MJ Long facts for kids

Mary Jane Long (born July 31, 1939 – died September 3, 2018), known as MJ Long, was an amazing American architect. She was also a teacher and a writer. MJ Long is most famous for her important work on the British Library in London. She worked on this huge project with her husband, Sir Sandy Wilson.

MJ Long also designed special art studios for famous artists like Peter Blake and Frank Auerbach. She even wrote a book about these studios! Later, working with Rolfe Kentish, she helped design many cool places. These included the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, the Jewish Museum London in Camden Town, and an addition to the Pallant House Gallery.

Becoming an Architect

MJ Long was born in Summit, New Jersey, in the United States. She went to Westmount High School in Montreal, Canada. She was a very bright student and graduated at the top of her class in 1956.

After high school, she studied at Smith College. Then, she joined a four-year architecture program. This was at the Yale School of Architecture. There, she learned from a famous architect named Paul Rudolph.

Meeting Her Future Partner

It was at Yale that MJ Long met Colin St John Wilson. He would later become her husband. In 1965, she moved to London and joined his new architecture company. They got married in 1972.

MJ Long passed away in 2018. She was 79 years old. She left behind her two children and three grandchildren.