US architect Robert AM Stern dies aged 86
US architect Robert AM Stern, who was the long-time dean of Yale university, has passed away aged 86.
Stern, who founded his studio, which is now known as RAMSA, in 1969, passed away today at his home in Manhattan, reported the New York Times.
"Bob's impact reverberates not just through RAMSA, but across the entire field of architecture," said RAMSA partner Daniel Lobitz.
"His legacy will live on through the books he wrote, the students he mentored, and the people who inhabit his remarkable buildings. His vision, passion, and notoriously sharp wit became the foundation for a career that will not soon be forgotten, and a firm that is honored to continue the work he began."
One of America's most influential architects, Stern designed numerous high-profile buildings in New York, including the 15 Central Park West skyscraper.
Outside the city his best-known buildings include the George W Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, and his many buildings for Disney in Florida.
Along with his built works created over a seven decade career, Stern was also an educator teaching at Columbia University and as dean of Yale School of Architecture for 18 years from 1998 to 2016.
Born in Brooklyn, Stern studied architecture at Colombia and Yale, graduating in 1965.
Following university, he worked at non-profit organisation the Architectural League of New York, before briefly working for architect Richard Meier and New York City's Housing and Development Administration.
In 1969 he established his studio Stern & Hagmann with fellow Yale student John S Hagmann, which would become RAMSA.
The studio's early works were predominantly a series of shingle-style houses on Long Island. As the studio grew, it gained more commercial work, included several prominent commissions for Disney.
Stern designed several hotels including the Disney's Yacht Club Resort, Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Board Walk along with the Feature Animation Building and creating the master plan for town of Celebration, in Florida.
Many of his early works – including many of the commissions for Disney – were in the postmodern style, and he designed a postmodern facade for the first Venice Architecture Biennale. However, his later works had a more classical aesthetic.
His later works include numerous residential towers in New York including the 220 Central Park South skyscraper on Billionaires' Row and 520 Park Avenue skyscrapers. He also designed a prominent tower for the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown, and in Tribeca, Manhattan.
In 2008 he completed the lime-stone 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 numerous books including a comprehensive history of New York City's architecture.
Stern was awarded numerous accolades including the Topaz Medallion for outstanding service to architectural education and the Driehaus Architecture Prize for contemporary classical architecture.
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