Happy Birthday, Frank! Yale School of Architecture celebrates new gift for financial aid in honor of Frank Gehry

The Yale School of Architecture has received a $5 million gift for scholarships in celebration of architect Frank O. Gehry’s 90th birthday on February 28. This is the largest gift toward financial aid in the School’s history.

Gehry has regularly taught at the Yale School of Architecture as a visiting faculty member since 1979, most recently teaching an advanced design studio in the fall 2017 semester on architectural aspects of criminal justice reform.

“My own involvement with Yale convinced me that this was a very special place,” says Gehry. “When interns or others who had worked in our office for a period of time were looking for a place to do their graduate studies, we always recommended Yale. In many cases the students could not go there because of lack of funds to meet the tuition needs.”

The gift was made by Richard D. Cohen, philanthropist and founder of real estate company Capital Properties.

The Gehry Scholarships will be awarded annually to three entering master’s students for support throughout their graduate studies at the Yale School of Architecture as well as for the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles to see the workings of Gehry’s architecture firm.

“With the Gehry Scholarships students will have the opportunity to attend Yale regardless of background, and will also have more freedom after graduation to pursue their work in the way best suited to their talents, without the burden of significant debt,” says Dean Deborah Berke. “Gehry Scholars will be able to focus on design and can start making an immediate difference in the architecture profession by forging their own paths.”

On why it was important for the Gehry Scholarships to be at Yale, Gehry says: “I have great respect for the Yale School of Architecture. I have enjoyed for many years teaching there, and all of the wonderful experiences that have occurred in my life while spending time there. So, being associated with the school through a scholarship fund is very special to me.”