“Just don’t stay in the office late by yourself”
That’s quite damaging for a young worker trying to climb the ranks in architecture, a profession that demands late hours and blurs the line between work and play.
As for Meier, he can go away to some white painted retirement home and rot. He just ruined his own legacy... oh well.
16
I’m not sure if this says anything other than that Meier is a gross creep. Doesn’t say much about “architecture” any more than Bill Cosby represents comedy .... this guy is a dinosaur.
There is something insidious about the larger picture here when architects used to be featured for good work and now are only covered if they are sexual harassers. May explain our current politics.
5
As with Architect Meier's smarmy revelations here today, James Levine's recent firing by Met Opera also brought many Comments noting that his aberrant behaviors had been common knowledge for decades within his professional community.
Makes one wonder how many others prominent in Grey Lady's news and society pages also have a dark side well-known to though never publicized by the NYTimes.
8
MS-13 has "non-disclosure agreements," too. It's called a conspiracy and extortion and should never be upheld in a court of law. Why do courts uphold NDAs of crimes?
12
I've been in the industry for more than 25 years and first heard about Richard Meier's behavior at least 20 years ago. I've heard many accounts of exactly the same story of him answering the door of his home, exposed, in his bathrobe when female employees were asked to come there for various work-related reasons. It was a regular occurrence and very well-known throughout the industry. I'm surprised it took this long to reach the media, and I am particularly disappointed that his Partners and other senior leadership within the firm enabled this behavior for decades by covering it up. I suspect there will be other complaints lodged soon against some of the world's most famous architects. The environment in Mr. Gehry's office, for example, is widely known to be abusive on numerous levels. #TimesUp
56
I find it incomprehensible that powerful men actually believe they are more desirable if they debase and expose themselves (literally and figuratively) and force themselves on women. The more they got away with it with total impunity, the more power and entitlement they felt. Their twisted egos and power fuel a pervasive "droit du seigneur" syndrome where anything is permissible because they can. Women must come forward immediately when this happens and "out" them. It happened to me 4 hours after I began a new job - by the man who hired me. I hadn't even met with Human Resources yet. When I called the headhunter to ask for her advice, I was told not to say anything and didn't. That was a big mistake.
20
There should be charges against the senior management of companies as well as the perpetrators in these incidents--this architectural firm, The Met Opera, etc.. "Strong sexual harassment training" clearly didn't but a dent this decades long behavior. For every one woman who reports assult it there's probably 5 who didn't. It's easy to say "why didn't more come forward" -- well, what encouragement to do that is there when nothing changes when other people do come forward? Not to mention the fact that the victims are usually extremely young and scared, which exactly what these predators look for in a victim. These predators disgust me and so do their enablers.
20
In all places where men dominate, the law, politics, etc. there are similar stories waiting to be told. Most women have been sexually harassed or assaulted at work at one point or another. Most women don't report it because to do so is to often lose your job and your career and most women can't afford to do so. So they leave, and everyone knows why they are leaving but the company or firm doesn't do anything because of ten these men are very successful, good rainmakers, good moviemakers, whatever.
Until men lose their jobs over this behavior nothing will change. The man who sexually harassed me remains at the same law firm where the harassment took place. I'm sure he's still sexually harassing young women and the firm still does nothing.
15
I live in Atlanta and frequently visit The High Museum designed by this disgusting man. It is a beautiful building and holds many wonderful memories for me and my family. I will now have a pit in my stomach thinking of this horrible man and his criminal acts against women when I visit. The High Museum should remove all laudatory references to this evil man in the museum and in their children’s exhibits.
12
The no-apology apology. The no-reflection response. The how-unfortunate-that-you’re-offended defense. Again.
21
six month leave ? how about retire and call it good.
11
The casting couch exists? No kidding?
“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” -- Aristotle
5
Putting it in a historical context, Richard Meier’s sexual abuse of young apprentices is nothing new.
Consider what Michelangelo was told by a father who wanted his son to become an apprentice in the master’s studio: “Once you saw him, you’d chase him into bed the minute you got home!”
Michelangelo the great architect, explains his apprentice’s rules in a 1530’s letter to Niccolo Quaratesi. Michelangelo expects sexual favors from his young apprentice, & he boldly demands the father’s consent.
14
Guess it may be true what they say 'bout people in glass houses?
6
6 months leave? How about 6 years in jail?
20
I would like to ask the NY Times and all the folks who believe it is right and just to disgrace someone like this -- In exactly what way does this me too ism differ from Joe McCarthy and HUAC? A person is denounced. There is no jury trial. The denounced person does not get to face his or her denouncer in a court of law. The denounced person is disgraced and basically blacklisted from making a living. In the 1950's it was the 'Communist' label that was attached to a person. Today it is 'sexual harasser'. At least in the 1950s progressives of all stripes were appalled at the tactics of senator McCarthy. Today progressives seem to have complete brain-lock over this issue, failing to realize that in the age of trump it is only and precisely the rule of law that stands between our species and a dark, dark descent into fascism.
13
@glennvirt: How can you say Meier has been disgraced? The truth is that Meier disgraced HIMSELF by his own actions - actions he KNEW were wrong; actions he could have stopped himself from taking. I have ZERO sympathy for this creep.
There should have been a trial ages ago for the likes of Meier, but his "fame" protected him - he had power over the careers of the women he harassed. They would have needed (at a minimum) a lot of money to pursue a court case against him, in an era of worship for him.
You know what? Those days are OVER, and he deserves every bit of embarrassment he gets.
17
The Getty Center couldn't be more over-rated. It has all of the charm of a Hilton Hotel circa 1986. I always suspected it was the product of a depraved mind. Perhaps, now, it should be torn down.
7
The sexual police crackdown has now reached idiotic heights. Some very highly qualified artists, scientists, politicians, businessmen and women are fired or forced to resign because of some sexual infraction committed in the hinterland of their lives. Their bedroom behavior is unrelated to their genius. So under thus theory we have the most bland, incompetent, idiots running everything while the most competent are disqualified because of some alleged sexual peccadillo. If this standard were enforced we would lose some of our best music, books, scientific discoveries, artists, lawyers, bakers, plumbers- etc.
Government needs to get out of our bedrooms-and the NYT needs to get out of yellow journalism.What goes on in private in the bedroom needs due process protection if it is to be judged at all.
10
Ugh, another one bites the dust.
4
Women...unwanted exposure to genitals? Whip out your cell phone, take a picture and dial 911.
Unless you're starving no job is worth it. Until women who are in more privileged positions (not minimum wage workers) take a stand these predators will continue to feel unassailable.
13
Another creep caught who claims either no recollection or does not remember it that way. What a sad pathetic creep.
11
If you are 70, and you expose your penis, uninvitedly, to a 20 something, please expect her to 1. never forget, and 2. have the complete right to tell the world about it when it is least convenient to you.
33
To all the creepy men trolling every NYT story on harassment, to the men who say "let boys be boys," to the men who say men behaving badly need to do so for the sake of their 'art' (or science, or any other area of work), I give you:
Zaha Hadid
Frida Kahlo
Georgia O'Keefe
All the fantastic contemporary women artists shown at MOCA
Not one found it necessary to abuse her power to create great art or procure sex.
39
I saw Ms. Hadid speak once. She was publicly rude, borderline abusive, to fellow well-regarded architects who shared the panel with her including the highly accomplished Denise Scott Brown.
Male architects have dominated our profession for too long, and it's unquestionable that they are also the majority of abusers by far. But the culture of withering criticism that started in many architecture schools has pervaded the behavior of some principals decades later. Respect by the powerful for their colleagues and subordinates should be a baseline for everyone, regardless of gender.
25
Thank you for your comment. I never met her. I definitely agree that women do not need to emulate the agressive take-no-prisoners attitude of men in order to succeed.
12
you name 3 women. 3 women out of all the hundreds of architects and artists which speaks to the overall misogyny. I was at the same school where she taught. Zaha was a mean abusive woman, not unlike the mean abusive men but as far as I know she never sexually harassed anyone.
11
For some reason this has brought up two disconnected memories.
I interviewed Meier for a travel piece for a NYT insert just before the Getty opened. It was a dream come true for an architect-turned-writer to talk to him. He was affable and gracious, a great interview. He guided me through the building explaining how he imagined it being experienced. He was thrilled with the stonework, a material he had rarely used. I remember thinking the building was a little like heaven, every thing perfectly made and perfectly placed. Heaven for modernist architects probably looks a lot like the Getty.
And coupled with this wonderful sunlit memory is the darker remembrance of two college professors at the University of Colorado, closeted gay men, who regularly groped my crotch and backside. I never accepted their invitation to join them in the sauna, but a friend did and his grades were definitely better than mine. I hadn't thought about this in years, and the sense of shame and discomfort I'm feeling makes my heart go out to all the women this stuff has happened to. MeToo!
43
Ugly lecherous man in powerful position keeps harassing and attacking young women. When does it stop? Does it ever stop? Who keeps enabling this disgusting behavior?
We definitely need to stop putting "famous" people on a pedestal. Most of the time, they have feet of clay and deserve praise only for their work, not for their personalities or "morals".
And Meier may ultimately get what he deserves: a lead obituary line that mentions his sexual harassment.
27
Six months leave? Will he miraculously have an epiphany during this time? Meier's skirt chasing (and now abuse) has been common knowledge for his entire career. He thinks he can skate by after six moths. Apparently, unchastened.
