Stanton Eckstut, FAIA, is a Principal and Board Director of Perkins Eastman. Under his leadership, EE&K a Perkins Eastman Company has distinguished itself by creating great places and livable, beautiful cities. Mr. Eckstut’s work encompasses large-scale development, higher education buildings and plans, primary and secondary schools, transit systems, office buildings, waterfronts, and courthouses. Throughout such wide-ranging projects, there remains one primary constant: a dedication to complementing form and shape with use and context. Regardless of their scale, Mr. Eckstut’s projects all represent his dedication to creating great places, places that will surpass expectations and thrive within a community’s collective experience. He believes that the architecture of a place should welcome the people who inhabit it, and he creates grand designs that recognize the human scale. He looks for the best way to address quieter needs, creating spaces for public use and enjoyment, whether they be a shaded plazas, a sunlit atrium, or meandering walkways that encourage interaction and activity.
Perhaps the most crucial step in the evolution of a plan is the transition from conceptual idea to actual design and construction. Mr. Eckstut has exhibited a remarkable skill for creating noteworthy plans and for seeing them built. He has vast experience in navigating various client partnerships and the community and municipal approvals process. This forges a strong relationship between the community and the client. With the initial project acting as a centerpiece, a platform is established for further redevelopment, creating a continued source of value for the local populace.
Mr. Eckstut received his bachelor of Architectural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the National Building Museum in Washington DC and the New York State Museum Institute. From 1974 to 1989 he was the director of the urban design program at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, and from 1992 to 1996 he chaired the Municipal Arts Society of New York’s Street Committee. Mr. Eckstut is NCARB certified and registered in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida.
Many of Mr. Eckstut’s projects have received awards and critical acclaim. In 2006, he received a Distinguished Service Award from the Citizens Housing & Planning Council, and in 2004 he was given a Distinguished Achievement Award from the New York Society of Architects. Project awards include: the 2005 AIA New York Award of Merit for Binghamton University Appalachian Collegiate Center; the 2000 AIA Kansas City Design Excellence Award for Science City @ Union Station; the 1997 Los Angeles Business Council, Beautification Award, for Gateway Center; the 1995 AIA National Honor Award in Urban Design for Baltimore’s Inner Harbor East; the 1993 Waterfront Center Award of Excellence for South Cove at Battery Park City; the 1990 AIA National Honor Award, Citation of Excellence for Battery Park City; and the 1989 City Club of New York’s Albert S. Bard Award of Excellence in Architecture for South Cove, Battery Park City. Perhaps Mr. Eckstut’s most praised project, Battery Park City was recently honored with ULI’s prestigious Heritage Award.
