Architecture school mourns death of beloved professor Annette LeCuyer

Annette LeCuyer, professor in the School of Architecture and Planning, a beloved teacher and mentor to undergraduate and graduate students alike, and an architect renowned for her contributions to contemporary architectural practice and design research, passed away on March 20.

“This is a profound loss for our community,” said Julia Czerniak, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning. “Many of us knew Annette not only as a beloved colleague, but also as a guide, collaborator and friend. Since joining the School of Architecture and Planning in 2003, her impact on our school has been indelible.”

LeCuyer graduated from the University of Colorado with a BFA, studied weaving in Finland and subsequently worked as a journalist in Europe before moving to London, where she received professional and graduate diplomas from the Architectural Association. After graduating from the AA, LeCuyer joined Foster Associates, worked with Sir Jeremy Dixon on the design of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and went on to become an associate at Allies & Morrison Architects, where she led design teams for award-winning projects in London and at Cambridge University.

She was appointed professor of architecture at the University of Michigan in 1993 and joined the UB faculty in 2003. In 2016, LeCuyer received the UB President Emeritus & Mrs. Meyerson Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching and Mentoring in recognition of her outstanding commitment to and participation in the undergraduate creative experience.

She designed and taught the architecture program’s core construction technology course, initiated senior studios that continue to focus on the design of urban housing, taught graduate studios and directed seminars on material culture. She also worked closely with UB’s International Education office to advance global study abroad programs for UB architecture students.

LeCuyer was “a mainstay of our department — an incredible guide, role model and mentor to many of us,” said Erkin Özay, chair of the Department of Architecture, adding that “she was one of my most generous mentors.”

In addition to her faculty role, LeCuyer served on numerous task forces across campus and was a member of the Faculty Senate.

LeCuyer was appointed as a guest critic at the Royal Academy of Copenhagen and, in 2017, served as International Architect in Residence at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. That same year, she and her husband, Brian Carter, professor of architecture and former dean of UB’s School of Architecture and Planning, were inducted as Honorary Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

She was the author of notable books on contemporary architecture and construction technology, including “Radical Tectonics” (Thames & Hudson, 2001), “New Strategies for Metals in Architecture” (Birkhäuser, 2003) and “ETFE – Technology and Design” (Birkhäuser, 2008). In addition, she co-authored “All-American: Innovation in American Architecture” (Thames & Hudson, 2002), was a frequent contributor to international professional journals including Architectural Review and AD, and served as an editor of Michigan Architecture Papers and buffaloBOOKS.

“Annette exemplified our highest values through her outstanding teaching and research, as well as her leadership, mentorship and generosity,” Czerniak said. “Her teaching in housing, integrated design, materials and construction technology was a formative touchstone for countless students, distinguished by both rigor and compassion. Her prolific body of books and articles both emerged from and advanced thoughtful architectural practice, reminding us of the enduring power of design.”