Richard is a founding principal and Design Partner of Ennead Architects, an internationally recognized architectural design firm, which evolved from Polshek Partnership where he began working upon graduation from the Cornell College of Architecture, Art and Planning in 1979. Notable projects include The Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University; the William J. Clinton Presidential Center; Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; the New York Times Printing Plant; WGBH Headquarters in Boston; and Yale University Art Gallery Renovation and Expansion.

Richard’s design approach has been driven by three principal pursuits: the exploration of contemporary architecture as a means of creating a sense of place and identity; the integration of contemporary architecture into historic or otherwise significant urban or campus fabric; and advocacy for the preservation of significant historic buildings and districts. He creates buildings that are at once expressive of their missions and integral to their particular contexts while avoiding any formulaic language or “style.”

He is the recipient of the American Academy in Rome’s Founders Rome Prize Fellowship (2003-04), and his buildings have garnered numerous professional awards for design excellence, among them, National AIA Honor Awards, New York State AIA Awards, New York City AIA Awards and American Architecture Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum.

Complementing his professional practice, Richard has been active in several professional associations and regulatory agencies. He is a member of the Municipal Art Society and the Architectural League. His critical and balanced attitude toward the integration of new architecture with the historic urban fabric was recognized by his appointment as a Commissioner of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission where he served from 1996 to 2007. Richard is a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects.

Richard is married to Betsy Ennis; they have two daughters and live in Manhattan.

At time time of our 40th reunion, Richard continues as a Design Partner at Ennead Architects. Recent projects include the Peabody Essex Museum Expansion (Salem, MA) and Stanford University's Denning House and their Chem-H and SNI Building (Palo Alto, CA).