22
There will be a backlash. A few, a teeny minority of women who have personal problems or issues with some men are causing a social uproar over what , in far too many cases , has been bad, sloppy, perha[ps drunken or stupid acts, -if they occurred at all-by a few men to eliminate powerful males from jobs that women then seem to be taking over with incresing frequency. Yes, men have often been dumb or acted in tasteless mannerlessly foolish ways, but such behavior by not being instantly reported if it were a crime-allows real sexual predators to flourish. By attacking the old, the personally objectionable and the seemingly eassily attacked, now, women are leaving themselves open to the appearance of opportunism. If Charlie Rose had been guilty of anything-stopping him 40 years ago would have saved society the mess of now doing without one of it's finest public speakers. Basically, by NOT making legal accusations,women encourage behavior they claim to despise. By attacking late in life, they do so, sans evidence, sans any regard for the rights of men . The very claim or accusation of sex harassment is today-the modern equivalent of calling someone a communist in 1950 ,who may have attended a meeting of socialists in 1930's depression NYC, because they didn't have enough for a movie.
These endless, substanceless and abusive accusations-perhaps one in five have some minor merit-will turn around in future to consume the very people who make them.
8
"One in five might have some minor merit"? I didn't see anywhere in your comments that you are a credentialed researcher on this topic. As one who was groped in an office setting by the then President of Fortune 500 Company, I say to you, you are grossly misinformed.
6
This IS the backlash. It is coming home to roost. It is not a teeny minority of women as we've learned who have suffered. Me too! Some men want women to remain pliant victims. To which we say, time's up!
8
The rights of men? You got 'em--never fear.
The departure of Charlie Rose is no loss. He was one of the worst interviewers I have ever seen. I found him intellectually dense--sometimes moronic. His stellar guests were often of such interest to me that I would try to watch his show again, but fail and have to turn it off when he interrupted, slammed his hand on the table, or talked about himself and name-dropped. His guests were almost unfailingly patient and polite, but some bristled. My favorite riposte came from Barbara Ehrenreich, who said, "You haven't read the book, have you?"
7
Instead of being put on leave, this man should be put in jail. He is beyond disgusting.
15
No Lois. If the man engaged in a criminal act he should be put on trial. If a jury convicts him he should then be sent to jail. Destroying someone's life by what amounts to a lynching is profoundly wrong, deeply undermining the rule of law which, really, is all that stands between a society and outright barbarism or fascism.
7
Relying upon a jury? No thank you.
2
"Cornell University ... the scholarship was designed to 'recruit and retain the most talented women applicants.'"
Cornell gets a lot of taxpayer funds. How is it legal for them to run a scholarship program that discriminates on the basis of gender ID?
4
Classic non-apology apology: "I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my behavior.” Should be "I sincerely apologize for my behavior."
23
The humble gardener that tends his plants and keeps his hands to himself shows far more "brilliance" than the famous architect, broadcast journalist, film producer, actor, politician, etc. who feels entitled to exploit his reputation in service of retrograde ends.
75 year-old men adorned in nothing more than a blue terry cloth bathrobe and exposing their penises to twenty-something females has nothing to do with romance. Can you even imagine? Should we laugh or cry?
Sexual harassment has everything to do with the narcissistic assertion of dominance by the "powerful" over those who are perceived to be weak and powerless.
Some have called for "due process" and characterized the protests made by those that have been harassed as a witch hunt. Really? That's a disgusting defense of the indefensible based on a strategy of blaming the victim.
In most of these situations the pursuit of due process leads to nothing more than immediate termination, the loss of livelihood, and the end of careers for the abused. In the absence of any connections to others similarly abused these women typically just keep their mouths shut and try to move on. Those invoking the spectre of a "witch hunt" would like to keep it that way.
The public airing of complaints is no violation of due process. If the accused wish to defend themselves they are entirely free to do so. To date - outside of claiming that "their intentions were misunderstood" that's about as far as it has gone. Lame is not the word.
19
"I thought it was consensual."
3
Cal -- you are so wrong and so deeply blind to the consequences of this form of justice. If the man broke a law he should be put on trial. If he didn't then he is getting a very bad deal. Tell me Cal how this whole meToo thing differs from Joe McCarthy and HUAC. This guy was denounced. No trial. No jury. Now totally blacklisted from making a living. It is our system of laws and judges and juries and the whole edifice of justice that, especially now, stands between our society and a dark descent into fascism.
3
I've been waiting for something like this - it should bring about a tsunami.
10
And our Grabber President remains in the Oval Office without one iota of push back. Only Stormy giving him some aggravation. Why?
27
Enablers?!
8
This has long been epidemic in the workplace, not because all or even most men do it -- most do not -- but because enough do it and do it without consequence that nearly every woman will sometime encounter at least one and have her #MeToo moment. My mother used to tell the story of how she was once "pinched" by Frank Lloyd Wright when she was an executive secretary at the Philadelphia A.I.A. in the 1950s. She always told it with full irony as her "claim to fame" -- the kind of irony women have had to muster for generations to run the gauntlet of harassment in the workplace. It's long past time we, men and women, dismantled it.
22
There is no true fame. And there is no true power. That's the lesson flawed "famous" men from Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen through Richard Meier and on and on teach us.
I worked for Meier once upon a time. The office reminded me of nothing so much as a haven for backstabbing power hungry young (and old) architects. His office exploited folks, and lied to folks, and worked everyone to the bone in the celebration of the great one- Richard.
I am a 58 year old architect now. I've learned with some certainty that very few of us survive past our deaths. Very few buildings survive. Indeed, our planet will eventually dissipate. This is not sad or tragic. It just is.
Humility is precisely what the sexual harassers (99% men) lack. We are born from nothing, and into nothing we all go. Treat your fellow man (and woman) and the earth and other creatures with as much love and respect as you possibly can. That's all that matters.
45
Your experience is your experience and unchallengeable. Your presumption of Woody Allen's culpability, in the absence of due process, is shameful.
4
Richard Meier borrowed his architecture from LeCorbusier, and his behavior from Stanford White.
28
While working at The Coca-Cola Company years ago, our founder gave millions of dollars to help build The High Museum of Art in Atlanta. I was asked to help with the big grand opening party, black tie and all.
Being one of the first to enter the Museum, I saw several very officious looking people on this magnificent marble stair case and they were quite troubled. The magnificent marble banister had marble posts that were at least 4 feet apart and a child could easily step through and fall to the marble floor 2 stories below. Police tape sealed the staircase off, eliminating access to the majority of the museum.
I laughed because a neighbor just had a new deck built by a couple of good old GA boys and their stairway was built to code and here the world famous architect made a hugely stupid mistake.
30
Is it just me, or does everyone else notice how so many of the men outed as sexual harassers are just physically repugnant? Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Bill O’Reilly, James Toback, Donald Trump, and now Meier?
39
Agree! I can't imagine these repulsive examples of masculinity thinking that exposing themselves is in any way attractive or a turn-on!
19
I'm more struck by how many of them are into exposing their genitals–like that's gonna get the girl?
23
It does make their intentions clear without speaking a word. Maybe that's the goal?
5
The same happened to me when I was interning for another architect-Michael D. Schwartz. I left quickly and he fired me the next day. I was 22.
39
The architectural profession is an abusive profession, low wages, long (uncompensated) hours, hard work, no recognition excerpt for the "stars", and when the project is over often so is your job. They say they will make it up next project, but there is none.
39
The interesting thing about all of these predatory monsters is how physically unattractive they all are. Exposing themselves is seemingly their only hope of an intimate relationship and so they act as if they are entitled and proceed as if their power is overwhelming and somehow desirable to the victims. If they weren't so repulsive, they might be slightly more legitimately attractive to potential friends and partners.
23
Now we are exposing misbehavior of architects. What comes next, some carpenter or plumber
6
If they have sexually abused or harassed women then yes, yes they are next.
25
It is a foregone conclusion to no developer will market a condominium project with Richard Meier's name attached to the project. What exactly is the sales pitch? 'we offer a blue terry cloth wardrobe with every sale'...I have a feeling that selling all those new condominiums at 685 First avenue will be a challenge.
Richard Meier's business model is tied to his image, his buildings are inseparable from him personally. It will be nearly impossible for the company to move forward because he can longer charge a premium for his services. Developers will not take the risk of putting his name on their project and Institutions will not short-list him. That makes up the bulk of his work.
Richard Meier will more than likely close his offices to protect his legacy rather than watch it wither slowly. He is 83, there is no incentive to keep things going at this point.
17
Well said my friend. If I am on a board of reagents for some university or a church council selecting an architect for a project, I would have to pass on Richard Meier. Out here in California, Richard Meier is selected to design a new $100M courthouse. Assuming the firm will get about 6% in fees, he will still net a tidy payday.
As for Richard Meier's partners you discussed in your earlier post, all I can say is that I slept well last nigh while they were up trying to spin this for the scores of upset clients they will have to explain this to.
15
Just know, there are many places in the world where this is an American sensitivity, a frivolous silliness. His brand will take a hit here and in some portions of N. Europe, but unfortunately the behavior exhibited is normal, expected, lionized. The RM brand will be damaged abroad more slowly, or not at all in some places.
1
@sean: Yes, Meier has now poisoned his own brand. There is some poetic justice in that!
7
I hope that more of our colleagues, both women and men, young or not, can feel safe enough to come forward, and at the very least make known those who have abused their position and stature, whether recently or earlier in their careers. Sexual favors, freely given, and exploitation, illicitly taken, are part of a greater scene of exploitation, of which this is just once aspect of a horror show of abuse. This is (of course) not exclusive to architecture, design, or the construction industry. This is part and parcel of unfair working conditions, long & unpaid for hours, beyond title/exp. roles and duties that potentially expose the client or the public to safety risks and cost overruns (let alone bad design). In addition to this sexism, a rampant institutionalized racism, class-ism, and homophobia relegates many talented, hard-working and exploited people to a second class status, in the AEC industry and throughout the workplace, regardless of work experienced, degrees earned, or time served, for not being the expected "architect" or "exec" or "engineer."
Burn the edifice down and rebuilt it the way it should have been in the start.
20
good lord, if they start going after architects, there won't be any end. I am an architect, and there was absolutely nothing in our training that addresses how we treat our employees, or people generally other than clients, builders and officials. Many of he men who we hold up as our heroes were widely known to be disgusting in their treatment of women. Indeed, I went to school with the first women accepted into our school. If architects have morals, they learned them at home.
