Norval White

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Norval Crawford White (born June 12, 1926[1]) is an American architect, architectural historian and professor. He has designed buildings throughout the U.S., but he is best known for his writing, particularly the AIA Guide to New York City (with Elliot Willensky).

Norval White on June 12, 2006
Norval White on June 12, 2006

Contents

[edit] Biography

White was born in Manhattan (New York City), the son of surgeon William Crawford White and social worker Caroline (Taylor) White. In 1958 he married Joyce L. Lee, and they have four sons.[1]

Following two years on active duty with the United States Naval Reserve during World War II, White received a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1949. He attended École des Beaux-Arts (1954) and earned an M.F.A. from Princeton University in 1955.[1]

In the early 1990's he moved to northwestern Connecticut. He is currently retired and living in the commune of Roques in the French department of le Gers with his second wife, Camilla Crowe (White)[2]

[edit] Career

In 1962, upon hearing of the imminent demolition of New York City's Pennsylvania Station, White and several other architects,including Willensky, founded AGBANY (Action Group for Better Architecture in New York). They picketed the station and handed out fliers in protest.[3]

In 1967, White and Willensky proposed a guide to New York City architecture to the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA Guide to New York City, a 464+ page guidebook featuring over 2600 buildings in its first edition, went on to its fourth edition in 1999, without Willensky, who passed away in 1990.[4]

From 1968-1973, White worked as a partner-in-charge with Gruzen and Partners, on the development of the New York City Police Headquarters building. [5]

[edit] Published works

  • AIA Guide to New York City with Elliot Willensky.
  • The Architecture Book
  • New York: A Physical History
  • The Guide to the Architecture of Paris (in english)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Norfolk Authors. Norfolk, Connecticut Library. Retrieved on 2007-09-24.
  2. ^ Architecture Firm Listing - ArchitectureWeek Directory
  3. ^ Streetscapes: Pennsylvania Station; On Preservation, 'I Told You So' - New York Times
  4. ^ Streetscapes/The AIA Guide to New York City; Preparing a New Edition, With a Partner Missing - New York Times
  5. ^ Norval White & Associates: Architects

[edit] External links