Romaldo Giurgola Dies at 95

Born in Rome in 1920, Giurgola moved to the United States at the age of 27 and recieved a master degree in architecture from Columbia University. In 1968, with architect Ehrman Mitchell, he formed the New York-based Mitchell/Giurgola Architects.

His big break came in 1979 when the firm won the internation competition for Austrlia's new Parliament House. Giurgola moved to Australia to oversee the realization of this legacy project, eventually becoming an Australian citizen in 2000.

His influence on architects in Canberra in particular can be heard in the words of Rob Henry, President of the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, quoted at The Canberra Times:

He made an incredible contribution to the work of many of our members, most of whom would have worked under or been taught by Aldo. ... he was always very dedicated to education, and had an amazing warmth and humility, he was a very humble character. ... No matter the size, you felt comfortable in his buildings. Everything he did he thought about from a human perspective. ... He's going to be deeply missed by our community, and his legacy is there, not only through his built works but through his influence on other architects.

Giurgola received numerous awards in his lifetime, but none higher than the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1988, the year his masterpiece, Parliament House, was completed.

Although Giurgola did not have a role in the New York firm in recent decades (Mitchell died in 2005), partner Paul Broches said that "Mr. Giurgola’s name was retained to honor him," per the New York Times.