16
Why should any professional have to be "taught" how to treat women? Why should any man have to have special education and training to understand what is and isn't acceptable? We accept a false premise when we assume that without this training, men will behave badly.
I think it is long overdue in the country for a zero-tolerance policy to take effect at all companies. If you sexually harass, assault or otherwise violate the rights of a fellow employee, no matter your gender, automatic termination for cause is appropriate. Companies can and must implement policies which hold everyone accountable for their own behavior.
47
@Bobeau
"there was absolutely nothing in our training that addresses how we treat our employees, or people generally other than clients, builders and officials"
Mr Bobeau-( I assume you are a Mr). I do hope that there were at least prohibitions in your "training" against grabbing clients, builders and officials private parts?
11
Six months leave?
As an architect and member of the American Institute of Architects I say get out and never come back. Meier's behavior needs to made an example of and send a signal to others that this is not acceptable.
57
Will the AIA have the courage to rescind his fellowship (FAIA)?
9
I have been waiting for years for this awful man to be exposed. I was standing in front of him at an intimate Oscars party when I felt someone's hand fondle my rear end. I turned around, horrified, and he smirked like he was naughty boy entitled to take what he wanted. As many young women in their 20s in the 90s, I was intimidated and afraid to say anything. He continued to pursue me, got my phone number from someone and would call continuously, usually around midnight and was usually--or so it sounded--very intoxicated. At follow-up events where we were together, he was as grabby, brutish and boorish as always. As another commenter mentioned here, his actions had nothing to do with caring about the "object" he pursued and everything to do with an infinite sense of entitlement to take and have what he wanted. Ugh. Too little, too late, people.
86
Serious question: why do you believe that young women in the 90s still, after decades of feminism, felt intimidated and unable to say something when a man did something to you that was clearly wrong? Your generation, born in the seventies to early eighties came in to a world where feminism was the norm; where girls were brought up without the restrictions that your mothers endured.
Second question: when someone makes a serious accusation against another, should they be allowed to so anonymously, as you have done here? I appreciate your candor, but have concerns about the NY Times allowing anonymous accusations against individuals in the comment section. Women suffer when men are allowed to spread sexual gossip about them with no fear of being censored. We are moving towards a world where this is no longer tolerated. Shouldn't it be the same for us?
4
I’m very sorry to hear you were subjected to such indecency. I wish you had me as a friend & I GUARANTEE there NEVER would have been a 2nd Incident
5
In answer to your first question- if any woman had been at all exposed to any popular media form, whether they were born in the 70’s, 80’s or before or after those decades, it is known that you will not be believed if you accuse a man of inappropriate behavior.
10
Clearly these harassers are guys who don’t know how and when to seduce a woman, and don’t have a good sense of which women to go after. It’s not so hard to meet women the old fashioned way, first by looking for signals they might be interested in you. I can only imagine they are the guys who never had any luck with women, and worked hard to achieve fame, thinking it would be a magical aphrodisiac. It ain’t like that.
14
Really? This isn't about seducing women or "which women to go after". This isn't some man not knowing the signals. This is about a powerful man who knows that his status and position can be used to intimidate women into keeping quiet. That ability to quash blowback through status alone emboldens these men. That is what leads to rampant sexual harassment and often outright assault. Through colleagues of mine, I have always known that Mr. Meier was a power hungry, insensitive man, but this makes him vile.
He wasn't looking to hook up or find a partner. He was wielding his power to satisfy his sexual depravity. The AIA should strip him of his status as a Fellow. All US licensing boards should strip him of his licenses and the board or whatever entity exists at the top of Richard Meier and Partners should immediately remove him from the firm, the masthead and the name of the company.
It is apparent through this story that we may be looking at another Weinstein. Simply warning women of a predator is NOT enough, not by far. Don't warn, speak out. Don't just hope for the best, fight back. I may not be a woman, but I am appalled and sickened by the behavior of powerful men who think that women are objects for their whims and desires. Enough.
36
Brilliant, Jonathan! You sum it up perfectly.
1
Remember how they talk about skyscrapers being phallic expressions commissioned and designed by men? Perhaps this attitude has something to do with it. The worst part is because of the reputation and fame Meier had he felt he could do what he pleased and get away with it. He exploited the fears of women afraid of losing their careers. He objectified and humiliated them because he felt he could do so. He has a lot of company including the man occupying the Oval Office. But now Pandora's Box has been opened and there is no telling where this will end. We are in new times. And don't try and tell me this is Puritanism! This is the next wave of women's liberation.
29
I didn't think these harassers could get any more repulsive looking than Harvey Weinstein, John Hockenberry, Garrison Keillor or James Levine, but clearly I was wrong. See photo of Creature from Black Lagoon, above.
17
As women who seek to be freed from the repressive yoke of being judged for our appearance, shouldn't we practice what we preach. The men you list are repulsive for their actions. That's enough. We don't need to make cracks about their looks. That lowers us and does nothing to move us towards a better place.
11
Thank God Frank Lloyd Wright was perfect...
5
Meier's behavior is not unacceptable, it's criminal! And how does someone ask a woman who is being improperly touched or assaulted, if she is okay without addressing the perperator? What mousey little cowards we are as a culture.
24
The goal is to rid society of all abusers, the famous and not famous, and make society safe from their predatory, evil actions.
Throw this bum in prison (where he will be properly taken care of by other inmates) and move on to get rid of the next abuser.
12
The New York Times's publication of these stories about allegedly "abusive" (how about just plain stupid, foolish or sick) behavior by famous men is becoming a form of pornography. Where is the rock-solid verification required for other Times stories? Where is the concern that mere - and possibly unfounded - allegations may ruin a career, a life? Where is the evidence of real damage (beyond "embarrassment")? I'm not saying these stories about Richard Meier aren't true. But this one - like many other Times pieces on the subject - doesn't go beyond the level of allegation. This is becoming a Salem Witch Trial all over again.
8
Comparing rampant sexual misbehavior to the Salem witch trials demonstrates your bias and your ignorance. This is a story and part of our zeitgeist. The Times makes no accusations, that is the women. Read the article again and you will see that a MALE manager acknowledges dealing with this matter. This isn't a he said, she said scenario. The story is well written and well sourced. There is third party confirmation and verification of some of the allegations.
This male-bias notion that any woman would come forward to accuse a powerful man of such behavior out of spite or as a false allegation is ludicrous. Perhaps some of the details may skew over time. That is simply a fact of human memory, but the fact that any behavior may be considered harassment, assault or rape needs to be viewed in the correct light.
This appears to not be a one-off incident either. This is a pattern of behavior. Stop defending these men and stand up for human decency. Richard Meier is not a good man. He may be a phenomenal architect and I have admired his work for decades, but he as a person is vile.
23
They gave him a chance to respond and he issued a lame non-denial.
11
No it is not the Salem Witvh Trials all over again. That had to do with accusations about the role of the devil in Salem, not about abusive men. If you are looking for historical reference to abusive men, try Chaucer’s Wife of Bath Tale
7
Architecture is run by males (mostly white) so it’s hardly surprising it’s rife with this sort of thing. After seeing “My Architect” it’s probably lucky that Louis Kahn died when he did
9
It should be noted that Louis Kahn has not been accused of non-consensual sexual behavior.
2
I should add I really prey it will be surprising in the very near future.
1
I’ve been waiting for the doors of architects to be pried pen, and here they are. I was cornered twice by an extremely well-known architect and former dean of a school of architecture who groped me and wasn’t shy in repeatedly asking me to his hotel room. I later learned that he was infamous for getting extremely intoxicated and trying the same thing with other male students, a few of which ending up working for him. Architects—-prominent ones.....have many locked closets.
24
Headline refers to harassment, but much of what is described here is assault.
35
Back in architecture school late ‘80’s , it was common practice for professors and assistant professors to pray upon the female student body. Just wait till that avalanche of horrors come to light.
31
All future clients should cancel their projects with Richard Meier and Partners and find another architect. Who would do business with them now? It looks like the firm has no choice but to dissolve. Also, since they have an office in New York City, perhaps the New York City Attorney General should also sue the firm for sexual harrasment. This way the enablers' names would be made public. They really shouldn't be allowed to move on.
20
Im probably too old for this. But is anyone else baffled by Ms Lee? She enters an appartment of an elder colleague who is half dressed, exposing genitalia by focusing on work? seriously? Where is the common sense that makes people avoid unpleasant situations. She could easily have excused herself so he could get properly dressed. Im sure that would have prevented follow up questions about saunas.
5
Logical from a distance and in retrospect, but her behavior was typical. It's not uncommon for women placed in such situations to freeze--natural reactions being "fight, flight, or freeze," a woman interviewed for a recent NYT article said. They're so shocked that they don't want to believe what's happening and remain in a combination of fear and denial. The overwhelming imbalance of power makes them feel helpless. Meanwhile, a respected boss and/or icon in the field is behaving badly and frighteningly. They don't know they are the thousandth woman he has put in this position. They can't believe this guy is doing it--any minute now, he'll go inside and get dressed. The woman is not in control in these situations. Some do run; others can't or don't. Never blame her.
15
I'm more baffled that he (and you) think exposing himself was okay.
8
It seems that once again artists are shocking the bourgeoisie..
3
Way to dismiss sexual harassment and assault. Artists don't get a free pass.
8
The issue here is the history of men-women relationships and what power and money can do in those relationships. Who the man is or who the woman is pretty much universal. It's everywhere and the man's reputation or position in life is almost irrelevant until women learn not to trust without knowledge and men learn that there are penalties for being sexist in a society that will shame or prosecute them.
6
Lock him up for a while until more data is collected.
3
I’m sorry for the people who still work there and have kids and everything. They need to look for new jobs now and RM on their resume is a liability rather than a shiny accomplishment. Poor dudes.
