American architect Ricardo Scofidio passed away on March 6, 2025, at the age of 89. Best known as the designer of the High Line park in Manhattan, Scofidio co-led Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) in New York with Elizabeth Diller, Charles Renfro, and Benjamin Gilmartin, leaving iconic architectural landmarks in cities around the world. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2009 Royal Academy Architecture Prize, and was named one of Time’s most influential people in the world alongside Diller.
Born in New York in 1935, Scofidio studied architecture at the Cooper Union School of Architecture and Columbia University. He began teaching at Cooper Union in 1965 and, in 1981, co-founded the studio that evolved into Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Diller. Renfro joined the studio in 1997, adding his name, and Gilmartin joined in 2004.
Their early work focused more on architectural theory than physical forms of architecture. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were evaluated primarily through installations, videos, and performances, before scaling up their projects.
One of their most well-known architectural projects is the High Line, completed in collaboration with landscape design firm Field Operations and garden designer Piet Oudolf. The abandoned freight rail line was transformed into a 2.4-kilometer linear park, offering diverse landscapes along its long journey, which gained significant attention. Other significant works in New York include the experimental cultural space The Shed, the renovation of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the redevelopment of Lincoln Center, and the 15 Hudson Yards residential skyscraper. Outside of New York, the studio completed major projects such as The Broad art museum in Los Angeles, the V&A East museum in London, and Zaryadye Park in Moscow.
Scofidio’s architectural legacy goes beyond the traditional boundaries of spatial design, focusing on urban renewal, fostering public engagement, and creating spaces that act as bridges, offering multifunctional and interactive environments that seamlessly integrate urban and natural contexts. These values he upheld throughout his decades of leadership at Diller Scofidio + Renfro remain at the core of the studio, where over 100 staffs and partners continue to build on his legacy.
Diller Scofidio + Renfro announced that a memorial service is being planned, with details to be shared in the coming weeks.
