Norman Pfeiffer, FAIA

1940 - 2023

Norman was the Founding Principal of Pfeiffer Partners as well as its predecessor firm, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates. During the course of his career, Norman’s professional interests focused on civic and academic facilities, both here and abroad, with a particular emphasis on projects that make a contribution to the broader public realm. Known for his ability to create buildings that reflect the culture and context of their communities, he and his colleagues consciously chose not to establish a particular architectural style. As a result, the firms’ designs range from a contemporary interpretation of Egyptian architecture, as exemplified by the new academic library at the American University in Cairo, to a highly sustainable, transparent Information Services Building at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. In Los Angeles, his expansion and renovation of the Los Angeles Central Public Library, as well as the design of the Colburn School of Performing Arts & Music Conservatory, has made a major contribution to the revitalization of downtown. For more than two decades, Norman served on the Architectural Commission at the University of Washington, his alma mater.