Jon Pickard

Principal, Pickard Chilton, New Haven, CT

Gracing the Sky, Enriching the City
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Friday,February 28, 2020– 4:30 pm

Location: Whitaker Lab 303, Lehigh University,5 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA

Jon Pickard, FAIA, RIBA, has been recognized internationally for his achievements in architecture. He has designed or collaborated in the design of some of the world’s most recognized buildings, including such prominent projects as the ExxonMobil Global Campus, 609 Main and BG Group Place, all in Houston; Norfolk Southern’s new headquarters and 1180 Peachtree in Atlanta; Northwestern Mutual’s headquarters in Milwaukee; the Devon Energy Center in Oklahoma City; 300 North LaSalle in downtown Chicago; and, the CalPERS Headquarters Complex in Sacramento.

Prior to the founding of Pickard Chilton, for 18 years he collaborated with Cesar Pelli in the design of numerous landmark and award-winning projects, including the World Financial Center in New York, and Kuala Lumpur City Centre, a development that included the Petronas Towers.

Mr. Pickard received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Iowa State University and his Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture. He has lectured extensively at academic institutions and currently serves on the Yale School of Architecture Dean’s Council.

Gracing the Sky, Enriching the City.  “The city is more important than the building and the building is more important than the architect.”  - Cesar Pelli

Tall buildings have the ability to define corporations, cities and even nations. As iconic as some towers may be perceived, their true success is in how they positively contribute to their cityscape and, perhaps most importantly, how they improve and enrich the lives of those who live and work every day in the community. As noted by Fazlur Rahman Khan, “Life is art, drama, music, and most importantly, people.” Using examples of tall buildings he has designed worldwide, Jon Pickard will speak to the responsibility architects of skyscrapers have in reimagining ground level experiences to serve as a benefit to both the public and the environment.