Paul Byard

Paul Byard (1939-2008) was a lawyer and an architect. He was born on August 30, 1939 in New York into an educationally successful family. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a teacher of English at Columbia University. Byard graduated from Yale College in 1961 and went on to receive degrees from Clare College, Cambridge and Harvard Law School as well.

Law Career

Upon completing law school, Byard joined the Winthrop, Stimson law firm in 1966 for three years. He also acted as general counsel to the Roosevelt Island Development Corporation and as an associate counsel to the New York State Urban Development Corporation. Combining law with architecture, his true passion, Byard supported the legal defense of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Law.

Architecture Career

Mr. Byard received an architectural degree in 1977, from the Graduate School of Architecture and Planning at Columbia. As an architect, he joined the James Stewart Polshek & Associates firm in 1977. Soon after, in 1981, he was made a partner in the firm. In 1989, Byard joined Charles A. Platt Partners (later known as Platt Byard Dovell White).

While working as an architect, Byard was involved in the renovations of Carnegie Hall, the old Custom House on Bowling Green, the State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division Courthouse on Madison Square, the former United States Custom House the Cooper Union Foundation Building and the Villard Houses. He also helped to design the New 42nd Street Studios, the Chanel 57 building, and a mausoleum and columbarium at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, all of which were of contemporary design. Byard was highly involved in the Architectural League of New York and served as president from 1989-1994. [ [http://www.arch.columbia.edu/index.php?pageData=8882/23/4/1652/ Graduate School of Architecture] ]

Throughout his architectural career, Byard wrote the book, "The Architecture of Additions: Design and Regulation" (W.W. Norton, 1998). His book discusses the renovations of many historic buildings and exhibits his knowledge of blending old and new styles of architecture. [cite web | url=http://www.thecityreview.com/byard.html | title=""Intelligence and Sympathy Count" | author=Horsley, Carter B. | publisher=City Review | accessdate=2008-07-21] Byard was working on a book that was to be entitled, "Why Save This Building? The Public Interest in Architectural Meaning," but it was not yet complete at the time of his death.

Keeping with his architectural interests, Byard directed the historic preservation program at Columbia for ten years until his death. He also developed a third-year studio and workshop for architecture and preservation students. [cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/nyregion/18byard.html?ref=design | title="Paul Byard, 68, Dies; Architect Renovated Landmarks" | author=Dunlap, David W. | publisher=New York Times | date=2008-07-18 | accessdate=2008-07-21]

ee also

Architectural League of New York

References