Ricardo Scofidio, an architect and co-founder of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), was born Ricardo Merrill Scofidio on April 16, 1935, in New York City. He was the son of Earl Marco Scofidio, a talented jazz clarinetist from Hamden, Connecticut, and June May Matthews Scofidio, who embraced her African American heritage. He had one brother, Basilio Herbert Scofidio.
Ricardo’s legacy is embedded in his revolutionary architectural practice, a blend of design, performance, and electronic media enriched by cultural and architectural theory. His work goes far beyond the traditional boundaries of architecture, exploring the cultural implications of space and demonstrating that architecture is not only about buildings but permeating all surroundings.
After receiving a Bachelor of Architecture from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in 1960, Scofidio became entrenched in architecture. His teaching career at Cooper Union began in 1965, and his mission was to inspire and guide the next generation of architects.
In 1979, Ricardo Scofidio partnered with Polish architect Elizabeth Diller, one of his students, to establish DS+R. In 1982, he married Diller. However, he had already fathered four sons, Ian, Gino A., Marco, and Dana, from his previous marriage to Allana Jeanne Deserio.
Scofidio and Diller’s excellence was recognized in 1999 when they became the first architects to receive the MacArthur Foundation’s coveted “genius” grant. This prestigious award, spoke to their innovativeness and passion for their work. The following year, Scofidio received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best New Restaurant Design for his stunning Brasserie redesign in the historic Seagram Building at 375 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. This award, given by the James Beard Foundation, a non-profit culinary arts organization, further solidified Scofidio’s reputation as a visionary architect who could blend design and functionality.
Scofidio was an influential architecture, design, and technology lecturer and a visiting professor at many academic institutions, including Columbia University and Harvard University. His artistic installations often pushed boundaries, with notable works like the video “Re: Placing” and the interactive “Eco-Logic.” He also contributed to large-scale public art projects, including “Soft Sell,” a transformative video installation in a former adult theater in Times Square, and “Tourisms: suitCase Studies” at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, his architectural achievement is utilized by millions, such as the celebrated High Line, a 1.5-mile park and scenic pedestrian path built along a former railway on Manhattan’s west side. The High Line, which began its transformation in 2006 and opened fully in 2014, translates Scofidio’s vision and ability to transform urban spaces into vibrant, green areas that serve aesthetic and functional purposes.
In addition, Scofidio’s Srd Architects, D.P.C. was filed as a Domestic Professional Corporation in New York in 2012, and Ds+R Architects LLC was filed as a foreign limited Liability Company in the State of Nevada in 2018. Scofidio’s interdisciplinary approach to architecture secured him recognition from TIME magazine as one of the “100 Most Influential People.”
Ricardo Scofidio, serving as Chief Executive Officer for Srd Architects and Professor Emeritus at Cooper Union, died in Manhattan, New York, on March 6, 2025. He was 89.
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