Norval White
Encyclopedia
Norval Crawford White was an American architect
, architectural historian
and professor
. He designed buildings throughout the U.S., but he is best known for his writing, particularly the AIA Guide to New York City
(with Elliot Willensky
). White was widely considered to be one of the great figures of New York architecture.
and went to the Allen-Stevenson School
and Exeter. In 1958 he married Joyce L. Lee, and they have four sons: William, Thomas, Gordon and Alastair.
Following two years on active duty with the United States Naval Reserve during World War II
, White received a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1949. He attended École des Beaux-Arts
(1954) and earned an M.F.A. from Princeton University
in 1955.
Mr. White resided in the neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights before moving to northwestern Connecticut
in the early 1990s. He then retired and lived in the commune of Roques
in the French department of le Gers
with his second wife, Camilla Crowe (White) until his death on December 26, 2009.
, White and several other architects, including Willensky, founded AGBANY (Action Group for Better Architecture in New York). They picketed the station and handed out fliers in protest.
In 1967, White and Willensky proposed a guide to New York City architecture to the American Institute of Architects
(AIA). The AIA Guide to New York City
, a 464+ page guidebook featuring over 2600 buildings in its first edition The fourth edition of this guide was issued in 1999, then without further contributions from Willensky, who had died in 1990.
From 1968 to 1973, White worked as a partner-in-charge with Gruzen and Partners, on the development of the New York City Police Headquarters building.
White was able to finalize the 5th edition of the AIA Guide before his passing, which was published in 2010.
As a professor, Mr. White taught architectural history and design, first at Cooper Union
and then from 1968 at the School of Architecture and Environmental Studies at the City College of New York
, where he served as the founding chairman and where he continued to teach until he retired.
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...
, architectural historian
Architectural History
Architectural History is the main journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain .The journal is published each autumn. The architecture of the British Isles is a major theme of the journal, although it includes more general papers on the history of architecture. Member of...
and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. He designed buildings throughout the U.S., but he is best known for his writing, particularly the AIA Guide to New York City
AIA Guide to New York City
Authored by Norval White and Elliot Willensky, The AIA Guide to New York City is an extensive catalogue with descriptions, critique and photographs of significant and noteworthy architecture throughout the five boroughs of New York City....
(with Elliot Willensky
Elliot Willensky
Elliot A. Willensky was an American composer, lyricist and music producer from Bayonne, New Jersey. He wrote Michael Jackson's first solo hit "Got to Be There" and the Jermaine Jackson/Whitney Houston duet "If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful." Willensky composed the music for the 1999 off-Broadway...
). White was widely considered to be one of the great figures of New York architecture.
Biography
Born in 1926 to surgeon William Crawford White and social worker Caroline (Taylor) White. Mr. White grew up on the Upper East SideUpper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
and went to the Allen-Stevenson School
Allen-Stevenson School
Allen-Stevenson is a private boys elementary school located at 132 East 78th Street in New York City, New York.- History :The Allen School was founded in 1883 by Francis Bellows Allen at a home on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Its first class enrolled only three boys. In 1885, the school moved to...
and Exeter. In 1958 he married Joyce L. Lee, and they have four sons: William, Thomas, Gordon and Alastair.
Following two years on active duty with the United States Naval Reserve during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, White received a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1949. He attended École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
(1954) and earned an M.F.A. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1955.
Mr. White resided in the neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights before moving to northwestern Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in the early 1990s. He then retired and lived in the commune of Roques
Roques, Gers
Roques also referred to as Roques-du-Gers is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Geography:It sits on a high ridge above the surrounding countryside approximately south of Condom.-Population:...
in the French department of le Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
with his second wife, Camilla Crowe (White) until his death on December 26, 2009.
Career
In 1962, upon hearing of the imminent demolition of New York City's historic Pennsylvania StationPennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
, White and several other architects, including Willensky, founded AGBANY (Action Group for Better Architecture in New York). They picketed the station and handed out fliers in protest.
In 1967, White and Willensky proposed a guide to New York City architecture to 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...
(AIA). The AIA Guide to New York City
AIA Guide to New York City
Authored by Norval White and Elliot Willensky, The AIA Guide to New York City is an extensive catalogue with descriptions, critique and photographs of significant and noteworthy architecture throughout the five boroughs of New York City....
, a 464+ page guidebook featuring over 2600 buildings in its first edition The fourth edition of this guide was issued in 1999, then without further contributions from Willensky, who had died in 1990.
From 1968 to 1973, White worked as a partner-in-charge with Gruzen and Partners, on the development of the New York City Police Headquarters building.
White was able to finalize the 5th edition of the AIA Guide before his passing, which was published in 2010.
As a professor, Mr. White taught architectural history and design, first at Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
and then from 1968 at the School of Architecture and Environmental Studies at the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, where he served as the founding chairman and where he continued to teach until he retired.
Published works
- AIA Guide to New York CityAIA Guide to New York CityAuthored by Norval White and Elliot Willensky, The AIA Guide to New York City is an extensive catalogue with descriptions, critique and photographs of significant and noteworthy architecture throughout the five boroughs of New York City....
with Elliot Willensky. - The Architecture Book
- New York: A Physical History
- The Guide to the Architecture of Paris (in English)