, to get Chartered Architects and Student Architects sketching.

The AJ invited Alan Dunlop to talk about sketching on 21st March at Kohn Pedersen Fox's new gallery on Langley Street, London. Alan's lecture was truly inspiring, showcasing Paul Rudolph, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, Ed Ruscha and many more. All fantastic pieces of work with their own interpretation, whether it was showing the whole landscape, a focused area, in black and white or full colour. In case you missed it, please feel free to download the presentation here.

Now it's your turn! It can be any facade, building - iconic, industrial, shed, tower. We want to see what buildings inspire you - whether it's the shape of the building, the textures, the landscape, you show us.

To enter the competition, please email your sketches and drawings to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , titling your email 'Benchmark sketch', or post them to: Stephanie Geisler, Emap, Greater London House, Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7EJ. The deadline for entries is Friday 18^th May.

The best will feature in the AJ and the winning sketch will receive £500. The best sketch by a student will win an annual subscription to both the AJ and the Architectural Review.

We wish you the best of luck!

http://www.kingspanbenchmark.com/news-and-events/news/sketch-a-facade-competition

To showcase the new Andersen® Exterior Trim System, the company is launching a contest for architects and designers to render and submit an original building design using Andersen exterior trim as a building component.

Now through May 18, 2012, applications are being accepted. Entrants must submit an original building design with four (4) elevations rendered in color, and may submit one (1) additional drawing of their choice. The project must include the exterior trim system specified for Andersen A-Series or 400 Series products.  See the official rules for details.

Up to five (5) designs will be selected. Contest winners will receive a trip to Minnesota for an architectural tour of the Twin Cities and a facilities tour of Andersen Corporation. Each winning design that is built on or before May 30, 2013 will also receive Andersen exterior trim (up to 700 linear feet); an approximate retail value of $7,000.

Find official contest rules here: http://www.andersenwindows.com/exteriortrimcontest