2018 AIA Fellowship

This cover section is produced by the AIA Archives to show information from the online submission form. It is not part of the pdf submission upload. 2018 AIA Fellowship Nominee Brian Shea Organization Cooper Robertson Location Portland, OR Chapter AIA New York State; AIA New York Chapter Category of Nomination Category One - Urban Design Summary Statement Brian Shea has advanced the art and practice of urban design. His approach combines a rigorous method of physical analysis with creative design solutions to guide the responsible growth of American cities, communities, and campuses. Education 1976-1978, Columbia University, Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design / 1972-1974, University of Notre Dame, Bachelor of Architecture / 1969-1972, University of Notre Dame, Bachelor of Arts Licensed in: NY Employment 1979 - present, Cooper Robertson / 1978 - 1979, Mayor's Office of Midtown Planning and Development / 1971, 1972, Boston Redevelopment Authority October 13, 2017 Karen Nichols, FAIA Fellowship Jury Chair The American Institute of Architects 1735 New York Ave NW Washington. DC 20006-5292 Dear Karen, It is a “Rare Privilege and a High Honor” to sponsor Brian Shea for elevation to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. To keep it simple, let me say that Brian is the single, finest professional I have ever known. Our relationship goes back to 1978 when he became a student of mine at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture. He then worked at the New York City Office of Midtown Development, and when I started Cooper Robertson in 1979, Brian became the office’s first employee. He became partner in 1988 and has remained one of my closest personal friends as well as an inspiration to some 400 employees over that 40 year period. As a profound urbanist, Brian chose to concentrate on urban design because of the appeal of its large scale, public agenda. He was the soul and guiding spirit for the Battery Park City Master Plan for New York City in 1980. He followed with the Plan for the 42nd Street Redevelopment at Times Square. And the same at Disney’s Celebration in Florida, at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and at the 11-mile stretch of the Delaware River in central Philadelphia. Brian has always been attracted to academic campuses. He developed in 2000 the Plan for Yale University’s growth for the next 30 years. He also shepherded for Harvard University their planned expansion across the Charles River into Boston’s Allston neighborhood. Furthermore, Trinity College and the University of Miami have similarly benefitted from his engagement. He was also sought out for teaching assignments by the Urban Land Institute, the Smithsonian Institution and the Seaside Institute. And did I mention he draws like an angel….artful, iconic images that record and preserve the essence of the ideas pursued. Clients tend to hoard his drawings and I know they hang in the President’s living room in New Haven and in the home of Amanda Burden, former Chair of the New York City Planning Commission. And I am stalking one for myself as well. I could go on and on and on…… you would not know that he is truly one of the rare polymaths in our profession. In addition to architecture, urban design and planning, he is equally adept in music, playing Bach on the piano and composing contemporary songs, quartets and sonatas. But his wife and three children admire most his culinary skills, especially the dishes rooted in his Greek genealogy. Brian’s leadership within the firm, established by his relentless commitments and revered personal qualities, would strongly benefit the AIA and honor its selection process for Fellowship. This is precisely the kind of architect who gives the profession its glowing reputation. Sincerely, Alexander Cooper, FAIA Founding Partner Emeritus 123 William Street cooperrobertson.com New York NY 10038 212 247 1717 Summary 1 Brian Shea AIA Above Lower Manhattan by Brian Shea Summary 3 1 Brian Shea AIA Brian Shea has advanced the art and practice New Community Design In a different type of campus design, Mr. Shea was of urban design in the United States. His approach instrumental in advising Scenic Hudson on a design combines a rigorous method of physical analysis Mr. Shea has been at the cutting edge of new proposal by the Korean corporation LG for its with creatively integrative design solutions to community design. As one of the first members planned corporate headquarters in NJ. The planned guide the responsible growth of American cities, of the Congress for New Urbanism and the creator ten-story complex would have permanently communities, and campuses. of the ULI real estate program’s neighborhood destroyed a nationally historic view corridor up the design course, he has led the design