8
Artistic geniuses need to keep their egos in their art! Your expertise does not win you points among women!
4
I'm reminded of the Saturday Night Live skit that lampoons an instructional video on appropriate professional behavior versus sexual harassment. The only difference is the attractiveness of the male. It's terrifying to be honest as I get older and start to see what used to be welcome advances become less so. I see where it's heading. These articles just make me sad for ugly old men.
6
This makes me laugh. Doesn’t matter what you look like, if you are harassing or abusing a woman while in a position of power over her you are in the wrong. Do not make this about looks.
11
With a plethora of famous men, both dead and alive, taking a tumble based on sexual allegations, what are we to do? Perhaps be relegated to a world of mediocrity devoid of sex. Chew on that possibility!
2
@Confused
"mediocrity devoid of sex"
You are confused. I am supposed to be pawed by a genius so he can flower? Really!
12
In the translation of modernism from Europe to America the ethical and political core of that movement somehow got lost. Nowhere was this more obvious than in the work of Meier, a leading US practitioner of what had been reduced to a formalist 'style'. The personal ethics of the man are perhaps a reflection of the professional failure.
4
Meier was one of the up-and-coming stars of architecture when I was studying architecture in the 1970s. But even then there were rumors of his behavior when he visited our school. So this turn comes as no surprise.
What a shame. His firm will certainly now dissolve or be merged with another. His partners who devoted large parts of their lives toward working with this starchitect will have to now play-down an association they thought they’d be able to wear honorably. All because nobody stopped this guy from running wild decades ago.
19
I love how he thinks he can leave for six months and all will be forgiven. The last part he is worried about the company and his clients. The women's problems are incidental to his and his company's well being.
20
Cornell did name its chair after him, and just in January of this year. He has long associations with the department of architecture there, and they are obviously tapped in to the architecture scene nationally. Did they really not know about his reputation? That seems hard to believe.
33
Cornell refused Meier’s gift to endow a chair in his name when allegations of sexual misconduct came out.
9
Cornell rescinded the chair today, upon this news.
13
The outpouring of stories of sexual harassment and assault have led me to the following conclusions:
-Those who harass or assault do it repeatedly.
-If the perpetrator is a valued senior executive, very little will likely be done to stop or prevent additional harassment or assault, other than surreptitiously warning female employees to be on their guard.
-After the perpetrator is exposed, it turns out that everyone knew of the harassment or assaults, but no one intervened.
We all need to better at stopping harassment or assault in real time.
59
Did any of the victims complain?
1
You don’t get this, do you?
There is a power imbalance between the powerful man and the young woman. If she were to complain, then she would lose her job and the great professional opportunity that she had hoped it would provide. In some cases, if she complained it could be career ending, depending upon the vindictiveness of the man.
As a woman who worked in architecture for 25 years beginning in the 1970s, I could tell you plenty of stories.
19
Where are the partners in all of this? Seems to me they have some explaining to do as they turned a blind eye to this obvious abuse that went on for so long.
One thing's for sure, I am going to sleep well tonight as these partners will be up figuring a way to spin this for the scores of angry clients that are sure to cone calling.
Okay, that's it from here on the west coast. Time for some shut eye as I will check in Tomorrow.
18
This guy was the boss. He owned the firm. If the women couldn't say no to this pervert, who's to say his underlyings, "partners" or not, could? Why are they any different?
9
Years ago, a co-worker of mine in Los Angeles told me about her days working for a messenger service that had frequent deliveries to Richard Meier's home as the Getty was being built. She said Meier frequently harassed her by signing for the documents in the nude, and his behavior was so common that the other messengers rolled their eyes and warned each other about him. To this day, whenever I'm driving up the 405 with the Getty building looming on the hillside, it has the taint of his bullying and arrogance.
71
Most of the stars slept with female staff as did most professors sleep with students out in the open in the late 70's. He slept with a friend of mine who benefited greatly from the exchange. Are we becoming puritans ?
7
This illustrates vividly the mindset that created and perpetuates this problem.
86
Puritans? Since when does saying “no” make one a Puritan? The behavior you describe sounds as though it was consensual. The behavior described in this piece was anything but consensual. No means no!
14
What you describe are consensual affairs. What this article describes is sexual harassment, a violation of women intimacy, abuse of power, and cowardly behavior.
10
How many more shoes are going to drop out in the coming weeks months and years. That is the dark side of the process.
The culture is getting a good pot stirring and told, no more with this hidden stuff.
19
Got news for you guys: men's genitals are grotesque! Admire yourself in the mirror.
40
Paul Goldberger: did you know and say nothing?
28
This is not about "sleeping with."
He looks like the picture that Dorian Gray kept in his attic.
34
It always amuses me that some men have to be trained to not expose their penises to women who have the misfortune of having to work with them --the men I mean.
It just never occurred to Mr. Meier that the women who worked at his firm were actually interested in architecture and not in him. Go figure.
55
Because every 22 year old woman wants to see a 75 year old penis.
109
I would say, that any modern woman in her 20's, would have no problem at all, beating the stuffin' out of this old guy who looks like he can barely walk.
Ten years earlier, he would still have be an old guy.
He exposed himself? Guys that age never remember to zip their fly up.
Suppose guys started to complain every time an old woman wore a low cut dress? Or a short skirt? Or felt their bicep, and told a guy how strong he looked? People are imperfect - both males and females.
Enough of all these ridiculous charges.
8
You can't be serious. A very young assistant goes to a working session at the home of her world-famous boss and he attacks her--have you not been reading about this at all?
15
He intentionally exposed himself, wearing a bathrobe. Why would you defend this behavior?
8
Blue terry-cloth robes have a fly?
12
Where the head of the company is the admitted pig who perpetrated the transgression, why do these "settlements" always call for the entire staff be forced to attend sexual harassment courses?
35
Reasonable question, but it's best for everyone to be trained for sure. Who knows who else is doing it if it is accepted in the workplace? Plus liability.
It's just better strategy all around to give proactive training in this. Not that it necessarily works. Mainly it just means the company is not liable if someone violates policy.
5
So everyone gets the same message.
5
Richard Meier is a sexual predator . He would focus ,choose and go after these women . He new they were thrilled to work that his company. He thought about how he could get them alone and set everything up and attached his prey. The women that are speaking out are the brave women that felt empowered to come out with their story. I would guess that it happened to many more who are either to intimidated or ashamed to speak . This effects the victims and their families in a way Richard has never thought of . I know because they I am a mother of one of these brave women . So proud of of you all. You are my heroines . This is a civil rights issue and the world will become a better place for it.
114
Exactly. His firm HIRED these young women at his request and sent them to the wolf KNOWING what was going to happen.
And it happened over and over and over again. The firm is as GUILTY as Meier.
19
Why is it that only unattractive men expose themselves? You'd think they'd be the first to cover up.
36
I am so sick of these pompous and venerated men. This is all too common and pervasive in all fields. These men's egos are pumped so full of hot air and feel they have droit du seiguer and can paw any young thing unfortunate to cross their paths, The year Francis Crick won his Nobel prize, I met him at a party at the Marine Biological Labs in Woods Hole Mass. He cornered me and everyone asked if I was thrilled. No! I was 16, he looked to my vantage point out to be a hundred years old, flabby and balding. The next day he would not let me alone and pursued me on foot from 9 in the morning til I finally lost him at 5PM. Another friend of mine remembered his hand on her thigh when he was at a dinner at her parents home. I am sickened every time I hear his name in the news. I am sure we weren't the only two.
98
"Mr. Meier was long known to have been flirtatious." It's been known to be more than just "flirtatious" for more than 40 years.
47
Time's Up!
39
[[Two of the women have described incidents over the past 10 years in which they were sent to Mr. Meier’s New York apartment, where he exposed himself.]]
Ugh! Dude!!! Seriously!?!
I'd tell you to get a grip on yourself, but that appears to be part of the problem.
15
Finally a commentator with a sense of humor!
4
Story after story of sexual harassment especially of women. I’m beginning to understand why some Muslim women wear burkas.
16
The issue here isn't about what the women look like or dress like. The issue of sexual harassment and assault is about the ABUSE OF POWER. This is especially true in circumstances where men like Richard Meier are considered "gods" in their industry
He "got off" on the fact that he could get away with it. He knew his partners were never going to reprimand him with any real professional consequence because he built the firm. He probably fooled himself to think the women "enjoyed" his sexual attention (which is delusional).
13
the burka hasn't helped muslim women avoid abuse - they are still stoned, raped, beaten, tortured, and sold to cover debts.
SEXUAL ABUSE has NOTHING to do with how you are dressed.
Not a joke.
16
Oh yes. That's why they are never raped or harassed.
1
Really what is his talent? to create dominating white buildings? What is beautiful about them? Human societies are out of balance and have been for thousands of years. Male dominating energy needs to be balanced with female nurturing energy. Our Patriarchal male dominated societies have treated the earth the way powerful men like this soulless, purist Richard Meier, treat women, and the destruction of many beautiful places and creatures is the result. They plunder, pillage, bomb and take, without protecting or caring or noticing. Until women have equal impact on the way we do things, the planet will continue to lose its life, and the end result will be mass death. Already there has been unforgivable and irreplaceable destruction. What else do you expect?
By the way, nothing can survive in the purity of white nothingness, as his dominating buildings are. The richest soils are brown and black. It is not relevant, just sayin'.
33
@awareness
Excellent. Thank-you for that wonderful essay. As a female artist, someone told me that I should not sign my first name to a painting so no one would know it was done by a woman.
5
It seems that a few common factors emerge with Meier and Weinstein, among others:
- the system of apprenticeship where young people are hopeful of being discovered and then their talents nurtured by these artistic gurus
- sexual entrapment being facilitated by underlings who compete to earn bonuses and status, like partnerships or associates, in the company
- predatorial set-ups which put the youngest and newest female employees alone with the boss on a special assignment, to 'talk about their careers' or mentor them
- wearing very little clothes and working from your bedroom mistaken as being some sign of 'artistic', not lecherous, behavior
- cult of personality where the company identity is linked to the boss man's name and employees are blessed by his aura
- institutional validation of these men making them feel untouchable.
