Dublin-born, Cork-raised, Kevin Roche had a career as a quintessentially American architect after moving to the country aged 26. He worked as an assistant to the legendary Eero Saarinen up until Saarinen’s death, at which point he took over the man’s projects – including St Louis’ Gateway Arch and the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport.
A string of highly acclaimed works designed in tandem with John Dinkeloo followed, such as New York’s Ford Foundation Building and the Oakland Museum. He was perhaps best known for a 40-year association with the Metropolitan Museum of Art: designing the original masterplan and overseeing all future developments and extensions. His only Irish building, the Convention Centre Dublin, was completed in 2010.
Kevin Roche
June 14, 1922 – March 1, 2019
Died aged 96 (unique hit)