The architecture community recently lost Chicago architect Douglas Garofalo, FAIA. Founder of Garofalo Architects, he was a University of Notre Dame graduate and a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, serving as director (2001-2003) and co-founded the alternative design school Archeworks. Garofalo also was known for pioneering the use of computer technology in building design within the United States. His award-winning Korean Presbyterian Church in New York, a collaborative project with Greg Lynn and Michael McInturf, received international attention with its digital media approach and alternative solution to adaptive reuse.
Garofalo has received recent professional honors including a Chicago AIA Distinguished Building Award, Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design (for Hyde Park Arts Center), the united States Artist Fellowship, and he was named a University Scholar for 2009-2012 by the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The Director of the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Bob Somol, “In addition to his professional accomplishments and teaching excellence, Garofalo is tireless in his service to the University and larger architectural community. Along with his increasing national and international acclaim, Garofalo continues to be one of the most generous and dedicated members of the University and School community.”
Executive Director of AIA Chicago Zurich Esposito shared, “Doug was a shooting star and always ahead of most. We are only just now starting to understand everything he was moving forward in design. His recent absence from the practice was palpable. His death is a huge loss for our community.”
