The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation announced the opening of The Bev, a new multi-use space and the foundation’s headquarters, located in Manhattan, New York. The group’s new, women-focused community meeting spaces offer “a beacon for gender equity and innovation” dedicated to incubating firms, producing educational media and hosting strategic gatherings to advance and elevate women in their work lives, said BWAF outgoing executive director Cynthia Phifer Kracauer, who spearheaded the initiative.
Created as a community hub for transformative partnerships, the new space serves as a dynamic gathering and activity center driven by the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation’s leadership and influence. The Bev offers 2,000 square feet for various public and internal uses, as well as a new East Coast home base for women architects, engineers and construction executives and allied professionals. This fresh nexus of activity already hosted BWAF’s noted Emerging Leaders program and new interview recordings for its acclaimed audio documentary series, New Angle: Voice. BWAF has also debuted its first exhibition, Pioneering Women of American Architecture, at The Bev.
“We are so excited about our new home, The Bev, which is so much more than just a physical place for our work,” said Angelica T. Baccon, AIA, principal at SHoP Architects and chair of BWAF’s Board of Trustees. “It’s a vibrant hub designed to unite the BWAF community both physically and virtually, with versatile spaces to house our executive offices, meetings, a woman-owned firm incubator, educational offerings and state-of-the-art media production, all fostering collaboration and innovation for our community of supporters throughout our metropolitan area and beyond.”
Located at the nexus of local and regional rail, the High Line and the Hudson River Park at 4 Manhattan West, The Bev offers a newly appointed lounge, conference and meeting space, offices for the group’s foundation staff and setups for BWAF’s board activities, including virtual and in-person meetings. The Bev is generously sponsored by Brookfield Properties and located in the SOM-designed Manhattan West development. Both Brookfield and SOM are longtime supporters of the foundation. Baccon and SHoP donated full design services for the interiors of the new multi-use headquarters.
“The Bev stands as a symbol of the power inherent in collaboration,” said Michele O’Connor, PE, LEED AP, past chair of BWAF’s board and principal at the engineering firm Langan. “It is a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise when diverse talents and shared commitment come together. The dedication and expertise brought by these women have been instrumental in creating a space we are confident will help inspire and empower generations to come.”
“The Bev is a community space that firmly grounds the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation at the center of urban life and nurtures our expanding cultural impact,” said Julia Murphy, AIA, partner at SOM and chair of the BWAF board’s nominating committee. “This fast-paced, economical fit-out has yielded a high-profile venue for multi-layered stakeholder groups and a range of programs that promote vitality, equity and community for women worldwide in the AEC and related fields.”
Full-time occupants of The Bev include the executive director and all communications and programming staff, as well as the publications and social media coordinator and the producer of the audio documentaries. The second-floor space has been provided with support by Brookfield Properties, whose executive vice president of design and construction, Sabrina Kanner, led the work and championed the inclusion of BWAF. Other collaborators and team members included JBB, Darby Construction, StickBulb, RavenHill Studio, Estiluz and Crosby Street Studios, with select furnishings donated by WeWork.
New Programming, Exhibits and Events
According to Kracauer, the foundation has celebrated the opening of the new exhibition designed by Yay Brigade, Pioneering Women of American Architecture, a companion to the acclaimed online resource created by co-directors Mary McLeod and Victoria Rosner. Also, in early December, BWAF hosted 12 promising women practitioners for its first Emerging Leaders session, the innovative professional development forum for select women between five and 10 years out of school. Two more Emerging Leaders sessions animated The Bev’s spaces in January and February.
“Along with our leadership meetings, The Bev will host upcoming events and programs, including our new video to debut on Beverly Willis’ amazing life, the New Angle: Voice wrap party, a Friends Program to welcome frequent visitors and roundtables with leading journalists, feminists and experts on issues impacting women in the AEC fields,” Kracauer said. “We also welcome individual and group visitors by appointment — just reach us at info@bwaf.org to arrange your visit!”
BWAF will be hosting its own gatherings and talks, as well as lending its space to like-minded organizations for their events. An official housewarming and launch party were held at The Bev in the early spring. In this way, BWAF is at the forefront of a cultural revolution, reshaping the narrative of women’s contributions in the built environment. Through award-winning exhibitions, websites, media and programs, BWAF collaborates with museums, universities, professional organizations and other groups to propel women to leadership positions in the design and construction fields.
Founded in 2002 by the late Beverly Willis, FAIA, on the principle of acknowledging, cultivating and valuing women’s contributions across the building industry, the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation champions gender equity in leadership and recognition in architecture, design, landscape, engineering, technology, real estate and construction. The foundation achieves its mission through research, documentation, public education and transformative industry practices, striving to build a global movement that celebrates women’s impact on the built environment — past, present and future.
