Coleman Coker
Encyclopedia
Coleman Coker, born in 1951 in Memphis Tennessee, is an American
architect
who is best known for his work at the Bridges Center in 2005.
, which in 1995, resulted in the work of both architects from that period being collected into the book, Mockbee / Coker, Thought and Process, that was collected and published by the Princeton Architectural Press
in recognition of their important and unusual work during their partnership. This partnership also garnered the pair many awards and honors, which included an invitation in 1990 from the Architectural League of New York
to participate in their Emerging Voices Series.
After his partnership with Samuel Mockbee ended in 1999, Coker founded an architectural firm called buildingstudio. Buildingstudio's self-described principal focus is on inventive and imaginative work. Coker's firm also has designed other projects throughout the United States
as well as abroad in places such as Russia
and Singapore
.
The work of Coker's firm also has been featured at the Wexner Center for the Arts
, the Museum of Modern Art
in New York City
, and the San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art. In addition to his firm's recognition, Coker also has received many individual awards as an architect, such as the P/A Design Award
, two Record Houses Awards, and an National AIA Honor Award. His individual work also has been showcased in many acclaimed museums such as the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the New York City
Museum of Modern Art
, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
, the Wexner Center for the Arts
, and the National Building Museum
in Washington D.C.
Coker holds a masters degree in fine arts from the Memphis College of Art
and in 2008, an honorary doctorate was conferred on him in fine arts from the Memphis College of Art
. He is currently the Ruth Carter Stevenson Regents Chair in the Art of Design at the University of Texas School of Architecture
in Austin. He also has taught at Tulane University School of Architecture, the University of Arkansas
, and the Mississippi State University School of Architecture
. In addition to being the director of the Memphis Center for Architecture, he is the E. Fay Jones Chair at the University of Arkansas
and he is the visiting Favrot Chair at Tulane University School of Architecture.
In 1996 he was awarded the Rome Prize
from the American Academy in Rome
, in 1994, he was a Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.
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...
who is best known for his work at the Bridges Center in 2005.
Biography
In 1986, Coleman Coker began a thirteen-year partnership with Samuel MockbeeSamuel Mockbee
Samuel "Sambo" Mockbee was an American architect and a co-founder of the Auburn University Rural Studio program in Hale County, Alabama....
, which in 1995, resulted in the work of both architects from that period being collected into the book, Mockbee / Coker, Thought and Process, that was collected and published by the Princeton Architectural Press
Princeton Architectural Press
Princeton Architectural Press is a leading publisher of architecture and design books, with over 500 titles on its backlist. It was founded in 1981 by Kevin Lippert in Princeton, NJ and moved to New York City in 1985. Since 1996, Princeton Architectural Press has been distributed in the...
in recognition of their important and unusual work during their partnership. This partnership also garnered the pair many awards and honors, which included an invitation in 1990 from the Architectural League of New York
Architectural League of New York
The Architectural League of New York is a non-profit organization "for creative and intellectual work in architecture, urbanism, and related disciplines"....
to participate in their Emerging Voices Series.
After his partnership with Samuel Mockbee ended in 1999, Coker founded an architectural firm called buildingstudio. Buildingstudio's self-described principal focus is on inventive and imaginative work. Coker's firm also has designed other projects throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as well as abroad in places such as Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
The work of Coker's firm also has been featured at the Wexner Center for the Arts
Wexner Center for the Arts
The Wexner Center for the Arts is The Ohio State University’s multidisciplinary, international laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art...
, the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the San Francisco Museum of Contemporary Art. In addition to his firm's recognition, Coker also has received many individual awards as an architect, such as the P/A Design Award
Progressive architecture award
The Progressive Architecture Awards annually recognise risk-taking practitioners and promote progress itself in the field of architecture. The editors of Progressive Architecture magazine hosted the first Progressive Architecture Award jury in 1954. In 1996, the magazine folded and the venue was...
, two Record Houses Awards, and an National AIA Honor Award. His individual work also has been showcased in many acclaimed museums such as the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
, the Wexner Center for the Arts
Wexner Center for the Arts
The Wexner Center for the Arts is The Ohio State University’s multidisciplinary, international laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art...
, and the National Building Museum
National Building Museum
The National Builders Museum, in Washington, D.C., United States, is a museum of "architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning"...
in Washington D.C.
Coker holds a masters degree in fine arts from the Memphis College of Art
Memphis College of Art
Memphis College of Art, known before 1985 as the Memphis Academy of Arts, is a small, private college of art and design located in Memphis, Tennessee's Overton Park adjacent to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. It offers Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts in Art Education...
and in 2008, an honorary doctorate was conferred on him in fine arts from the Memphis College of Art
Memphis College of Art
Memphis College of Art, known before 1985 as the Memphis Academy of Arts, is a small, private college of art and design located in Memphis, Tennessee's Overton Park adjacent to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. It offers Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts in Art Education...
. He is currently the Ruth Carter Stevenson Regents Chair in the Art of Design at the University of Texas School of Architecture
University of Texas School of Architecture
The University of Texas School of Architecture to is a college within The University of Texas at Austin and has its major facilities located on the main campus in Austin, Texas...
in Austin. He also has taught at Tulane University School of Architecture, the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
, and the Mississippi State University School of Architecture
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. In addition to being the director of the Memphis Center for Architecture, he is the E. Fay Jones Chair at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and he is the visiting Favrot Chair at Tulane University School of Architecture.
In 1996 he was awarded the Rome Prize
Rome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
from the American Academy in Rome
American Academy in Rome
The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome.- History :In 1893, a group of American architects, painters and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
, in 1994, he was a Loeb Fellow in Advanced Environmental Studies at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.