76
What could be sexier than indecent exposure?
20
Where is the presumption of innocence? At no point in the article does Mr Meier admit to the specific allegations: he offers a very general apology and then says his memory differs from his accusers. I'll bet you thought that the director of the New York City Ballet was also guilty. NOT.
6
Multiple credible accusers in both situations.
8
And you know this how?
3
Rescind all AIA prizes and other prizes.
Rescind all AIA awards and other awards.
Rescind all academic and university related honors and titles.
Rescind all titles and honors.
Shame also, on Meiers firm.
64
I've been peripherally involved in a few organizations founded and ruled by charismatic men. The hold they have over staff, and more importantly, their Board of Directors, has always struck me as sycophantic, uncritical and utterly cowed. They are well known for being unfair, capricious control freaks. yes, they had a genius idea (and sometimes the MacArthur to go with it) but that doesn't mean they are good human beings.
37
Life teaches that there are rarely absolutes - black, or white, even in the office of RM+P. I worked there in the early years. RM was always respectful, kind, perceptive. When a competition won, he thanked everyone and ordered champagne. RM almost always uses the word "we," not "I," when talking about the firm's work. Anyway, that's my story, my truth. Sorry to hear that others have a different truth.
15
It's obvious that your experiences and their experiences are not mutually exclusive. You are doing a disservice by conflating them.
40
Just because you were lucky not to be assaulted and harassed doesn’t mean your “truth” outweighs his heinous behavior. You may not realize that is how your post comes across.
27
Robby:
Yup, I'm confused.
Over the years, including an experience at age 13, I've experienced sexual assault, unwanted sexual advances, physical abuse in two relationships, sexual harassment in two offices (though not Meier's).
In coping with all of that, you tell me that I can not appreciate the kindness and respect that I experienced at RM+P. For my own sanity, and emotional survival, I have to accept good treatment when it comes my way.
4
Architects may come and architects may go and never change a point of view. This may not be the POV he wanted to be known for. But it does taint his legacy. After Cosby, I was thinking that great talent may simply not be unalloyed. Now I see it's just about power.
21
His legacy was overrated.
28
Love the Paul Simon reference (one of my favorite songs). And, of course, Frank Lloyd Wright was no saint when it came to women, either.
So long, Rich-ard Meier.
3
Nice job with the Simon and Garfunkel quote, but Richard Meier is no Frank Lloyd Wright. He doesn't have anywhere near the depth of architectural vision.
How dare he prey on his female staff this way? It's outrageous! In addition to his own grotesque and seemingly criminal behavior, it seems like there must have been a lot of enablers at his firm. Shame on them, too, for sacrificing young women to the boss.
4
Putting it in a historical context, Richard Meier’s sexual abuse of young apprentices is nothing new.
Consider what Michelangelo was told by a father who wanted his son to become an apprentice in the master’s studio: “Once you saw him, you’d chase him into bed the minute you got home!”
Michelangelo the great architect, explains his apprentice’s rules in a 1530’s letter to Niccolo Quaratesi. Michelangelo expects sexual favors from his young apprentice, & he boldly demands the father’s consent.
18
@I Gadfly
Michelangelo lived to be 88. It would be rare for a man to live that long in that era and be licentious. He was terrified of disease which led him to more embrace a life of celibacy and vegetarianism than of sexual profligacy.
And I do think we should retire the slavery of the young servicing old "masters" against their will. Because it was "done" doesn't make it right.
Michelangelo and the mastery of drawing | Art and design | The ...
https://www.theguardian.com/.../michelangelo-dream-drawing-courtauld-exh...
Mar 5, 2010 - Although Michelangelo was evidently homosexual, it seems unlikely his relationship with Cavalieri was ever consummated. The evidence suggests he was for the most part celibate, and in 1529 he had held high rank in the short-lived republican government of Florence, which was ardently anti-sodomite.
14
Fortunately, things change.
17
This is false equivalency. According to this telling, Michelangelo gave advance notice, whereas there's no evidence that this architect laid out his rules when hiring his apprentices, which, of course, would have been illegal. Also, not all of them are apprentices, not that it should matter. Finally, the comment's message is not clear, is it condoning because it is "nothing new" or is it just interested in displaying its erudition, which would be in poor taste.
3
A reversed Picture of Dorian Gray: The buildings remain white and clean and “pure”, while the man’s appearance changes to reveal the ogre that he actually is.
The commenters who react to Richard Meier’s current appearance should google pictures of him from the 60s and 70s, during his rise to design fame. You will see how increasingly criminal concealed actions toward innocent women eventually show on the face of the man.
14
Just as we have passed through epochs of time since our universe began, so we are passing through this particular epoch of time. We may beheaded toward the demise of the planet through Apocalypse and/or Armageddon and this exposure of particular behavior is part of that. What we are reading about are the symptoms of a degenerate and degenerating society and culture. We are not to expect anything better on our way to closing out our time and the existence of Planet Earth.
8
The behavior is nothing new. The tolerance if it is what is changing.
This, in the words of Martha Stewart, is “A Good Thing”
5
They are going to need a bigger boat for all these gentlemen, who are giving our gender a bad name! As a side effect of this, I think you are going to see more and more women, just with other women, and not just because, they outlive us! Additionally real courteous, respectful gentlemen, should have no problem finding dates!!!
12
But in this case, one again, it also seems that senior leadership at the firm were aware of the behavior and took steps to mitigate the fallout, without any concern for the victims and the fact that they were facilitating an ongoing pattern of abuse.
19
The caption here is unfortunate. Speaking out about sexual harassment is not complaining. It’s an act of bravery.
67
Oh, enough with these sexual harassment headlines, it's every day, this is been going on for 500 years, but all the sudden, the New York Times has to make sure everybody's aware of it every day
10
As the father of four daughters, every one of the Neanderthals needs to be called out. Keep up the good work NY Times!
51
Agree! War has been going on for millennia. So have to tire, financial fraud, industrial accidents, etc. You are so right. The Times should stop reporting the corporate world’s cover up of sexual misconduct. Sarcasm intended.
10
All of a sudden we aren’t taking it anymore. Get use to it.
51
Why do these guys always look....like this? Example: Weinstein. Just look at this creep. One is driven to the idea that no one would have sex with him voluntarily.
38
A lot of them are married, sometimes multiple times! With children, implying sex. They just refuse to control themselves and wear blinders to other people's pain that they are causing.
12
Mr. Meier sounds like a tyrannical egotist, let alone a would-be rapist. And what is it with these creepy guys and their fleece robes?
32
The reason "recollections may differ" is that men have assumed that their behavior is automatically ok because they held the power. So, they never gave it a thought and are surprised to discover that parading their genitals or throwing a woman on a bed would be out of line. They're pathetic.
56
Another one bites the dust, rightfully so!
22
Yet another story of a giant with clay feet. He is a favorite architect of mine, and strangely enough, one celebrated for his purity of form.
But I refuse to let his behavior, and the outrageous shortcomings of his character, cloud my experience of his architecture. An architect, or an artist, creates out of much larger forces and energies than himself. He is a participant in a language that he is furthering, and in that process he is both responsible and not responsible. The Getty Museum is a masterpiece, it will outlive his behaviour, but he will never set foot there again.
I feel terribly upset on behalf of the young women who clearly sought him out as a mentor, he betrayed them on so many levels. But I also feel sorry for him. He apparently is incapable of forming a true, mature relationship with a woman. He must be lonely and desperate, a metaphysical failure, which of course does not in any way condone his despicable behaviour.
He will be a persona non grata from now un. He will be denied all the accolades he would otherwise have been granted. And he knew that, when he did what he did, but desperation, a desire to gain some kind of existential gratification from ruining innocence, was too strong. There is a hell, and he is in it now!
30
NY Times, when are you going to correct this headline? There is an example of assault in the story. Being forced into a bed and dragged down the hall... that is not 'harassment'. Women in this field deserve the truth.
154
Artistic men of power have great appetites. Not surprised here.
8
Are you arguing that this excuses him? If so, you are way off base.
24
Perhaps all men do but some of us understand respect and reverence as well. He's a pig, full stop.
39
Well, I guess then they will have to find WILLING partners who can satisfy them. Just like everyone else.
9
STATEMENT FROM MEIER'S CRISIS MANAGER: “I am deeply troubled and embarrassed by the accounts of several women who were offended by my words and actions. While our recollections may differ, I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my behavior.”
MY EDIT: "I am deeply troubled and embarrassed by my words and actions. I sincerely apologize [for] my behavior."
Enough of mealy-mouthed half-apologies that shift blame and responsibility to avoid liability.
86
"While our recollections may differ," as recollections always do. It's only a denial if the person says, "It didn't happen."
10
How disappointing! And I was a big fan of his work. But then, how much of it did he really design? Most likely, it's the work by the unknown hard-working architects in the firm. But it is not just the prominent well-known men that engage in sexual harassment. Men of all ranks and levels of society harass women constantly everyday everywhere.
32
I was there in the early years. He set the course. He worked hard. He cared. He also was willing fight his battles. Some principals will not, and have their employees fight their fights. When someone's flaws become apparent, why does this have to reflect on all aspects? People are multi-faceted. And people go through phases. Our society wants people to be cartoons of good, or evil.
7
Because to harass women, according to a male professor of mine, is to be a coward, since women are generally weaker physically than men and unable to defend themselves. It’s also crippling and humiliating to be violated and touched intimately without consent. Men that cannot control themselves cannot be respected for their weakness and lack of integrity when they abuse women. This willingness to assert their power and control over women is a weakness that cannot be tolerated and it’s shameful.
