Esteemed architect, writer, and longtime architecture critic for The Boston Globe Robert Campbell, FAIA passed away on April 29, 2025, at Youville House Assisted Living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 88 years old.

Born in Buffalo, New York, on March 31, 1937, Campbell pursued an education that reflected his diverse interests. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College, earned a degree from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, and later received a master's in architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

Campbell began his tenure at The Boston Globe in 1973, where he served as architecture critic for over four decades. His writing was celebrated for its clarity, wit, and insightful analysis, qualities that earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1996. (Boston Globe)

Beyond journalism, Campbell was a practicing architect, contributing to projects for cultural institutions like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also played a pivotal role in founding the Mayors' Institute on City Design, advising urban leaders on architectural and design matters.

An educator at heart, Campbell taught at institutions including the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the Boston Architectural College, and the University of North Carolina. His commitment to fostering architectural understanding extended to his roles as a poet and photographer, with works published in outlets such as Architectural Record, The Atlantic Monthly and Harvard Review.

Robert Campbell's legacy endures through his influential critiques, architectural contributions, and the many students and readers he inspired throughout his remarkable career.

Read his full obituary at the Boston Globe.

Read an article Campbell wrote for Architecture Boston in 2019 →