Bernard Cywinski
Encyclopedia
Bernard J. Cywinski, FAIA
, (March 29, 1940 – March 2, 2011) was an American
architect
, whose works included the Liberty Bell Pavilion, built in 2003, which houses the Liberty Bell
on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Cywinski was a founding partner and principal of the architectural firm
, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
, one of Philadelphia's highest profile firms.
Cywinski was raised in Trenton, New Jersey
. Cywinski graduated from Columbia College at Columbia University
and the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
In 1979, Cywinski merged his own architectural firm with another operated by architect Peter Bohlin
, who was based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
, at the time. The merger created a new company, which would be called, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Cywinski and Bohlin had a mutual interest in sketching, though Cywinski used a mechanical pencil
while Bohlin used a traditional pencil
. Within the firm, Cywinski concentrated largely on projects and affairs at the firm's Philadelphia headquarters, while Bohlin designed projects farther from the city. In 1994, the American Institute of Architects
awarded both Cywinski and Bohlin the Firm Award for their work. The firm grew to include five offices located in Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Cywinski was best known for redesigning Independence Mall in Philadelphia, as well as the chief architect and designer of the Liberty Bell Pavilion, which opened in 2003. Cywinski began work on sketches for a redesigned Independence Mall during the 1990s.
Bernard Cywinski suffered from cancer for more than ten years. His last sketches were of a series new, proposed light poles, which he hoped would help to brand
parts of the Avenue of the Arts on Broad Street
in Philadelphia. The sculptural lighting prototype
s were first tested on March 2, 2011. Cywinski died the same day, March 2, at the age of 70. He was survived by his wife, Nancy Oklesson Cywinski.
FAIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects is a postnomial, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects...
, (March 29, 1940 – March 2, 2011) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, whose works included the Liberty Bell Pavilion, built in 2003, which houses the Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Cywinski was a founding partner and principal of the architectural firm
Architectural firm
An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture.- History :Architects have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep and Senemut . No writings exist to describe how these...
, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is a United States-based architectural practice that was founded in 1965 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania by Peter Bohlin and Richard Powell. Bohlin's firm then merged with Bernard Cywinski's Philadelphia-based architectural practice in 1979...
, one of Philadelphia's highest profile firms.
Cywinski was raised in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. Cywinski graduated from Columbia College at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
In 1979, Cywinski merged his own architectural firm with another operated by architect Peter Bohlin
Peter Bohlin
Peter Q. Bohlin is an American architect and the winner of the 2010 Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects...
, who was based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
, at the time. The merger created a new company, which would be called, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is a United States-based architectural practice that was founded in 1965 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania by Peter Bohlin and Richard Powell. Bohlin's firm then merged with Bernard Cywinski's Philadelphia-based architectural practice in 1979...
. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Cywinski and Bohlin had a mutual interest in sketching, though Cywinski used a mechanical pencil
Mechanical pencil
A mechanical pencil or a propelling pencil is a pencil with a replaceable and mechanically extendable solid pigment core called a lead . It is designed such that the lead can be extended as its point is worn away...
while Bohlin used a traditional pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
. Within the firm, Cywinski concentrated largely on projects and affairs at the firm's Philadelphia headquarters, while Bohlin designed projects farther from the city. In 1994, the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
awarded both Cywinski and Bohlin the Firm Award for their work. The firm grew to include five offices located in Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Cywinski was best known for redesigning Independence Mall in Philadelphia, as well as the chief architect and designer of the Liberty Bell Pavilion, which opened in 2003. Cywinski began work on sketches for a redesigned Independence Mall during the 1990s.
Bernard Cywinski suffered from cancer for more than ten years. His last sketches were of a series new, proposed light poles, which he hoped would help to brand
Place Branding
Place branding is a new umbrella term encompassing nation branding, region branding and city branding. Place branding is the process of image communication to a target market...
parts of the Avenue of the Arts on Broad Street
Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is nearly 13 miles long.It is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95...
in Philadelphia. The sculptural lighting prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
s were first tested on March 2, 2011. Cywinski died the same day, March 2, at the age of 70. He was survived by his wife, Nancy Oklesson Cywinski.