Robert A.M. Stern, the celebrated architect who transformed New York City's skyline with buildings that combined pre-war elegance with modern luxury designed for billionaires and celebrities, has passed away at age 86. Known for his traditional approach to architecture in an era dominated by modernist designs, Stern earned the nickname "The King of Central Park West" from Vanity Fair magazine for his iconic contributions to Manhattan's most prestigious neighborhoods.
Stern's most famous achievement was the design of 15 Central Park West, which made history in 2008 as the highest-priced new apartment building ever constructed in New York City. The luxurious development generated approximately $2 billion in sales, making it the most profitable apartment complex in the world at the time. The building served as a tribute to the classic architectural styles of the 1920s and 1930s, featuring an exterior covered with more than 85,000 individual pieces of limestone that gave it a timeless, elegant appearance.
The exclusive building attracted an impressive roster of high-profile residents, including hedge fund managers, financial industry leaders like Lloyd Blankfein, the former CEO of Goldman Sachs, and technology entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs. Celebrity residents included musicians Bono and Sting, Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, and renowned sports commentator Bob Costas. The building's appeal lay in its combination of old-world charm with modern amenities that catered to the ultra-wealthy.
Stern deliberately chose to go against prevailing architectural trends of his time. While many of his contemporaries like Richard Meier were creating modernist glass condominiums, and others later focused on constructing ultra-tall buildings that cast long shadows, Stern took a different approach. He specialized in what he called "traditional modern" architecture, making classic styles relevant for contemporary living. "It was my breakthrough," the 84-year-old architect told The New York Times in an interview conducted for his obituary, proudly noting that he never used computers and drew all his designs by hand.
The success of 15 Central Park West was carefully calculated by its developers, the Zeckendorf family, who understood a key principle of luxury real estate. As Vanity Fair observed, they had figured out that wealthy buyers are particularly attracted to "something new that doesn't look too new." The building featured traditional layouts reminiscent of classic Park Avenue apartments, but included modern luxury amenities such as private screening rooms, a copper-domed rotunda lobby, a 75-foot swimming pool, and even a dedicated waiting room for residents' chauffeurs.
Born in Brooklyn, Stern built an architectural empire that extended far beyond residential buildings. At the height of his career, he operated a firm with 300 employees and authored comprehensive volumes documenting New York City's architectural history. He also served as dean of the prestigious Yale School of Architecture, where he influenced a new generation of architects. "I became an architect because I loved the buildings of my city, New York, and imagined one day that I would make ones like them. The New York of my youth is to this day the principal subject of all my work in architecture," he wrote in 1981.
Stern's portfolio demonstrated remarkable versatility across different types of projects and locations. He designed beach club resorts for Disney World in Florida and created the master plan for Disney's controversial new town of Celebration. His firm also tackled major institutional projects, including the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, the Museum of the American Revolution, and Philadelphia's impressive 58-story Comcast Center, showcasing his ability to work across different scales and building types.
Known for his distinctive personal style, Stern was a small man with a high-pitched voice who always dressed impeccably in pocket squares, suede loafers, butter-yellow socks, and custom-made chalk-striped suits. His approach to architecture reflected his personal aesthetic preferences, as he consistently avoided modernist trends. "Many Modernist works of our time tend to be self-important objects, and that's a real quarrel that I have," he told The New York Times in 2007. "Buildings can be icons or objects, but they still have to engage with the larger whole."
Stern was unapologetic about his traditional approach to design in a field often obsessed with innovation for its own sake. "I'm not considered avant-garde because I'm not avant-garde. But there is a parallel world out there – of excellence," he explained. His philosophy emphasized the importance of creating buildings that complemented their surroundings and served their communities, rather than simply making bold architectural statements. This approach made him one of the most successful and influential architects of his generation, leaving behind a legacy of buildings that will define New York's skyline for generations to come.
