Stephen A. Lesser
Encyclopedia
Stephen Alexander Lesser (born July 15, 1944) is an American architect, in practice in East Hampton
, New York
, specializing in modern residential and commercial buildings in the school of Le Corbusier
. He is perhaps best known for his work on Faneuil Hall Marketplace project in downtown Boston
, MA.
, the son of Virginia Hirst Lesser, a painter and teacher of art and piano, and Dr. Alexander Lesser, a Hofstra University
professor of Anthropology
. He was raised in Manhasset, New York
and graduated from Manhasset High School
, where he was editor-in-chief of the literary magazine and a member of the National Honor Society
. He graduated from Columbia University
in 1966 with a B.A in Social Sciences. He received a Master of Architecture
from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University
in 1972.
and Associates. There, he worked for two years on the Faneuil Hall Marketplace project.
In 1975, Lesser moved his practice to New York. He joined Richard Meier
Associates where he honed his Corbusian style in residential and commercial buildings. He later joined Rivkin/Weisman, PC where he worked his way up to director. In 1986, he formed Nagel and Lesser, Architects moving to East Hampton. The practice included a broad range of residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Since 1994, he has been a sole practitioner.
New York Institute of Technology
(1994-2004)
Guest Critic: Yale
, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania
, NYIT, Columbia, Roger Williams University
Registered: Massachusetts (1975), New York, (1981), and New Jersey (1993)
Member: AIA/National, State and AIA Peconic Chapter
"Credit DuNord Offices" November 1982, pp 46–7
Yale Perspecta
Architectural Record
"The Dubai Bank" January 1983, pp 85–91
Progressive Architecture "Bavarian Emissary" September 1984, 100-105
The New York Times
"From Blueprint to Imprint" November 21, 1993
Newsday
"A Carriage Trade" October 16, 1994, pp 26–27
Residential,(Shyer House 1993)
Institutional (Camp Blue Bay 1986) and
Young Firm (1993)
Architectural Record: Record House and Record Interiors
Beauxarch IV: Commercial Project (Viking Lines, 1986)
in East Hampton
along with his sister Emma. Alexandra graduated Hampshire College
in 2010.
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, specializing in modern residential and commercial buildings in the school of Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
. He is perhaps best known for his work on Faneuil Hall Marketplace project in downtown Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, MA.
Education
Lesser was born in Bethesda, MarylandBethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
, the son of Virginia Hirst Lesser, a painter and teacher of art and piano, and Dr. Alexander Lesser, a Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
professor of Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
. He was raised in Manhasset, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and graduated from Manhasset High School
Manhasset High School
Manhasset Secondary School is a four-year public high school and middle school located in Manhasset, at 200 Memorial Place, in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island...
, where he was editor-in-chief of the literary magazine and a member of the National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
. He graduated from 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...
in 1966 with a B.A in Social Sciences. He received a Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
The Master of Architecture is a professional degree in architecture, qualifying the graduate to move through the various stages of professional accreditation that result in receiving a license.-Overview:...
from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1972.
Career
Beginning in 1971, Lesser worked at several Boston, MA firms, including The Architects Collaborative (TAC), and Perry Dean and Partners before joining Benjamin C. ThompsonBenjamin C. Thompson
Benjamin C. Thompson was an American architect.Thompson was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, graduated from Yale University in 1941, then spent four years in the United States Navy fighting in World War II...
and Associates. There, he worked for two years on the Faneuil Hall Marketplace project.
In 1975, Lesser moved his practice to New York. He joined Richard Meier
Richard Meier
Richard Meier is an American architect, whose rationalist buildings make prominent use of the color white.- Biography :Meier is Jewish and was born in Newark, New Jersey...
Associates where he honed his Corbusian style in residential and commercial buildings. He later joined Rivkin/Weisman, PC where he worked his way up to director. In 1986, he formed Nagel and Lesser, Architects moving to East Hampton. The practice included a broad range of residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Since 1994, he has been a sole practitioner.
Teaching
Appointments: Columbia, guest lecturer in Architecture and Planning (1992-94)New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational research university in New York City. NYIT has five schools and two colleges, all with a strong emphasis on technology and applied scientific research...
(1994-2004)
Guest Critic: Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, NYIT, Columbia, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University, commonly abbreviated as RWU, is a private, coeducational American liberal arts university located on in Bristol, Rhode Island, above Mt. Hope Bay. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams...
Licenses
Certified: National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, 1975Registered: Massachusetts (1975), New York, (1981), and New Jersey (1993)
Member: AIA/National, State and AIA Peconic Chapter
Publications
Architectural ReviewArchitectural Review
The Architectural Review is a monthly international architectural magazine published in London since 1896. Articles cover the built environment which includes landscape, building design, interior design and urbanism as well as theory of these subjects....
"Credit DuNord Offices" November 1982, pp 46–7
Yale Perspecta
Architectural Record
Architectural Record
Architectural Record is an American monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design, published by McGraw-Hill Construction in New York City. It is over 110 years old...
"The Dubai Bank" January 1983, pp 85–91
Progressive Architecture "Bavarian Emissary" September 1984, 100-105
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
"From Blueprint to Imprint" November 21, 1993
Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
"A Carriage Trade" October 16, 1994, pp 26–27
Awards
American Institute of Architecture/Long Island Chapter:Residential,(Shyer House 1993)
Institutional (Camp Blue Bay 1986) and
Young Firm (1993)
Architectural Record: Record House and Record Interiors
Beauxarch IV: Commercial Project (Viking Lines, 1986)
Personal
Lesser lives in East Hampton with his wife, Celia, who is an attorney. They have three beautiful children: Jonathan (born '95), Emma (born '93), and Alexandra (born '88). Jon attends the Ross SchoolRoss School
Ross School can refer to:*The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at The University of Michigan*Ross School , a private K-12 school in East Hampton, New York*Ross Global Academy, a Charter School in New York City...
in East Hampton
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
along with his sister Emma. Alexandra graduated Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
in 2010.