Martin Finio AR'88 Receives American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Architecture

POSTED ON: March 24, 2014

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Taryn Christoff and Martin Finio of Christoff:Finio. Images courtesy of Christoff:Finio

Taryn Christoff and Martin Finio of Christoff:Finio. Images courtesy of Christoff:Finio

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'Museum as Hub' at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York City, 2006. Photo by Christopher Lovi

'Museum as Hub' at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York City, 2006. Photo by Christopher Lovi

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Carriage House, New York City, 2009. Photo by Jan Staller

Carriage House, New York City, 2009. Photo by Jan Staller

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The Heckscher Foundation for Children, New York City, 2009. Photo by Burnett / Herndon

The Heckscher Foundation for Children, New York City, 2009. Photo by Burnett / Herndon

Martin Finio AR'88 and Taryn Christoff, co-founders of Christoff:Finio, have received a 2014 Arts and Letters Award in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. The award recognizes, "American architects whose work is characterized by a strong personal direction."

Billie Tsien, a member of the selection committee and co-founder of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, described the work of Christoff:Finio as having, "a quiet intelligence that manifests itself in spaces that are both beautiful and humane. There is a balance between the exquisite control of their finely tuned details and the whoop of joy that comes when one discovers their subtle inventions. It is like watching a prima ballerina—all is in equilibrium and then she leaps.”

The Arts and Letters selection committed took special note projects by Christoff:Finio including the Donghia Materials Study Center at Parsons New School for Design, New York City, 2003; the “Museum as Hub” initiative at the New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York City, 2006; the Heckscher Foundation for Children, New York City, 2009; the Carriage House, New York City, 2009; Sagaponack Barns, NY, 2012; and Venice Architectural Biennial, 2012. Their work has received numerous Honor Awards from The American Institute of Architects.

This year's selection committee included Henry Cobb, Elizabeth Diller AR'79, Michael Graves, Hugh Hardy, Steven Holl, Richard Meier (chairman) Cesar Pelli, James Polshek, Robert A.M. Stern, Billie Tsien and Tod Williams.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.