NEW YORK – (Realty News Report) – Renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern, celebrated for his work on high-rise residences, museums and college buildings, died at his home Thursday at the age of 86.
Stern founded Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) in 1969 and developed it into a prominent firm employing roughly 250 people and led by 18 partners. Over decades the practice built a reputation for blending classical proportions with contemporary programmatic needs, producing projects across the United States and abroad.
Recently RAMSA attracted attention in Houston for its design of the new Ritz-Carlton Residences The Woodlands tower, a development that secured approximately $313 million in sales commitments within weeks of its announcement prior to groundbreaking. The commission reflects the firm’s ongoing role in high-end residential and mixed-use projects.
In Houston, Stern’s work includes the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Houston, a major cultural venue that helped reshape the city’s performing-arts landscape. On the Rice University campus, RAMSA designed Janice and Robert McNair Hall, contributing to the campus architecture with a sensitivity to context and institutional needs.
Among Stern’s nationally prominent commissions was the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which opened in Dallas in 2013. His work on civic and institutional buildings extended his influence beyond residences, asserting a consistent approach to scale, materiality and historical reference.
From 1998 to 2016, Stern served as Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, where he influenced architectural education and mentored generations of students. Earlier in his academic career he taught at Columbia University, further shaping the discourse around architectural practice and preservation.
“Throughout his distinguished career, Stern shaped the built environment, contributed to the education of multiple generations of architects, and raised public awareness of the importance of preservation and the role design plays in communities and in society at large,” RAMSA said in a firm statement. His leadership at both the university and professional levels brought attention to the value of craftsmanship and contextual design.
Mr. Stern was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and authored and co-authored several books on architecture, reflecting his interest in architectural history, theory and practice. His written work and public lectures complemented his built legacy, broadening understanding of architectural traditions and contemporary challenges.
Nov. 27, 2025 Realty News Report Copyright 2025
Photo: Robert A.M. Stern Courtesy: RAMSA
File: Architect Robert A.M. Stern Passes Away