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Antoine Predock, world-renowned architect, dies at 87. Called New Mexico his spiritual home
Internationally-renowned architect Antoine Predock died this weekend, according to a family friend.
He was 87.
Predock was born on June 24, 1936, in Lebanon, Missouri, though he often called himself an sa国际传媒官网网页入口 native. New Mexico has been my spiritual home, he told the Journal in 2019.
鈥�(A) tiny percentage of my buildings are around New Mexico. There are so many more all around this country and all around the world,鈥� Predock wrote on Feb. 2, to the Journal, when he again said: 鈥淣ew Mexico has been my spiritual home for 70 years and it is everything to me but I don鈥檛 like to be thought of as a local architect.鈥�
He began his higher education at the University of Missouri in Engineering and then the University of New Mexico. He later graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in architecture from Columbia University.
Predock is recognized around the world with his innovative structures. He is also remembered as an avid motorcyclist.
He was at the helm of the La Luz del Oeste, which was designed between 1967 and 1974. The West Side townhouse development is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The property was added to the National Register on Oct. 27, 2023.
Spanning 24 acres off Coors Boulevard on the banks of the Rio Grande, La Luz del Oeste weaves together blocks of townhouses with tennis courts, fountains, a pool, paths, and public spaces, creating a cohesive development that emphasizes pedestrian access.
Predock鈥檚 development embraces nature and follows the natural contours of the land, with townhouse blocks nestled into the hillside. The development features sweeping views of the riverside Bosque and the Sandia Mountains.
Predock explained about the project, 鈥淭he concept of La Luz involves a basic attitude toward the land: An urban environment and large open natural areas should exist together 鈥� especially in New Mexico.鈥�
Predock鈥檚 vision is also seen in the University of New Mexico School of Architecture, as well as the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Museum, Rio Grande Nature Center and The Spencer Theater in Alto and Mesa Public Library in Los Alamos.
Outside of New Mexico, Predock designed Petco Park in San Diego, Austin City Hall in Austin, Texas, National Palace Museum Southern Branch in Southern Taiwan and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Predock and his team were spearheading the design for the city-planned sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Rail Trail, which will have a modern and artistic pathway that reflects the culture and history of the Land of Enchantment.
The Rail Trail is a 7- to 8-mile multi-use trail that will connect key destinations in the greater Downtown area.
When the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 began to conceptualize the trail, they chose Predock because he was someone who could integrate the unique essence, beauty, and history of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 in the trail through distinct zones.
Predock described these zones as 鈥渁uras.鈥�
Each aura celebrates the culture and history of that area. The auras contain plazitas along the path that serve as access points and gathering spots for activity and community. Each plazita will have a digital explanation of the zone featuring music, people, foods, and the broader 鈥渟tory of us.鈥�
鈥淏eginning with Enchantment Plaza and culminating with that auspicious American crossroads moment at Central Crossing where US Route 66 was joined by the railroad, the Rail Trail reveals layers of the Land of Enchantment,鈥� Predock explained about the project. 鈥淭he intense polychrome graphics on the trail鈥檚 surface at each stop along the eight-mile circle tell the story of the neighborhoods, and of sa国际传媒官网网页入口, summing up the Land of Enchantment.鈥�
His firm has headquarters in Taiwan, California and New Mexico.
Predock wanted his legacy to have a heavy presence in New Mexico, which is why in 2017, the UNM School of Architecture + Planning (SA+P) began to create the Predock Center for Design and Research in Predock鈥檚 former residence and professional center Downtown, which includes design studio, workshop and gallery spaces.
The University Libraries鈥� Center for Southwest Research received his two- and three-dimensional archives; some will be displayed on a rotating basis at the Predock Center.
Neither Predock nor his wife, sculptor and UNM professor Constance DeJong, are native New Mexicans, but they are long time residents. They chose to make these gifts based on their deep connections here. Wind, weather, light, geography and history shape every project Predock undertakes.
鈥淓verything I learned here taught me how to pay attention to what I call site specificity,鈥� Predock said when he gave UNM the gifts. 鈥淣ew Mexico taught me how to be an architect.鈥�
Predock also had two sons.
