Robert A. M. Stern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert A. M. Stern
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| Born | May 23, 1939 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | November 27, 2025 (aged 86) New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Lynn Gimbel Solinger (divorced) |
| Children | Nicholas S. G. Stern |
| Awards | Driehaus Architecture Prize |
| Buildings | Comcast Tower, 15 Central Park West, 220 Central Park South, 520 Park Avenue, 30 Park Place, Pauli Murray College and Benjamin Franklin College |
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Robert Arthur Morton Stern (born May 23, 1939 – died November 27, 2025) was a famous American architect, teacher, and author. He founded his own architecture company, Robert A. M. Stern Architects, also known as RAMSA. From 1998 to 2016, he was the leader (Dean) of the Yale School of Architecture, a well-known university program.
His firm designed many important buildings. These include the classic-looking apartment building 15 Central Park West in New York City, two student dorms at Yale University, and the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. They also designed the modern Comcast Center skyscraper. In 2011, Stern received the Driehaus Architecture Prize for his amazing work in modern classical architecture. He also designed Schwarzman College in China, which is a very advanced and environmentally friendly university building.
Contents
Robert A. M. Stern: A Master Architect
Early Life and Education
Robert Stern was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on May 23, 1939. He spent his early childhood in Manhattan before his family moved back to Brooklyn, where he grew up.
He went to Columbia University, earning a bachelor's degree in 1960. Later, he studied at Yale University, where he received his master's degree in architecture in 1965. Stern often mentioned historian Vincent Scully and architect Philip Johnson as important mentors who influenced his early career.
Building a Career
After finishing his studies at Yale, Stern worked as a curator for the Architectural League of New York. This job helped him connect with other architects and organize important exhibitions. He showcased his own work alongside other rising talents like Charles Moore and Robert Venturi.
Starting His Own Firm
In 1966, Stern briefly worked for architect Richard Meier. He then spent two and a half years at New York City's Housing and Development Administration. After this, he started his first firm, Stern & Hagmann, with a fellow Yale student, John S. Hagmann. In 1977, he founded his most famous company, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, known today as RAMSA.
A Dedicated Educator
Stern was a respected teacher for many years. He served as the Dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1998 to 2016. Even after his time as Dean, he continued to teach there until 2022. Before Yale, he taught at Columbia University and was the first director of Columbia's Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture.
Beyond Architecture: Writing and TV
Besides designing buildings, Stern was also a talented writer. He wrote, co-wrote, and edited many books about architecture, especially about New York City's history. In 1986, he hosted a popular TV show on PBS called Pride of Place: Building the American Dream. This eight-part series featured interviews with other famous architects and was very well-received by the public.
Famous Architectural Projects
Many of Stern's first projects were private homes, especially in areas like the Hamptons and Westchester County near New York. He also worked on exciting projects for Walt Disney World.
Designing for Disney
His work for Disney included designing Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort. He also helped create the master plan for Celebration, Florida, a unique town designed by Disney. Stern even served on the board of the Walt Disney Company from 1992 to 2003.
Iconic City Buildings
Stern became very well-known for designing large apartment buildings in New York City. These include 20 East End Avenue, The Chatham, The Brompton, and 15 Central Park West. The 15 Central Park West building was incredibly popular when it was finished. Later, 220 Central Park South also became a very successful project.
His firm also designed some of the tallest buildings in the United States. The glass-covered Comcast Center is one of the tallest buildings in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. This design, along with 15 Central Park West and the Celebration master plan, helped him win the Driehaus Prize. More recently, Stern designed three more tall skyscrapers in New York City: 220 Central Park South, 520 Park Avenue, and 30 Park Place. These buildings are among the tallest in the city.
University Campuses
In 2017, RAMSA completed a major expansion at Yale University. They designed two new student residential colleges, Pauli Murray College and Benjamin Franklin College. Both were built in a beautiful style known as Collegiate Gothic, which fits well with Yale's historic campus.
Stern's Architectural Style
In the 1970s and early 1980s, Robert Stern was known as a postmodern architect. This meant he blended classic design ideas with modern buildings. He used traditional elements in new and interesting ways.
Later, in the mid-1980s, his work started to look even more traditional, fitting into a style called New Classical architecture. However, Stern himself preferred to say that his designs were inspired by the local building styles and traditions of each place. Today, his firm's projects can look both traditional and very modern, depending on what works best for the building and its location.
Notable Buildings Designed by Stern
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15 Central Park West in New York City, 2008
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220 Central Park South in New York, 2019
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520 Park Avenue in New York City, 2018
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Disney's Beach Club Resort at the Walt Disney World, Florida, US, 1990
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Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, US, 2001
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Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US, 2006
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University of Virginia Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, Virginia, US, 1996
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Personal Life
Robert Stern lived in an apartment in The Chatham, one of the buildings he designed in New York City. In 1966, he married photographer Lynn Gimbel Solinger. They later divorced in 1977. They had one son, Nicholas S. G. Stern, who now runs his own construction and planning company.
Robert Stern passed away in Manhattan on November 27, 2025, at the age of 86, due to a lung illness.
Awards and Recognition
Robert Stern was honored by many arts and architecture groups throughout his career. He was president of the Architectural League of New York from 1973 to 1977. He also served on the board of trustees for the National Building Museum starting in 1999.
In 2007, he became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2011, he was also elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which recognizes outstanding achievements in art, literature, and music.
Some of his other important awards include:
- 1993: Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement
- 2006: Edmund N. Bacon Prize
- 2007: Athena Medal from the Congress for the New Urbanism
- 2008: Vincent Scully Prize
- 2010: Historic Districts Council's Landmarks Lion Award
- 2011: Driehaus Architecture Prize
- 2016: Arthur Ross Awards for Excellence in the Classical Tradition, Education
- 2017: Topaz Medallion
- 2019: Louis Auchincloss Prize
See also
In Spanish: Robert A. M. Stern para niños
