Celebrating the Life and Works of Antoine Predock (1936-2024)
By L. William Zahner
10/28/2024
Earlier this year, the world lost a visionary architect, Antoine Predock. I recently attended a tribute at the University of New Mexico’s School of Architecture—a gathering of those inspired by his work, vision, and friendship. As I looked around the room, it was clear that Antoine had left an indelible mark on the world of architecture and the people lucky enough to know him.
Antoine’s unique design philosophy was his gift to the world. He had the remarkable ability to merge the environment with the geometric forms of his buildings. His structures were not just buildings, but living landscapes, extensions of their surroundings, with bold forms that echoed and reflected the earth and sky. His work spans the globe, and we’re proud to have had the opportunity to work with him and his firm.
I first met Antoine in the late 1980s at his studio in Albuquerque. He was designing the American Heritage Center and wanted to clad the surface of this extended conical form with copper.
Predock's award-winning El Paso Federal Courthouse features a patinated copper facade, with a Dirty Penny-like finish.
PHOTO © A. ZAHNER COMPANYHe held up an old penny and said, “I don’t want it shiny, but aged… kind of dirty, like this old penny.”
That moment sparked the inspiration and the name for a copper patina we still produce today — Dirty Penny. It was the beginning of countless collaborations, each one unique and challenging yet always a joy to work on.
Walking into Antoine’s studio was always an experience, and it wasn’t just the architectural models or sketches that captured your attention. His motorcycle collection lined the walls, each bike telling its own story, much like his buildings. Those motorcycles reflected Antoine’s bold, elaborate, functional, and timeless spirit.
Predock's Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida was Zahner's first project to include dual curve surfaces.
The Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library in Pueblo, Colorado
PHOTO © DANIEL HOLTON.Over the years, we collaborated on projects from Tampa, Florida, to Doha, Qatar, and every one of his projects pushed us to innovate and see materials and forms in new ways.
Antoine was a good friend and a great partner in creativity. We will miss his vision and the boundless curiosity he brought to every endeavor.
Entry for the Tacoma Art Museum in downtown Tacoma, Washington.
The photograph of Antoine Predock in his studio is courtesy of his wife, Constance DeJong.
© Fedora Hat Photography
Photo by Andre Sigur | ARKO
PHOTO © NAHO KUBOTA
Ɱ, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license, edited.