5
Are anecdotes about elderly men with open bathrobes or masturbating while welcoming female assistants in hotelrooms still hot enough for a frontpage place in the NYT ? Or are these descriptions meanwhile so pathetic that a second rate gossip column would be a better place for the audiences concerned?
13
It's not gossip; it's the reality that many women have to deal with. It's news. Women should not have to put up with this and these men should rightly be exposed. No pun intended...
59
Anne. I think the point of a number of commentators on this article, which are similar to Jan Brinkman's, is that there are are a lot of 'realities' in this world' that people have to face which are just horrendous as predatory sexual behavior. Guns killing kids. The cruelty of war in Syria and Yemen. Children starving. The culture of rape and esp gang rape in the Congo and in war zones. Extreme poverty and inequality even in this country. Etc. Etc. Etc.
But these are not things that grab the NYT's headlines everyday.
Abuse by rich and powerful men (mostly towards professional women) is not a reality that most women face everyday. We just don't run in those circles.
So what a few are beginning to say is although these stories are important they are getting repetitive and other'realities'are just as, or more, newsworthy.
1
What is wrong with men? It’s true that women can be harassers as well, but do you ever hear about a woman dropping her pants and exhibiting herself to the target of her...not sure what to call it...thrill? It’s always men who need to be looked at. I’ve encountered too many (male) exhibitionists in my life to even guess at the number. What is the pathology there?
Strange beasts.
61
It’s the testosterone.
12
It’s the power. Nothing more or less. He is no a wild animal and should have been taught to keep it in his pants.
7
There are many more female exhibitionists. The difference is that men usually like the show, while women usually find it revolting and scary.
All this and yet the evangelicals and supposed Conservatives are still backing Trump. He gave them the seat stolen on the Supreme Court and their stupid and reckless tax cut, so they will go down with the ship with him.
It remains to be seen if the voters are stupid enough to elect him again.
23
Do we really need to put Trump in this discourse? There is always help still available if you need it.
3
Why bring Trump into this story?
1
The common thread with all these men - whether Weinstein, Cosby, Levine, etc -is the near God-like status they were given.
Let’s stop treating artists, directors, producers, architects, conductors as Gods walking among mortals. None of these putrid excuses for men are irreplaceable
Treating them like they walk on water hurts their victims, and ultimately, them as well.
They are all too mortal, flawed like the rest of us. The myth of the uber-mensch needs to die.
46
And how unbelievably unattractive they all seem to be. There’s that....,
10
No, actually the common thread is that they are all men. No different in that respect than the male manager of a 7/11 who does the same thing to the female cashier.
19
Cave men in robes, at their expensive homes or offices, attacking women.
Women managers looking the other way.
Hit them in the wallet, and their egos.
27
Then bluff of modernism is being called.
4
As a woman architect I am not surprised one bit!
56
Just for a change of venue how about publishing a story from a different perspective. I am reading one in the U.K. Daily Mail (Tuesday March 13) about a remarkable young man named Liam Allen who was falsely accused of rape, lived 2 years in hell because of it, but came out on the other end feeling compassion not outrage for his accuser. Of course he's not rich nor powerful but the context of the whole case is compelling.
11
Lots of enabling behavior going on at Meier's firm. He shouldn't be the only one disgraced, the enablers should too. Apparently many women were happy staying at the firm even after they'd been warned, or experienced his "flirtations" themselves. Was he married? Children?
The real question is why this story took so long to come out post-Weinstein. Look at the guy's picture. Like Weinstein, he couldn't pick up a younger female unless she was blind and/or a prostitute.
23
First kill all architects starting with the 80 year olds.
2
And so it continues. Good luck boys!
8
Good luck girls, this thing is very likely to create a backlash.
2
The common factor in all of these incidents is that the offender is wearing a robe and he then exposes himself to the alleged victim. Why is that?
14
Why does that matter?
5
Are you suggesting women are to blame for men exposing themselves?
4
Ban robes!
1
As if his big white plaster boxes weren’t bad enough.
25
Did you mean big white plaster boxers?
21
Maybe he was just putting up the "flag pole" for all of his great architectural masterpieces!
2
I don't get it, he announces his own punishment is a 6-month leave from his own firm, which he probably does little of the work these days anyway?
52
perhaps he hasn't done much of the work for quite awhile now? maybe he has never done much of the work? it sounds as though he has been preoccupied in other areas, no?
8
Cornell University does not like this :(
Are they goign to stay complicit? lol.
11
"The supervisor told The Times that she did not recall the incident."
Ha!
20
Another arrogant and power crazed old man. What a horrible thing to have included in his legacy. He is an amazing architect, but a disgraceful human being. Shame, shame on him.
29
And they are all such grotesque looking men...Weinstein, Levine, CK, Woody Allen.
Yuk!
17
Are you implying that if the man is young and good looking sexual harrassment is just fine? This is not about physical appearance. It is about horriblr behavior.
15
It is the power they abuse which is so grotesque, they being the entire lot of predatory offenders/abusers.
4
At this firm, it's not only sexual harassment, it's also workplace discrimination. Despite the high percentage of women in architecture, of the 9 partners at Richard Meier and Partners, only 1 of them is a woman. And of the 17 associates, only 3 are women. That's no accident.
100
Oh, no, LK! That’s just terrible. And aren’t you special for pointing it out. Good for you!
2
Hm - not quite - while close to half of all architecture grads in the US are women, only 20% are licensed.
3
The % like that are unfortunately in many firms...
1
As other comments have already noted, to anyone who has worked in the office or even in the city, this comes as no surprise. What should bother us is not that powerful individuals are capable of such levels of harassment (of which they have always been more than capable), but our own lack of surprise.
Architecture, like the film industry, is commonly seen as one of the most progressive, liberal, radical vocations/disciplines there is. And yet, like the film industry, it harbors some of the most regressive and backward attitudes in relation to power, status, privilege. The grand hypocrisy lies in that the former set of values is used to enforce the latter at the expense and exploitation of the youngest graduates entering the industry, naive and literally starry-eyed (that is, with an eye for star-architects).
The story is surely only the tip of the iceberg. The problem lies not only with one architect, nor only with his generation.
30
one of the first architects I worked for, he was fairly famous, now deceased, was notorious for chasing women employees around the office and sometimes around the large drafting tables that at that time were standard in architecture studios. He rarely caught them. They would yell at him to stop, one called him a dirty old man, it was a show. We all rolled our eyes. After the chase the woman colleague would resume her duties, it was the way it was. In a million years did anyone think of complaining or making a fuss about it.
11
Richard Meir and Harvey Weinstein were not doing this "for a show" or teasing.
And likely your famous old boss continued his harassment when the guys weren't around.
24
You're not suggesting the women who are now complaining are simply 'fussy' are you?
34
Life in the Jurassic period defined. Thanks ever so much for sharing your time with the dinos. I’m sure that being chased around a drafting table would have been a treasured experience for all involved.
17
These things happen because men were given carte blanche to do whatever they wanted, whether it was Richard Meier or a low-level supervisor at a small, unremarkable business. The difference now is that women are less afraid to come forward.
Harassers who get away with their behavior with no real repercussions become emboldened, Richard Meier's firms did all the legal stuff they were supposed to do, but they didn't change the culture at the firm. Can you blame them--a little. But the boss's name is on the firm, not theirs.
There will be many more of these stories. I am starting to get tired of the gotcha movement, however, and as a woman, I'd like these men to take the initiative to change, and not wait until they are outed.
17
The arrogance and entitlement makes my stomach churn. How many men out there are doing this? How many would do this if they had this kind of wealth and power?
If you happen to be born into a female body, you will be launched in a world where some percentage of men see you as nothing but a means for their own gratification––and as utterly disposable if and when you need to be disposed.
24
Another tarnished name. Yes, you can be good at your job and also a complete predatory human with no moral values. Power and wealth and arrogance seems to really bring out the worst in countless men who full well know the power they yield over those expecting excellence in all realms. We should now come to expect that men like Meier are really no better than a common prisoner.
11
It is about time.
To understand Richard Meier you need to understand his behavior in general. He was not a gregarious, charming individual that could wow you with his intellect. He was a brutish, insulting figure that had zero emotional connection to anyone in his office. He was a stranger among his own staff.
His six month absence means nothing since his contribution to the design produced in his office is a lot less than anyone thinks. If that secret got out, Richard Meier would be truly embarrassed.
Good luck Mr. Meier, as the sun sets on your career.
108
Well said my friend.
12
What is it with all these old guys in bathrobes showing there business.?i mean who wants to see that? That so many people at this guy's company warned young women not to be alone with him is both frightening and cowardly.
26
What about the other senior leadership at the firm? The partners, the associate partners--the ones who hitched their wagons to Meier's star and enabled this toxic office culture to go on for years and years and years?
I guess once the big name is gone their livelihood will suffer and maybe that's punishment enough. But they can move on in anonymity and feigned ignorance. They've made their deal and made their money. Their clients may be reassured by the fact that they're holding down the fort, but I'm not.
48
First off, anyone who knows architecture knows that most architects make very little money, other than principals (owners). Not sure if associate partners got rich at Meier's office. Also, you are a little blase about all the people connected to the firm (architects and other staff members) who will potentially be losing jobs and their livelihoods due to this.
12
enablers!
6
Yeah well they are the principals/owners.
5
As a woman architect who worked at several firms throughout her life, sometimes as the only female architect, I have never encountered harassment of any sort.
My guess for the avoidance of abuse or assault in my career was due to the fact that I have always, and still do, act professionally, dress professionally, and at all times practice common sense.
How do these women end up in a hotel room with their boss, co-worker or associate? Why does a woman wear a semi-transparent dress to a company function that exposes her thong?
One must respect herself, or himself, before others will respect her or him.
48
as another commenter pointed out, it's the clash of generations. what is acceptable today would not have been acceptable then and vice-versa.
5
You've never traveled for a client presentation? Worked on a major competition? Practiced your delivery ahead in someone's room? Had celebratory drinks with your team afterward?
