American architect, educator and former Yale University dean Robert AM Stern died at the age of 86. 

Stern, who founded his studio—now known as RAMSA—in 1969, passed away at his Manhattan residence on November 27, according to the New York Times.

The news was also shared by his architecture studio RAMSA. Over the course of seven decades, Bob Stern made significant contributions as an architect, teacher, and historian. 

Over the course of his lengthy and illustrious career, Bob influenced the built environment, helped educate several generations of architects, and increased public understanding of the value of preservation and the role that design plays in local communities and society as a whole.

In addition to becoming a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Bob was awarded the Topaz Medallion in 2017 for his exceptional contributions to architectural education. 

The new home for the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University's Capitol Campus. Image © Francis Dzikowski, courtesy - Robert A.M. Stern Architects

In addition to being the 2011 Driehaus Prize Laureate, he also won the Vincent Scully Prize from the National Building Museum and the Athena Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism. 

He received both the Arthur Ross Awards for Architecture and Education and the Board of Directors Honor from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.

Bob founded the company that is now known as RAMSA in 1969, incorporating his principles into its foundation: a culture that pushes each person to give their best effort every day; a high standard of excellence and discerning thought; a responsibility to the communities in which we build; and the blending of past, present, and future through design.

Bob's position within the company organically changed over time as additional studios, partners, and procedures were added. Bob continued to be thrilled to see frequent updates on the work being produced by the more than 250 designers who uphold his name and heritage, even as he withdrew from daily involvement in the firm's projects.

"Bob's impact reverberates not just through RAMSA, but across the entire field of architecture. His legacy will live on through the books he wrote, the students he mentored, and the people who inhabit his remarkable buildings," said Daniel Lobitz, AIA, RAMSA Partner and Management Committee Chair. 

"His vision, passion, and notoriously sharp wit became the foundation for a career that will not soon be forgotten, and a firm that is honored to continue the work he began," Lobitz added.

The Feature Animation Building. Photography by Peter Aaron/OTTO

According to Bob Stern, design serves as a bridge between the past and the future and is a continuous conversation between memory and creativity. He disregarded fads in favor of a timeless, contextual approach that he felt was an architect's duty to the community. He recognized that each location has a distinct history and personality that cannot be captured in a single style.

He created buildings that respect and enhance their surroundings by fusing traditional practices with cutting-edge concepts through his astute understanding of architectural languages, urbanism, and culture. The company's portfolio showcases a long-lasting legacy of well-designed structures, locations with a sense of purpose, and timeless craftsmanship.

Bob started his influential teaching career in 1970 and taught at both Columbia University and the Yale School of Architecture, his alma mater. 

He was named the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture's inaugural director in 1984. He was appointed director of the university's Historic Preservation Program in 1991 after taking over as director of the M. Arch. Advanced Studio in 1990.

In order to stay involved in his firm's operations, Bob commuted between New Haven and Manhattan while serving as Dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1998 to 2016. He gave the Yale Archives innumerable artifacts and documents in the years preceding his death, which will help scholars and students for many years to come.

In addition to being an enthusiastic teacher and a keen history student, Bob was also a prolific writer, speaker, and exhibitor.

The extensive series of New York books published between 1983 and 2025—New York 1880, New York 1900, New York 1930 (which was nominated for a National Book Award), New York 1960, New York 2000, and the most recent New York 2020—was the result of his deep interest in the architecture and urbanism of New York City.

The Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Deutsches Architekturmuseum, the Center Pompidou, the Denver Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago all include Bob's artwork in their permanent collections. He was one of the architects chosen to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale in 1976, 1980, and 1996. In 2012, he chaired the International Jury. 

Bob hosted the eight-part, eight-hour PBS documentary series Pride of Place: Building the American Dream in 1986.

The top image in the article: Robert AM Stern. Image © Peter Aaron.

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