of many Hudson River. Through Mr. Shea’s design alternative For over forty years, Brian Shea has dedicated award-winning projects that have introduced study, LG agreed to a three-story scheme that himself to the art and practice of urban design. His new strategies for more livable, self-sustaining stays below the tree line and preserves the view for work has demonstrated a commitment to creating communities. He has had a great impact in the future generations. memorable cities and places of lasting value Charleston, SC, region with the planning and design that build upon existing strengths, respect the of Daniel Island and the 72,000-acre East Edisto Design Guidelines environment, and firmly connect to their larger Ace Basin. Working in collaboration with RAMSA physical and cultural contexts. Mr. Shea has worked and UDA, Mr. Shea was one of the lead designers Mr. Shea has led the formulation of design guidelines with public agencies, foundations, corporations, of Disney’s Celebration, a widely studied model that have become an industry standard for plan civic and cultural institutions, and colleges and of community design. implementation. He has been directly involved in universities to create places that are livable, the writing of over 50 million square feet of sustainable, aspirational, and truly catalysts for College, University, and Institutional Campuses completed development. The four-volume set of transformational change. Combining experience guidelines for Battery Park City in New York guided in the public sector, in academia, and as design For over twenty years, Mr. Shea has brought his the design of the World Finance Center as well as partner at Cooper Robertson, Mr. Shea has urban design skills and expertise to help institutions every residential building within the plan. The design demonstrated the highest level of skill, knowledge, grow logically over time, re-invent themselves, guidelines for 42nd Street yielded innovative new and commitment to good design, the public or use projects as catalysts for urban revitalization, office towers and the re-institution of major transit realm, and society in four key areas of strength: as well as build stronger campus-community access improvements. connections. He has created plans for Harvard, Urban Revitalization Yale, and large public institutions like Ohio State, Committed to working for a small firm, where partner but also smaller scaled campuses such as Trinity involvement is hands-on and intensive, Brian Shea Mr. Shea has spearheaded design projects in over College and Colgate University. He has perfected has been a design partner, senior urban designer, thirty cities worldwide to revitalize downtowns, two strategies as powerful design tools: the or partner-in-charge on all the projects presented waterfronts, and complex, challenging urban sites. Framework Plan as a strategic way to grow a in this submission. He was responsible for the initial His commitment has led to widely recognized campus while reinforcing its existing character, analysis and visioning and conceptual direction innovative design solutions, urban infill strategies, and the modified charrette process to provide, of each project in text and drawings, developed and quality public spaces for Boston, Baltimore, within a focused amount of time, a wide variety detailed design studies, made presentations, and New York, Chicago, Memphis, Denver, Dallas, San of input and consensus on design direction and was responsible for the final framework plan, plan Francisco, and Sydney. academic vision. elements, and design guidelines. Accomplishments 2 Brian Shea AIA Above Rector Street Corridor by Brian Shea Accomplishments 5 2 Brian Shea AIA 2.1 Significant Work Urban Revitalization Battery Park City Battery Park City Carlyle Master Plan Commercial Center North Residential Area and Design Guidelines Guidelines Guidelines Alexandria, VA New York, NY New York, NY Partner-in-Charge Lead Urban Designer Design Partner 1990 1981 1985 Battery Park City Baltimore Inner Harbor Chicago Downtown Master Plan Master Plan and Update Circulator Study New York, NY Baltimore, MD Chicago, IL Lead Urban Designer Lead Urban Designer, Senior Urban Designer 1982 Partner-in-Charge 1990 1985 (plan), 2003 (update) 42nd Street Cityfront Center Downtown Strategic Development Chicago, IL Plan and First Union Plan and Guidelines Lead Urban Designer Plaza Design New York, NY 1985 Charlotte, NC Lead Urban Designer Design Partner 1982 1990 Battery Park City Hoboken Waterfront Plan Battery Park City Esplanade and Phase I Hoboken, NJ Stuyvesant High School Streetscape Design Lead Urban Designer Design Guidelines New York, NY 1987 New York, NY Designer Lead Urban Designer 1982 1992 Accomplishments 6 2 Brian Shea AIA 2.1 Significant

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