Executive News
Obituary: Robert A.M. Stern, 86, Multi-Faceted NYC Architect, Firm Leader and Academic
Architect Robert A.M. Stern, 86, who founded and led the New York City-based architecture firm named for him that designed schools, museums and libraries for the masses, but also an iconic Manhattan condo building overlooking Central Park for the ultra-rich, died in the city on Nov. 25 after a brief illness, the firm announced.
Robert A.M. Stern Architects, also known as RAMSA, began as a partnership in 1969 and became a solo practice in 1977—now ranking at No. 285 on ENR's Top 500 Design Firms list, with about 300 global employees and reporting $82.7 million in 2024 design revenue. The firm also ranks at No.55 on the 2025 listing of the Top 300 architecture firms by Architectural Record, ENR's sister publication.
In a five-decade career, Stern was also a faculty member at Columbia and Yale Universities, and led Yale’s School of Architecture from 1998 to 2016.
At his death, Stern was still working at his firm as senior partner, set to retire in January.
Read more about Stern's career and design and construction impact in Architectural Record.
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