Architects in Conversation: Lord Norman Foster at Yale Center for British Art

The Yale Center for British Art will host a special program featuring Lord Norman Foster, founder and executive chairman of Foster + Partners and president of the Norman Foster Foundation, in conversation with Deborah Berke, Edward P. Bass Dean and J. M. Hoppin Professor of Architecture at the Yale School of Architecture. The discussion will focus on how architecture shapes our experience of art, the influence of Louis I. Kahn on Foster’s architectural practice, and contemporary concerns such as sustainability, accessibility, and the evolving needs of museum audiences.

Lord Norman Foster is one of the most celebrated architects of his generation, known for pioneering sustainable approaches to design across projects ranging from cultural landmarks to major urban plans. His accolades include the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, the AIA Gold Medal, and the Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture in Japan.

Dean Deborah Berke, founder of TenBerke Architects, is equally distinguished as an architect and educator. She has led major projects including Princeton University’s residential colleges and the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia. In 2025, she was awarded the AIA Gold Medal, the profession’s highest honor.

This event is part of the “Architects in Conversation: To Build for Art” series, which explores how architects rethink the museum experience in today’s world. The series examines themes such as sustainability, representation, accessibility, and the integration of performance spaces in museums.

The program takes place on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, from 1 pm to 2 pm at the Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510. Admission is free, supported by the Terry F. Green 1969 Fund for British Art and Culture.