Phyllis Lambert facts for kids

The Canadian Centre for Architecture, which Phyllis Lambert founded.

Phyllis Barbara Lambert (born January 24, 1927) is a famous Canadian architect and philanthropist. A philanthropist is someone who gives money and time to help others. She is also a member of the well-known Bronfman family.

About Phyllis Lambert's Life

Phyllis Lambert was born in Montreal, Quebec. From a young age, she showed a great talent for art. When she was just nine years old, she loved sculpture. By age eleven, her drawings were so good that they were shown in art exhibitions. She studied at Vassar College and later became very interested in how art and architecture connect. Her family has a Jewish background.

In 1949, she married Jean Lambert, an economic consultant. They later divorced in 1954. After her divorce, she stayed in Paris to focus on her art and sculpting.

In 1951, her father, Samuel Bronfman, started a company called Cemp Investments. Phyllis was given a 22% share in this company. This company controlled her family's large business, The Seagram Company Ltd.. This business managed many different types of companies, from drinks to real estate.

Her Work in Architecture

Phyllis Lambert was very involved in designing the Seagram Building in New York.

While Phyllis Lambert was living in Paris, her father's company, Seagram, was planning a new main office in New York City. Phyllis had learned a lot about new art and architecture styles in Paris. She strongly disagreed with the building design her father had already chosen.

In a long letter, the 27-year-old Phyllis convinced her father to change his mind. She was then given the important job of finding a better architect. After six weeks of searching, she chose Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He became her mentor and encouraged her to become an architect herself. From 1954 to 1958, she was deeply involved in designing and building the famous Seagram Building in New York City. She later studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

After getting her master's degree in 1963, her family asked her to design an arts center in Montreal. This center was named the Saidye Bronfman Centre, in honor of her mother.

Saving Historic Buildings

Phyllis Lambert also became a champion for saving old buildings. In 1973, a historic house called the Van Horne Mansion was torn down. This made many people upset, and groups formed to protect Montreal's heritage. Phyllis Lambert became a leader in these efforts.

In 1975, she started a group called Heritage Montreal. This group worked to save historic places. They raised money and organized protests to stop buildings from being torn down. They also helped create Canada's largest non-profit housing project, Milton-Parc.

Phyllis Lambert even bought Shaughnessy House to save it from being destroyed. In 1989, this old mansion became part of the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA).

Canadian Centre for Architecture

In 1979, she founded the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA). This is a very important museum and research center in Montreal. She gave many shares of Seagram to help fund it. The CCA has a huge collection of architectural drawings, books, and photos. The main idea behind the CCA is that "architecture is a public concern." This means they believe architecture affects everyone's lives.

Phyllis Lambert also worked on other big projects. She helped with the Toronto-Dominion Centre and the restoration of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

Awards and Recognition

Phyllis Lambert has received many important awards for her work.

• In 1985, she became a Member of the Order of Canada, which is one of Canada's highest honors. She was later promoted to Officer in 1990 and Companion in 2001.
• In 1985, she was also made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec, and later a Grand Officer in 2005.
• She has received honorary degrees from about 26 universities.
• In 2006, she won the Vincent Scully Prize for her amazing work in designing and preserving buildings.
• A documentary film about her, called Citizen Lambert: Joan of architecture, was made in 2007.
• In 2014, she received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
• She was awarded the Wolf Prize in Arts in 2016.
• In 2018, she was featured in a documentary film called City Dreamers, alongside other famous female architects.
• In 2023, she received the Ada Louise Huxtable prize for her contributions to architecture.

Honours and awards

• Member of the Order of Canada (1985)
• Knight of the National Order of Quebec (1985)
• Officer of the Order of Canada (1990)
• Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in Architecture from Pratt Institute (1990)
• Gold Medal from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (1991)
• Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1992)
• Hadrian Award of the World Monuments Fund (1997)
• Companion of the Order of Canada (2001)
• Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec (2005)
• Vincent Scully Prize from the National Building Museum (2006)
• Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement from the Venice Biennale of Architecture (2014)
• Wolf Prize in Arts (2016)

See also

In Spanish: Phyllis Lambert para niños