The Yale School of Architecture has received a $5 million gift for financial aid scholarships in celebration of acclaimed architect Frank Gehry’s 90th birthday on February 28. 

The gift was donated by Richard D. Cohen, philanthropist and founder of the real estate company Capital Properties. This is the largest gift toward financial aid in the school’s history.

Gehry has regularly taught at the Yale School of Architecture as a visiting faculty member since 1979, most recently teaching an advanced design studio on architectural aspects of criminal justice reform in the fall 2017 semester.

Yale Davenport Visiting Professor Frank Gehry, Stanely Tigerman, Eeva Liisa Pelkonen and Patrick Bellew, with student. Image © John Jacobson, Yale School of Architecture

"My own involvement with Yale convinced me that this was a very special place," said Gehry. "When interns or others who had worked in our office for a period of time were looking for a place to do their graduate studies, we always recommended Yale. In many cases the students could not go there because of lack of funds to meet the tuition needs."

The Gehry Scholarships will be awarded annually to three entering master’s students for support throughout their graduate studies at the Yale School of Architecture as well as for the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles to see the workings of Gehry’s architecture firm.

Frank Gehry. Image courtesy of Yale School of Architecture

"With the Gehry Scholarships students will have the opportunity to attend Yale regardless of background, and will also have more freedom after graduation to pursue their work in the way best suited to their talents, without the burden of significant debt," said Deborah Berke, dean of the Yale School of Architecture. 

"Gehry Scholars will be able to focus on design and can start making an immediate difference in the architecture profession by forging their own paths.

On why it was important for the Gehry Scholarships to be at Yale, Gehry said: "I have great respect for the Yale School of Architecture. I have enjoyed for many years teaching there, and all of the wonderful experiences that have occurred in my life while spending time there. So, being associated with the school through a scholarship fund is very special to me."

Top image: Paul Rudolph Hall and Loria at Yale, image courtesy of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects

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