The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture is pleased to announce that the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) has acquired the work of Diana Agrest and Mario Gandelsonas. This important acquisition marks their pioneering contributions to the field of architecture for over five decades. Materials transferred to the CCA in July 2025 include 80 tubes of original drawings, nearly 70 folios of sketches and project materials, 14 architectural models, and over 35 boxes of manuscripts, projects texts, photographic materials, publications, correspondence, and pedagogical documents.
 
Agrest and Gandelsonas are internationally recognized for their innovative approaches to architecture and urbanism, and both have left an indelible mark on the discipline through their speculative and built work, theory, publications, and pedagogy. Throughout their careers, they have challenged conventional understandings of space, place, structure, and cultural contexts, pushing the boundaries of architectural thought and practice.
 
Diana Agrest’s work has had a profound influence on the professional, theoretical, and academic spheres of architecture. As the Irwin S. Chanin Distinguished Professor at The Cooper Union, Agrest's critical engagement with the history and theory of architecture, particularly her explorations of modernity, urbanism, feminism, nature, representation, and film—as well as her transdiscursive approach to architecture—has inspired generations of students. Her work and her contributions to architectural discourse continue to resonate today as a touchstone in architectural scholarship.
 
Mario Gandelsonas, whose intellectual contributions extend across architecture and urban theory, is renowned for his groundbreaking work on urban form and the social implications of architecture. As a long-time professor at Princeton University, Gandelsonas has not only enriched architectural education but also catalyzed fresh perspectives on the role of architecture in shaping societal frameworks. His theoretical publications and architectural projects have consistently examined the intersection of the built environment with cultural and political conditions.
 
Together, Agrest and Gandelsonas' collaboration over the years has produced some of the most innovative and influential ideas in architecture, blending rigorous theory with creative practice. Their joint projects—most notably in the realm of urban form and discourse—have explored how architectural form interacts with social, cultural, and historical forces. Their partnership embodies a critical and interdisciplinary approach to the profession, and their work continues to inspire a new cohort of architects and urban planners. 
 
The acquisition by the Canadian Centre for Architecture is a testament to the significance of Agrest and Gandelsonas' legacy in the ongoing evolution of architectural thought. Their archives, now housed at the CCA, will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, educators, and students alike, ensuring that their contributions to the field will continue to shape the future of architecture for many years to come.