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COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 19 that I discovered I have no regrets about how I designed the house and how it was used.” Della Valle gives back to his profession and its future in teaching and lecturing engagements for the American Institute of Architects, and at architecture and develop- ment programs at institutions that include Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Syracuse Universities, and his two alma maters. He has hired several Lehigh architecture graduates over the years and is proud to say that his love and joy for architecture was born at the university. “I encourage architecture and development students to think about and start entrepreneurship early, before they get sidetracked by life and choose not to take the risk,” Della Valle said. “Entrepreneurship takes endur- ance. Like marathon runners, when everyone else gets exhausted, that’s the time to put your head down and run faster. We’re at the bottom here right now, with the pandemic, political unrest and economic uncertainty. Now is the time to focus on how to make it better, to take agency over your own life. Start now.” ● c.1910 Brillo warehouse. He acquired the building and created 10 luxury condominiums in the space. Having the power of being both developer and archi- tect is important to Della Valle. “It started out being about economic reward, but over time, that’s changed. Now to be the decision-maker means you control the program, you control the principles around how you do the work, the priorities of the daily business,” he said. “I can control the outcomes in a way that has more personal meaning.” Part of that control means having the ability to reimagine the priorities for what can be achieved with the company’s investments. “In its 14 years, our company has shifted its mission to focus on making Brooklyn beautiful, equitable and sustainable.” One of Della Valle’s favorite projects toward that mission, and one that was personally mean- ingful, is One John Street in Brooklyn Bridge Park. “Our initial response to the RFP included an annex space for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, which we ultimately designed, built and donated to Brooklyn Bridge Park for $1. It addresses the kind of historical change that has happened in our neighborhood — it’s becoming a place for families. That museum space is focused on the local community, including those who don’t have the resources to send their kids to afterschool programs.” Alloy’s and Della Valle’s success has changed his perspective in work and in life. “It’s not about how much we can make but how much we can give away. I’ve already achieved infinitely more than I had ever planned in life from an economic perspec- tive. So, the question is, ‘How do I help?’” Pushing the boundaries of sustainability to the next level is also a big priority for Della Valle. Alloy built some of the first “passive house” — ultra-low energy buildings with a reduced ecological footprint — town- houses in Brooklyn, and is currently working on the first passive-house schools in New York City, as well as the first all-electric skyscraper at 80 Flatbush. “When we’re developers, we have no choice but to lead. It’s a good economic investment, and we have a social obligation to do it. It’s one of the things we’re really proud of,” Della Valle said. Della Valle finds inspiration for his projects in his own children. “My kids, their generation, are my future tenants. By the time I’m finished building our current million-square-foot project, they’ll be 25-year-old renters in New York City. Their generation cares deeply, but they don’t feel like they have power or control. So we see it as our obligation to listen carefully and learn from them.” Spending time with his wife and two daughters helps keep Della Valle centered, a concept put to the test recently because of the COVID-19 lockdown in New York City. The family left Brooklyn for their new country home in the Hudson River Valley that was designed by Della Valle. There they lived, worked, and played together from March through the summer. Sustainable and capable of being off grid, the home includes spectacular views, studio space for Della Valle’s wife, and a home gym where he and his elder daughter often worked out together. “It was a real privilege to spend that many months there with my family, with the bonus The trademark of Della Valle’s work is improving the neighborhoods in which his projects are situated. IMAGES COURTESY OF ALLOY DEVELOPMENT