Institutions distance themselves from Meier following harassment allegations
Richard Meier has taken a six-month leave of absence from the architecture firm he founded, after allegations of sexual harassment were made against him by five women, including four former employees, in the New York Times.
In response to the newspaper’s detailed accounts, a statement was posted on the website of Richard Meier & Partners, in which the Pritzker-winning architect said: “I am deeply troubled and embarrassed by the accounts of several women who were offended by my words and actions. While our recollections may differ, I sincerely apologise to anyone who was offended by my behaviour.
“I am leaving the company in the hands of a dedicated and outstanding senior management team, which has spent the past three decades serving our clients and building our firm’s success.”
Michael Palladino, partner and head of the company’s Los Angeles office, will oversee all of the firm’s operations and projects in Meier’s absence.
Palladino said: “Richard has built a world-class design practice and we will continue the strong collaboration between our two offices, as we continue to build on that legacy. We believe that women should feel comfortable and empowered in all workplaces – including ours.”
Several cultural institutions have already distanced themselves from Meier in the wake of the allegations, including his alma mater Cornell University.
In a statement, the university's Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of Architecture, Art, and Planning Kent Kleinman said: “I am deeply disturbed to learn of the allegations of sexual misconduct by Richard Meier. As one of our most well-known alumni, he has been associated with Cornell University and the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning through his gifts that support students and faculty. Although he has apologised, the reported behaviour is unacceptable.
“Therefore, we will decline his new gift to name the chair of the Department of Architecture, and we are cancelling the event that had been planned for next week to celebrate the gift. We will swiftly explore what additional actions are appropriate with regard to endowments for professorships and scholarships previously donated to Cornell.”
The J. Paul Getty Trust, for whom Meier designed the Getty Center in Los Angeles in 1997, has cancelled a dinner next week that was set to honour him, while Sotheby’s New York will close an exhibition of his works that were being shown at its gallery in New York.
However, Meier will, for the time being, retain his Pritzker Prize. In a statement, the organisers of the Prize said: "Richard Meier was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1984, based on his architectural merit at that time. We do not comment on the personal lives of our Laureates, but do consider all sexual allegations to be serious, as abusive behaviour towards any individual is unacceptable."
Richard Meier & Partners’ body of work that spans more than 50 years and takes in private residences, skyscrapers, civic buildings, offices, hotels – including the W Hotels and the recently opened Seamarq Hotel in South Korea – and a range of public buildings that include Rome’s Jubilee Church and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art.
Meier was interviewed by CLAD in 2017, in which he discussed his influences and his work.
Richard Meier New York Times Cornell UniversityGoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
Designing an eco hotel for the Galapagos Islands that allowed the stunning natural surroundings to take centre stage while minimising its impact on the land presented its own unique set of challenges, Ecuadorian architect Humberto Plaza tells Kathryn Hudson