Percival Goodman

Percival Goodman was an architect and urban theorist, recognized for both his architectural work and his critical thought. Born in New York, Goodman was educated at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and from 1946 to 1972 he taught design and urban planning at Columbia University. He is best known for designing more than fifty synagogues in the United States; these synthesize modernist architectural forms with traditional Jewish symbolism, bringing religious architecture and practice into greater harmony with a rapidly modernizing and increasingly secular culture. Goodman, who was fascinated by the concept of utopia, wrote frequently about the social dimensions of architecture and its ability to create healthier communities and better cities.