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Williams, Tod / 41 projects

Tod Williams, along with his partner, Billie Tsien, founded their New York City-based firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners in 1986. Their practice is committed to reflecting the values of non-profit, cultural, and academic institutions toward an architecture of permanence and enduring vision. A sense of rootedness, light, texture, detail, and most of all, experience, are at the heart of what they design.

Some of their notable projects include the Asia Society Hong Kong, the Lefrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, and the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Their current work includes the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, Chicago.

Over the past three decades, their dedication to this work has been recognized by numerous national and international citations, including the National Medal of the Arts from President Obama, the 2013 Firm of the Year Award from the American Institute of Architects, and the 2019 Praemium Imperiale presented by the Japan Art Association.

In parallel with his practice, Williams is a devoted participant in the broader cultural community with long-standing associations with many arts organizations. He is currently a trustee of the Cranbrook Educational Community and the American Academy in Rome. He has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the National Academy of Design, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.

Williams also maintains an active academic career and lectures worldwide. As an educator and practitioner he is deeply committed to creating a better world through architecture.

Photograph by Dorothy Alexander.