Background
Birkerts, Gunnar was born on January 17, 1925 in Riga, Latvia. Son of Peter and Meria (Shop) Birkerts. came to the United States, 1949, naturalized, 1954.
Birkerts, Gunnar was born on January 17, 1925 in Riga, Latvia. Son of Peter and Meria (Shop) Birkerts. came to the United States, 1949, naturalized, 1954.
Diplomingeneur Architekt, Technische Hochschule, Stuttgart, Germany, 1949. Doctor (honorary), Riga Technology University, Latvia, 1990.
Designer, Perkins & Will, Chicago, 1950-1951; Designer, Eero Saarinen & Associates, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, 1951-1955; principal chief designer, Minoru Yamasaki & Associates, Birmingham, Michigan, 1955-1959; president, Gunnar Birkerts & Associates, Inc., Birmingham, 1959; assistant professor architecture, University of Michigan, 1961; associate professor, University of Michigan, 1963-1969; professor, University of Michigan, 1969-1990; Graham fellow, 1970; architect in residence, American Academy in Rome, 1976; 1st Lawrence J. Plym. distinguished professor architecture, University of Illinois, 1982; Thomas S. Monaghan architect-in-residence professor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1984; Bruce Alonzo Goff professor of creative architecture, U. Oklahoma, 1990.
Fellow American Institute of Architects, Graham Foundation, Latvian Architects Association. Member Michigan Society Architects (Award of Honor 1989), Church Architectural Guild, Honorary Order Kentucky Colonels.
Married Sylvia Zvirbulis, July 29, 1950. Children— Sven Peter, Andra Sylvia, Erik Gunnar.