2008 Woodie Awards
Architect J. Robert Hillier Speaks on Leadership, Architectural Future
Kenneth Katzgrau
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
J. Robert Hillier, NJIT benefactor and founder of the Hiller Architecture firm, spoke at an NJIT colloquium Wednesday to discuss his experiences within the architecture profession, leadership, and the outlook for future architects.
Hillier, the founder of Princeton-based Hiller Architecture, is the recipient of the first ever Michael Graves Lifetime Achievement Award for 2008.
Hillier discussed the beginnings of his firm in 1966. He joked, "I started my practice in Princeton expecting to have a long career doing houses for rich dentists." He went on to talk about the project-oriented career of architects, and the challenges they face.
Major topics Hillier spoke about were the "amazing challenges" future generations of architects must take on. Hillier commented on the many technologies that did not exist when his firm was started, and the changes that were brought into the profession.
"Florida, Arizona, Nevada - they were uninhabitable…until Carrier came along with this air conditioning," he says. "That single innovation enabled the development across the entire southern belt of this country."
He also provided examples of challenges to future architects on a global scale: "We are seeing huge shifts in wealth, and therefore shifts in power in the world. One of your issues will be whether or not the United States will continue to be a world leader," he said, noting the rising power and influence of China and Russia.
Hiller also mentioned the need for 200 architects in Dubai, and Hong Kong, noting "We've got more work than we can do."
The number of buildings in the world, according to Hillier, is expected to double in the next 25 years. This will create a demand for architects, but also an inevitable generalizing of the architectural process; essentially the rise of "cookie-cutter" architectural processes to overcome a possible shortage in architects.
"I don't know how we are going to heat them, I don't know how we are going to cool them, but we will double them," he said.
Hillier, the founder of Princeton-based Hiller Architecture, is the recipient of the first ever Michael Graves Lifetime Achievement Award for 2008.
Hillier discussed the beginnings of his firm in 1966. He joked, "I started my practice in Princeton expecting to have a long career doing houses for rich dentists." He went on to talk about the project-oriented career of architects, and the challenges they face.
Major topics Hillier spoke about were the "amazing challenges" future generations of architects must take on. Hillier commented on the many technologies that did not exist when his firm was started, and the changes that were brought into the profession.
"Florida, Arizona, Nevada - they were uninhabitable…until Carrier came along with this air conditioning," he says. "That single innovation enabled the development across the entire southern belt of this country."
He also provided examples of challenges to future architects on a global scale: "We are seeing huge shifts in wealth, and therefore shifts in power in the world. One of your issues will be whether or not the United States will continue to be a world leader," he said, noting the rising power and influence of China and Russia.
Hiller also mentioned the need for 200 architects in Dubai, and Hong Kong, noting "We've got more work than we can do."
The number of buildings in the world, according to Hillier, is expected to double in the next 25 years. This will create a demand for architects, but also an inevitable generalizing of the architectural process; essentially the rise of "cookie-cutter" architectural processes to overcome a possible shortage in architects.
"I don't know how we are going to heat them, I don't know how we are going to cool them, but we will double them," he said.
Be the first to comment on this story