Well, I have. Many times. And wonder of wonders, I've also never encountered harassment in my professional life. Because I worked with men and women of all ages who behaved appropriately.
Let's not lose sight of the common denominator here.
90
Dogrunner feels far superior to the women, most of them young assistants, that were attacked by Richard Meier. While I can imagine some reasons why Dogrunner did not experience harassment at the architectural firms that employed her, it would be unattractive to stoop to her level. Think about the character of a person that makes unsupported, derogatory comments about the victims. It is also helpful to note she had nothing negative to say about the perpetrator. I would compare her to Donald Trump who has always supported the abuser over the victims.
51
Let's just go after every Type A Male in every field, particularly creative or risky fields. Enough. Times and behavior change. Late hits make a true litigation of the facts impossible due to statutes of limitations, which exist for a reason -- and have for many centuries.
13
"...to find him wearing only a blue terry cloth bathrobe that was open in front, exposing his penis."
Yes, indeed, we should go after every Type A Male in every field if they engage in these behavior. And Type B men, too. And those in creative and risky fields as well as safe fields. Just because this has been going on a long time in no way justifies it. I'm glad these men are finally going to be held accountable. They know these behaviors are wrong; they just thought they could get away with it.
49
Egotism and abuse of power, once again.
36
"While our recollections may differ..."
Oh, Donald...
Take note...this is how an accused calls the woman a liar - absent the libel.
66
None of this surprises me one bit. Of all the building construction professions architecture is the most corrupt, racist and sexist. The problem with architecture is that it claims to be a "fine art" and draws in acolytes who have delusion of creating monumental buildings.
What most architecture firms are in actuality amounts to cookie cutter factories that pump out under engineered over priced buildings of questionable functionality durability and utility. To do this they employ, exploit and discard a endless stream of young graduates of schools of architecture.
The fact that many of the principals of these premiere architecture firms also sexually exploit pretty young acolytes (of both sexes) is just another aspect of a throughly corrupt profession.
59
"The Fellowship" shows exactly how FLW hits nearly all of your points. That book illustrates thoroughly the darker side of Taliesin (exploiting young talented people and giving them no credit for works they often created and he claimed) and his behavior in general... especially his entitlement, narcissism and insatiable sexual appetite.
8
That is gross over-exaggeration. Most clients don't value design services, which means there are too many architects chasing too few dollars. The profession is not corrupt, it attracts some of the most intelligent and ethical people working anywhere. The architects I've know dedicated their careers to making a positive contribution to our cities.
It sounds like you didn't get the job you wanted.
20
I wonder how much great art and architecture and all manner of things the world has missed out on because women were too traumatized after being assaulted to continue down their original career paths.
170
It is a matter of fortune just to HAVE a lofty career path to go down. Especially for women, many of whom do not appreciate the sacrifice and determination of women who went before them. Throughout history 'careers' in the arts, literature, or any form of work that required skill and higher education were only available to the privileged and wealthy upper classes. All the peons worked dawn to dusk, living hand to mouth just to stay alive.
In short the large majority of human beings have not been able to aspire to bigger dreams, if that had any, because it wasn't possible. I'm sure many geniuses were lost in that reality, men as well as women. There are exceptions of course. Hans Christian Anderson was one. He grew up in extreme poverty and his journey to becoming a great writer is a fascinating one.
We may be headed back to those 'good old days' in the States, as income disparity rises and only the wealthy can afford good educations and have the connections to advance their careers. The Republicans are working on it.
3
About half.
1
Now can we pass the Equal Rights Amendment?
86
Sure, because that would prevent this from ever occurring. Not.
2
You bet, Joan!
On March 22, 2017, just last year, Nevada became the 36th state to ratify the ERA. THANK YOU, NEVADA! Bills have also been introduced in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Utah and Virginia. Let's do it. I am so tired of being legally ripped off.... along with these ugly and creepy articles where these men are like GarAnimals (kid's clothing), just mix and match, they all sound like Harvey WHINEberger.
At least if we were Constitutionally Equal then we wouldn't be laying that half of the burden on the young ones.
11
And... how would that prevent sexual assault at work?
This is not just harassment, but indecent exposure, assault and attempted rape which are all felonies. Crimes. Not making women uncomfortable or feeling unwanted. This is criminal behavior. Call it what it is. Name it.
And I always wondered why my husband had such a visceral negative reaction to the Getty Center. He might have known something intuitively.
177
Exactly. Well said.
6
I strongly agree with the first paragraph. However, linking an aesthetic response to rape is a stretch.
5
That exceedingly uninspired Getty sarcophagus that destroyed limited open land in the Sepulveda Pass and broadcasts a "wealthy whites only" beacon to drivers stuck below in traffic on the 405 isn't even that interesting for such a famed "starchitect". I've been in there multiple times since its opening and it's really just a massive stone tomb with great views of the ocean. That he's also a predator isn't all that surprising when you actually experience such over-the-top, white-male architectural expressions of social and environmental domination as the Getty Center. I'm totally not surprised.
22
Yes, of course. Nothing says "Wealthy Whites Only" like a beautiful museum filled with rare and priceless artworks, and free admission.
7
I think that picture of those ungainly and disproportionate columns proves your point. Makes me think "Legos."
4
This poor white man thoroughly enjoyed his one day at the Getty Center and hopes to return. After burning all my James Levine CDs to morally compensate for such a misguided hope, naturally.
And yet 45 is still in office without recourse. It's disgusting. Thank you NYT for continuing your focus on this—please don't ever let up. Keep the pressure on and the truth laid out.
57
What I wonder, after a lamenting the discomfort, difficulty, and injustice that face women subjected to sexual harassment, is why so many successful men seem to practice it. I'm not as successful as I'd like, but I can say that I'd also never think of sexually harassing a woman, in any setting. It's bullying, violence masked by false eroticism.
Is there something that makes sexual harassers more successful in the professions, and business? Do we reward the type of man who will sexually harass?
32
I can answer that. Some men are motivated to succeed because they believe (apparently correctly) that success means access to women. They are highly motivated to have access to women and therefore highly motivated to succeed. Sometimes I wonder if this is the main motivator for achievement for men, access to women.
10
Humans are animals. It is a rare individual who can completely transcend their animalistic instincts in all respects, but with regards to sexual behaviour, it is possible if you have a passion and drive for other pursuits.
But yeah, society does seem to reward particular behaviours and people go along with that.
1
"Confronted with these allegations by The New York Times, Mr. Meier said he would take a six-month leave as founder and managing partner of his firm"
And then what? Laughable.
67
He isn't even involved in day to day operations in the firm.... he can barely walk. So yeah the six month leave is laughable.
14
He is 83! He's already lived his life and made his money.
5
His intended Cornell architectural school scholarship to "recruit and retain the most talented women applicants" surely takes on a predatory tinge doesn't it?
48
He wanted to leave a legacy at an academic institution to show what a generous benefactor he was, with the focus on the women he most certainly assured were not given an esteemed place at his firm.
He used women at his firm as tools, as objects, and then thought he could portray himself as a respectable guy in perpetuity. The jig is up.
12
Men are, of course, more creative than women. Women, on the other hand, make real people.
Children.
You can't have everything!
Poetry?
Novels?
Fashion?
Art?
Music?
Movies?
Cuisine?
Who has dominated these fields forever?
2
Those in power, who then congratulate themselves, pay each other, and write history. Creativity is subjective. This is not a new concept.
17
Your message is confusing. I really cannot tell if you are being sarcastic.
Women ARE as creative as men. They just have had their time robbed by the inequitable distribution of labor in the home. They have also been psychologically kept down. And now republicans want to limit access to birth control!!!!
Woman must rise up!
8
That's certainly not because they lacked brains, interest or talent! Historically, men were hunters, women gatherers, and in a patriarchal society, dominated by men, who enjoyed the power to which they felt "entitled" and which they claimed for themselves, women were relegated to ignorance and to child-bearing/rearing, cooking, cleaning, working in the fields - the only jobs for which they were considered fit to perform, other than as concubines and “playthings” for the entertainment of men.
Unfortunately, there are still men today who view women in this light - but that has been changing - and where women have been “allowed” and/or encouraged to enter those male-dominated areas, we have been seeing great female artists, musicians, writers, designers, jurists and of course, chefs!
After the many centuries during which their wisdom was recognized, but their intelligence denied, their ambitions suppressed and their talents disregarded – after being used and abused, left undeveloped to rot on the vine, the women of today have found their voice - and watch out, for here they come!
7
Why are observers of the flagrant behavior so afraid to call him out??? Meier was twisting a woman's thong and they ask if she's ok but can't see fit to correct him? No wonder these men felt so free to keep offending. They are not omnipotent gods, yet people treat them as such! Outrageous!
38
We are afraid to call out star architects that we have worked for because where we gain experience in architecture - matters. References are important for everything. One derogatory comment and you don't get a teaching position, you don't get a project you don't get hired for the next firm. MJ - how does this not make sense to you?
14
One look at our celebrity obsessed culture and it's easy for me to figure out.
3
The MeToo movement is assaulting the ivory tower of fine arts, and it's about time. In the last week we have seen the scandal of Levine and the Met, now Meier. These artists have always felt insulated by their place on the Olympus of high culture, and there's something Greek in their fall. Stay tuned, folks, art is in for a bumpy ride.
52
The Hyatt Foundation should remove his name from the list of Pritzker prize winners.
35
It's a money prize. They can't ask for it back, or un-give it. Sometimes it's better to move forward rather than erase the very real history that the "list of Pritzker prize winners" encapsulates: nearly all men, many of them not very nice men at all, some of them harassers (and everything else you can imagine).
6
They can't take back the prize money or change the award. But expunging his name from the list of prize winners would have a big impact, on Meier and on the profession. The accounts of his behavior are truly revolting.
