13th Annual Fête:
Benefactors Dinner
Wednesday October 14, 20265-10PM
The Block House,
Building 9 Nolan Park
Governors Island, NY
︎︎︎ Tickets and Sponsor Tier Information Here
You are cordially invited to join the Institute for Public Architecture at our 13th Annual Fête celebrating thirteen years of social impact programs that use design to address social, physical, and environmental inequities in the city. Proceeds from this event directly support IPA programs.
This year we will honor two distinguished practitioners who are leading the conversation around public architecture, civic space, civil rights, and racial justice:
Deborah N. Archer, Associate Dean at NYU Law, President of the ACLU, and author of “Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality”.
Billie Tsien, Architect, Founder of Studio Tsien and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Read more about our honorees below.
HONOREE RECEPTION 5PM-7PM
Remarks starting at 6PM
We recommend arrival via the 5:15PM Governors Island Ferry from the Battery Maritime Terminal in lower Manhattan*
DINNER 7PM-9PM
A delicious seasonal three-course dinner prepared by Great Performances at the Block House.
Vegan and gluten-free options will be available.
Wine is generously provided courtesy of Barlume & Vineyard Brands.
Seats are extremely limited. We encourage you to secure your place at the table by purchasing your tickets before October 1st!
Arrival/ferry information will be provided after registration.
We hope that you will join us for this extraordinary evening of lively conversation, delicious food, fine wines, and collective celebration!
Host Committee:
Nicole and Andy Bernheimer
Jonathan Kirschenfeld
Tracey Hummer
SASAKI
Erika Hinrichs and Fred Biehle
(in formation)
The Institute for Public Architecture is a 501.c.3 tax exempt organization.
This year we will honor two distinguished practitioners who are leading the conversation around public architecture, civic space, civil rights, and racial justice:
Deborah N. Archer, Associate Dean at NYU Law, President of the ACLU, and author of “Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality”.
Billie Tsien, Architect, Founder of Studio Tsien and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
Read more about our honorees below.
HONOREE RECEPTION 5PM-7PM
Remarks starting at 6PM
We recommend arrival via the 5:15PM Governors Island Ferry from the Battery Maritime Terminal in lower Manhattan*
DINNER 7PM-9PM
A delicious seasonal three-course dinner prepared by Great Performances at the Block House.
Vegan and gluten-free options will be available.
Wine is generously provided courtesy of Barlume & Vineyard Brands.
Seats are extremely limited. We encourage you to secure your place at the table by purchasing your tickets before October 1st!
Arrival/ferry information will be provided after registration.
We hope that you will join us for this extraordinary evening of lively conversation, delicious food, fine wines, and collective celebration!
Host Committee:
Nicole and Andy Bernheimer
Jonathan Kirschenfeld
Tracey Hummer
SASAKI
Erika Hinrichs and Fred Biehle
(in formation)
The Institute for Public Architecture is a 501.c.3 tax exempt organization.
2026 Honorees
Deborah N. Archer is Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Clinical Programs, the Margaret B. Hoppin Professor of Law, and Faculty Director of the Community Equity Initiative at NYU Law School. Deborah is also the President of the ACLU, the first person of color to serve in that role in the organization’s history, and a nationally recognized expert on civil liberties, civil rights, and racial justice. Deborah is an award-winning teacher and legal scholar whose articles have appeared in leading law reviews and national publications, and she has offered commentary for national and international media. Prior to fulltime teaching, Deborah worked as an attorney with the ACLU and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., where she litigated in the areas of voting rights, employment discrimination, educational equity, and school desegregation. Deborah also previously served as Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, the nation’s oldest and largest police oversight agency.
Billie Tsien is a New York-based architect, mentor, and leading voice in the design and broader cultural community. Her approach to architecture is rooted in the spirit of collaboration with a portfolio imbued with a sense of optimism, warmth, texture, and serenity. She is a founding partner of Studio Tsien and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. In parallel to her architecture practice, Billie has taught at many institutions and is a devoted participant in many arts organizations. From 2021-2024 Billie was the Chair of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the first Asian-American and woman to hold this position. Her dedication to work and the cultural landscape at large has garnered her numerous awards including the National Medal of Arts from President Obama, the 2013 AIA Architecture Firm Award, and the 2019 Praemium Imperiale presented by the Japan Art Association. As an educator, arts advocate and practitioner, Billie is steadfast in her mission to create a better world through architecture.
