State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, stands as a notable example of the large-scale projects undertaken by Peter Eisenman, an American architect born in 1932. Newark-born and educated at Cornell and Columbia, he transitioned from a career in academia to become a central figure in postmodern architectural theory and design, gaining early professional attention as a member of the New York Five.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Eisenman earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University before securing MA and PhD degrees from the University of Cambridge. His teaching tenure spans several major institutions, including Harvard University and the Yale School of Architecture. In 1967, he established the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies, leading the organization until 1981. During his early professional years, his association with architects such as Charles Gwathmey and Michael Graves in the group known as the New York Five brought his theoretical approach to public visibility.
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His architectural output is frequently categorized within high modernism and deconstructivism. Though he has periodically distanced himself from rigid labeling, his focus on formalist analysis and the fragmentation of structural components remains a recurring theme. His written work often explores the autonomy of architecture and includes comparative studies on architects such as Le Corbusier, Andrea Palladio, and Giuseppe Terragni.
Selected Built Projects
The scope of his work ranges from private residences to international public monuments. Notable early residential designs include House I, House II, and House VI. His larger public commissions include the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin. He also served as the architect for the City of Culture of Galicia in Spain and the Residenze Carlo Erba in Milan, Italy.
Fast facts
- Born: 1932, Newark, United States
- Notable work: State Farm Stadium
- Guggenheim Fellowship: 1976
- Wolf Prize in Architecture: 2010
- Academic roles: Yale School of Architecture, Harvard University
- Memberships: American Academy of Arts and Letters, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Questions readers ask
What is the New York Five?
It was a group of architects, including Peter Eisenman, Charles Gwathmey, John Hejduk, Richard Meier, and Michael Graves, who gained prominence for their work in the late 1960s.
Which major public memorial did Eisenman design?
He designed the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe located in Berlin, which was completed in 2005.
Achievements
- Notable work: State Farm Stadium
- Affiliated with Harvard University and Yale School of Architecture
- Educated at Columbia University, Trinity College and Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
- Worked as architect, university teacher and writer
