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by: AIA New York
The recent passing of Robert A.M. Stern, FAIA, marks the loss of one of New York’s most influential architectural figures—an architect, historian, and educator whose career helped shape both the physical and cultural landscape of the city. As founder of Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) and longtime dean of the Yale School of Architecture, Stern brought a singular voice to contemporary practice.
Stern’s relationship with AIA New York spanned decades and reflected his many contributions to the profession. Elevated to the College of Fellows in 1984, he received the AIANY Medal of Honor that same year, honoring “his widespread influence on architectural design, and his provocative, thoroughly considered contributions to history and theory.” In 1994, the Chapter awarded him, along with Gregory Gilmartin, John Montague Massengale, and Thomas Mellins, a Special Citation for their landmark series of books on New York City, works that spanned the architectural and urban development of the city throughout the 1900s. In 2001, Stern was honored at Heritage Ball, now called Common Bond, with the AIA New York President’s Award, shared with Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Hon. AIA, and The McGraw-Hill Construction Information Group, underscoring his leadership at the intersection of practice, scholarship, and civic life.
Stern also spoke at and attended numerous lectures hosted by AIA New York and the Center for Architecture. Among them, a program in April 2022, titled Robert A.M. Stern’s Journey in Architecture: A Conversation with Barry Bergdoll, explored Stern’s autobiography, Between Memory and Invention: My Journey in Architecture (Monacelli, 2022).
Throughout his career, Stern championed architecture that was at once contextually grounded and forward-looking, with projects ranging from academic campuses to residential towers. His work and scholarship will continue to inspire the profession for years to come. Read more about Stern’s legacy through RAMSA, The New York Times, Architect’s Newspaper, and other media outlets that covered his passing.