Ricardo Scofidio, DS+R cofounder and High Line architect, dies at 89
Ricardo Scofidio, the cofounder of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), has passed away. He was born in 1935 in New York to June and Earle Scofidio and was identified as Italian to shield against racial bias stemming from his Black ancestry. Scofidio earned his architecture degree from Columbia University (B.Arch 1960) after studying at Cooper Union, where he began teaching in 1965 and met Elizabeth Diller. Together, they established DS+R in 1981. Charles Renfro became a partner in 2004 after joining in 1997, while Benjamin Gilmartin became a partner in 2015 after joining in 2004. Notable works include the High Line, Zaryadye Park, and the Broad. DS+R will present a project at the 2025 Architecture Biennale, curated by Carlo Ratti. The V&A East Storehouse in London’s Olympic Park is set to open soon. This article was updated on 13 May 2025.
Key facts
- Ricardo Scofidio cofounded Diller Scofidio + Renfro in 1981 with Elizabeth Diller.
- He was born in New York in 1935 to parents of Black heritage who told him he was Italian to avoid prejudice.
- He earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University in 1960 and began teaching at Cooper Union in 1965.
- DS+R designed the High Line (New York), Zaryadye Park (Moscow), ICA Boston, the Broad (Los Angeles), The Shed, and MoMA's 2019 extension.
- Charles Renfro joined DS+R in 1997 and became partner in 2004; Benjamin Gilmartin joined in 2004 and became partner in 2015.
- The firm participated in six Venice Architecture Biennales and the 2003 art edition.
- DS+R will take part in the 2025 Architecture Biennale curated by Carlo Ratti with a project in the Arsenale.
- The practice designed the V&A East Storehouse in London's Olympic Park, set to open soon.
Entities
Artists
- Ricardo Scofidio
- Elizabeth Diller
- Charles Renfro
- Benjamin Gilmartin
- Carlo Ratti
Institutions
- Diller Scofidio + Renfro
- Cooper Union School of Architecture
- Columbia University
- High Line
- Zaryadye Park
- Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
- The Broad
- The Shed
- Museum of Modern Art
- Venice Architecture Biennale
- V&A East Storehouse
- Arsenale
Locations
- New York
- Moscow
- Boston
- Los Angeles
- London
- Venice
- United States
- Russia
- United Kingdom
- Italy