Hasta La Ideas

A late-breaking addition to the previously announced slate of design stars that were honored last Friday at the White House was Reynold Levy, who since 2002 has served as president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Levy is the winner of the 2009 Design Patron Award, which recognizes outstanding support and patronage within the design community. Established in 2001 as one of the National Design Awards, the Design Patron Award is selected by the director of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, rather than by a panel of past winners.

Levy has been instrumental in the dramatic transformation of Lincoln Center, which under his direction has embarked on an ambitious renovation of the campus’ original design. “Working with Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Levy has set a model internationally for the rejuvenation of our urban cultural centers,” said Paul Warwick Thompson, former director of the Cooper-Hewitt, of his selection for the Design Patron honor. “Peeling back facades to connect performance centers with the streetscape, re-routing car traffic below ground, and simplifying pedestrian walkways and signage all have a humanizing quality that makes cities—and this city in particular—vibrant and pleasurable places.” Past Design Patron Award winners include Architecture for Humanity, Maharam, Amanda Burden, and André Balazs.

Previously on UnBeige: