On September 30th, Principal Angel Ayón, along with his wife Sarah, attended The Chocolate Factory Theater’s Fourth Annual Gala in celebration of the legacy of, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Sheila Lewandowski whose dedication and perseverance has shaped both the organization and surrounding arts community in Long Island City for decades.
For AYON Studio, the evening held special meaning and warm memories. Since 2015, AYON Studio has partnered with The Chocolate Factory on the adaptive reuse of its industrial building—transforming a former factory into a home for performance, rehearsal, and community engagement. What began as early design conversations has grown into a deep collaboration guided by shared values of creativity, inclusion, and care for place.
“I look forward to seeing what else Sheila will do next and continuing to be inspired by her,” he remarked.
The Gala served as a reminder of why this work matters. The Chocolate Factory’s story—rooted in grassroots determination and sustained through collaboration—embodies the kind of community-centered transformation AYON Studio strives for in every project. We’re proud to stand beside Sheila’s work and The Chocolate Factory team as they continue building a space where art, architecture, and community intersect to question the present and imagine what’s next.