American architect Robert M. Stern, the longtime dean of Yale University, has died at the age of 86.
Stern, who founded his studio, now known as Ramsa, died today at his home in Manhattan, according to the New York Times.
“Bob’s impact is not only through Ramsa, but throughout the field of architecture,” said Ramsa colleague Daniel Lutz.
“His legacy will live on through the books he wrote, the books he patronized, and the people who live in his remarkable buildings. His vision, passion and infamous speed became the foundation of a career that will not soon be forgotten, and a firm he started that he is honored to continue working for.”
One of America’s most influential architects, Stern designed several high-profile buildings in New York, including the 15 Central Park West skyscraper.
Among his famous buildings outside the city are the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, and many of his buildings for Disney in Florida.
Along with his architectural works spanning a seven-decade career, Stern was also an educator teaching at Columbia University and dean of the Yale School of Architecture for 18 years from 1998 to 2016.
Born in Brooklyn, Stern studied architecture at Columbia and Yale, graduating in 1965.
After university, he worked at the nonprofit Architectural League of New York, before working briefly for architect Richard Meyer and the Housing and Development Administration of New York City.
In 1969 he founded his studio Stern & Hagman with fellow Yale student John S. Hagman, who would become Ramsa.
The studio’s early works were primarily a series of shingle-style houses on Long Island. As the studio grew, he acquired more commercial work, including several prominent commissions for Disney.
Stern designed several hotels, including Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Board of Directors for the Feature Animation Building in Florida, as well as creating the master plan for the city’s Celebration in Florida.
Many of his early works—including many Disney commissions—were in the postmodern style, and he designed the postmodern facade for the first Venice Architecture Biennale. However, his later works had a more classical aesthetic.
His later works include several residential towers in New York, including the 220 Central Park South skyscraper on Billionaires’ Row and the 520 Park Avenue skyscraper. He also designed the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown New York City, and a landmark tower in Manhattan’s Tribeca.
In 2008 he completed the limestone-clad 15 Central Park West skyscraper, which he told The New York Times was his “breakthrough”.
Along with building and teaching, Stern was a prolific writer, authoring several books including a comprehensive history of New York City architecture.
Stern has been awarded numerous accolades, including the Fazz Medallion for outstanding service to architectural education and the Dryas Architecture Prize for contemporary classical architecture.
