Robin Guenther, FAIA, an architect and leader in regenerative healthcare design, has died at the age of 68. Guenther was a principal at the global firm Perkins&Will, where she spearheaded the development of the firm’s Precautionary List—a pioneering 2008 compilation of concerning building materials and substances. Over the following years, Guenther helped to evolve the list into Perkins&Will’s Transparency website, a public resource aimed at helping design professionals “use the fewest possible toxic substances,” according to the website. Guenther passed away on May 6 in New York following a battle with cancer.
Born in Detroit on Oct. 2, 1954, Guenther completed her architecture studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and at the Architectural Association in London. In 1979, she established roots in New York while working at Norman Rosenfeld Architects. In 1991, she co-founded the healthcare-focused firm Guenther Petrarca, developing a successful portfolio of sustainable projects. The New York firm became Guenther 5 Architects in 2001 and, in 2007 when it had grown to 18 workers, the company merged with Perkins&Will where Guenther served as the global health practice chair among other leadership roles. During her tenure, Guenther completed projects including the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, Mass.
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Spaulding Rehabilitation Clinic, Perkins + Will, Boston
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Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
The architect earned recognition and awards throughout her decades-long career, including the Center for Health Design’s 2005 Changemaker Award and “Women in Design” awards from Healthcare Design and Contract Magazine. Guenther also served as a senior advisor for the international NGO Health Care Without Harm, and on the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Healthcare committee. In 2008, she wrote Sustainable Healthcare Architecture (John Wiley & Sons) alongside Gail Vittori, the co-director of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems in Austin, Texas.
“Robin was a giant who I had the privilege to collaborate with for over two decades,” said Vittori in a press release from Perkins&Will. “As with many, she inspired me to do more than I ever thought possible, recognizing that the work at hand had the potential to change people’s lives and the world for the better. Robin lived her life with remarkable optimism and hopefulness, and with grace. She will forever be a guiding light; I will miss her.”