8
Put an asterisk by his name, and add a comment that he was outed for his sexual predation and assault. I presume someone at Prizker can design a proper reference.
8
From where I'm sitting the roof of this house was being held up by a lot of men telling the women to be quiet - and the women nodding their heads and saying "okay".
Ladies: The next time a man appears to not be "listening" - scream bloody murder. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that he was hearing you the whole time.
Then tell the cops, your neighbors and everyone related to you to the 6th degree.
They do so hate that...!
12
I'd like to see The Times do a follow up on these creeps who have been outed as abusers. Where are they now? Charlie Rose, Bill O'Reilly, and all the rest. Will Richard Meier still get commissions on his own? What of Wayne Pacelle, formerly of the Humane Society? Will he start his own group under another name? James Levine--what will he do for the rest of his life? It seems that once these men are allowed to simply disappear from the public scene they no longer face any consequences other than, possibly, financial. That's not enough.
68
Maybe the male bathrobe needs to be banned.
49
LOL...
After 45 years of adulthood I finally bought a nice one about 18 months ago and it's still sitting in the closet. Now it kind of creeps me out just looking at it.
9
Ho, Humm.
5
Good grief -- what is wrong with these men??? This stuff is beyond "I'm famous and feel entitled and empowered" --- he is like a thug from the street who grabs a woman and drags her into an alley and rapes or attempts to rape her, the only difference is that he has money and is famous and therefore attempts to do the raping in the comfort of his home.
Time to not just shame men like him, time to arrest them and put them on trial and in jail for assault and attempted rape.
50
...and this is why you don't name your son Dick
5
Mr. Meier also had very bad behavior to out gay male Architectural Interns. My friend P was hired by Mr. Meier in 1982, right after we graduated from college. He told me that Meier started off the bulling by making sure you know you are lucky that you got the $12,000 Salary he is paying you. He is the Great Richard Meier and people are lining up at his door and would work for free. There were plenty of Trust funders whose parents will support them. ( He scans the resumes to see that you had those work study jobs on campus), and weren’t one of the Trust funders we went to School with and Architucture is a good social set career, but they don’t have the God given ability or won’t work 80 hrs for $1/hr.
For the year that my friend worked for Meier I was in Graduate school getting an Engineer degree, and would get stressed out calls of the hell hole of Meiers Office.
In the end my friend told me he got fired by Meier because he refused to do something. Then years latter showed me an outstanding reference letter. He was one of the best designers in my class. He went an took a very mundane Architecture job and then within a couple of years went back to school and another career.
Something clearly happened at the Richard Meier Job!
19
Another shocking article about an old architect who surely must realize that the sight of a man in a robe dangling his genitals to young women in their 20’s can’t possibly be a pretty picture! Surely a man who deals w images daily should have known better! A tour through the gardens of the Getty would have been far more amusing! I wish good old dad were around. We would have had a good laugh over it, honestly!
12
Why has it taken this long for #timesup and #metoo to expose the architectural profession? This is a field still rooted in the rich white boys club, with little diversity, without female leadership. What about the construction industry, the bastion of sexism and racism, that so heavily profits from City patronage? Why is it OK that these men build our cities? There's a whole list of Harvey Weinsteins that we all know about that everyone's still too afraid out. That's how bad it is.
16
It is recent history that women chose architecture as a career. If you go to many firms today, women are well represented. It takes many years of schooling and practice before you reach the top in this profession- many practice into their 70's and 80's. Over the next couple of decades, we will see women well represented in leadership.
5
Sean - I agree that women are graduating from architecture school in higher numbers (now it's 50-50). Higher numbers have been the case for the last 25 years. Rarely, however are they represented in that proportion in firms - as leadership. It is because they make it to mid and senior positions, have kids, can't work 80 hour weeks, get edged out by male colleagues, etc. Although there will be more women in firms in the future, until the culture of the construction industry changes, there will never be equality. Ever done construction administration and been on site, and in a trailer? It's difficult to do your job and thrive when you're getting cat-called waking across the site. Super awkward. And the clients? Developers and corporate heads - they're older white men that mentor and hire people that they "hit it off with" - more white guys. It's a culture of exclusion and bias that isn't rooted in ethics in the least bit. I'm encouraged however by this article and hopeful that change is coming.
7
his mother must be rolling in her grave.
5
Has anyone else noticed how these men - most of them anyway - accused of credibly harassing much younger women are uniformly much older, overweight, objectively unattractive, and possessed with the most juvenile and almost caveman-like 'seduction' techniques. As an overhead conversation among teenage girls put it - "yuck . . . gross!"
24
All of these sexual monsters actually look like monsters--this guy looks like Mr. Potato's head after it was out in the Kuwaiti desert for a year.
14
As someone who knows personally one of his victims, I say: Zol er krenken un gedenken (Let him suffer and remember! (Yiddish curse))
22
Much of the bad behavior being exposed recently by various movements turns out to have been "common knowledge," which also means known to our exhalted media all along. Yet all this awful behavior was never appropriately confronted. Our media institutions were well aware of numerous Presidential indiscretions, but gleefully looked the other way. Now the shackles are off and guns are blazing from the news rooms. Many esteemed individuals are rightfully being brought down. What is still being ignored is where this all originated in this country, and that's with the ownership of the black woman's body during slavery and the wanton distruction of native American culture and the total denigration of native American women. So called feminist have commindeared the #MeToo movement for their own limited purposes. No wonder Donald Trump was able to blow such a big hole in feminist dogma and garner 53 percent of white female voters. Anyone care to know the plight on native American women? It should be common knowledge.
5
Another one bites the dust.
5
If only
5
The very definition of a dirty old man. What a Disgusting egomaniac!
Lin
5
The photo of Meier in this article makes him look like the product of a human mated with a troll.
6
And the resultant troll is trying to keep up the tradition.
2
Who sends junior staff off to the home of anyone to help work on collages of women’s genitalia?
32
better late than never. Just how many of these whackos are there??
4
I did wrong. I am going on an extended vacation in hopes that this will blow over.
12
Welcome to architecture in the Ivy League. As someone who spent a decade in the late '60s and '70s in Cambridge and New York during my architecture student days the only thing that surprises about this report is that the female acolytes of these world famous personages who drifted in and out of our studios and our after hours enclaves are now, in 2018 ratting out their distinguished "mentors." Ordinary folks just do not grasp the profound mystique that architecture as art holds for young aspirants. Merging intimately and privately with architectural "geniuses" with international reputations (the stupid term "starchitect was not used in those days) happened so regularly among ambitious women students of architecture among us at elite schools in those days that it was hardly noticed. Because of the apprenticeship model of the profession some of those "creative" personal commitments went on for years, even decades, after student days were done. It was understood by the cohort of underling male students that, except in cases where similar, though fewer, arrangements were evidently taking place beyond the boundaries of heterosexuality as well, that the fast lane to preferential treatment and admission inside the coveted process of designing buildings of great cultural significance was to be be much harder to win for them. In the value system of that time and place it was viewed as consensual. Beliefs have changed. Mr. Meier is 83. We have a clash of generations here.
40
Did you read the article? This has nothing to do with generations. Never in Meier's lifetime has it been acceptable to expose your genitals to a work colleague, never has it been acceptable to fondle a coworker's underwear, never has it been acceptable to drag a woman into bed and pin her down while she says "No!" over and over again.
This is about a man who knew that what he was doing was wrong, but also knew that he would likely get away with it because of the position of authority he held over his victims.
29
These are not students.
2
I finding this hard to believe, given that the number of women in high-level architecture is vanishingly small. Obviously this “fast lane” to success was a road to nowhere and male colleagues were in no way impeded.
3
This is not particular to any profession. Chefs, doctors, engineers, pilots, the armed services, sports of all kinds and plain vanilla jobs where there is a supervisor - subordinate relationship all have the same issues. The problem arises thanks to deep rooted male perceptions of women as objects. That some women go along, even willingly is unhelpful.
96
This is all not primarily a sexual harassment issue, it is a societal issue about power and control - and who is to say 'the women went along willingly'?
7
How come all these creeps have the same response? Strange how the perpetrators always have differing recollections from the victims. Whoever was the first with that legalize deserves a creep kudo. They simply don't remember !! Really ????
For my money, it's even worse to do terrible, destestable things and not recall them. Could one of their lawyers suggest that idea ? It takes a truly evil person to do awful things so often they are commonplace enough to be forgotten.
96
It's just another sign of their narcissism. Of course they remember....they just think "she wanted it." Disgusting.
13
I believe you are failing to see a key piece of the puzzle. They do not, at the time, believe they are doing anything they shouldn't be. Their warped sense of entitlement (or what have you) by definition removes the idea that what is happening is significant and therefore to be remembered.
6
I believe not remembering is a practiced tactic to back out of the issue. They see women as objects, as tools to control and dominate, and Meier practiced this for so long and got away with it for so long with so many that he will diminish the women and the accusation.
To expect him to confess his guilt, to admit to the assaults is simply harebrained and misguided. A predator and one who assaults will not easily admit his guilt.
6
Why in the world did they keep sending unsuspecting women out to his home? Was there not one decent man who would confront him and demand he get help? He had a lot of enablers.
386
Those young women were just so much "cannon fodder" and any man or woman in the firm who was not a principal and who had the audacity to interfere with the process would be committing career suicide.
Architecture is a small profession mess with the bosses sexual propensities and word gets around that "so and so is not a team player (and an untalented hack by the way).
6
I am in no way saying that the male enablers are less culpable, but it sounds like there may have been female enablers at the firm as well. If it was common knowledge and addressed and discussed by people at various levels of the company. Were there females in supervisory roles who knew of Meier's ongoing pattern of abusive behavior?
2
They are called enablers
2
I know for a fact that these women are not 'lying' or their "recollections differ". I experienced inappropriate behavior in long hours and weekend works sessions myself in the early 90's when I worked at the firm for a few years. When it happened to me, I found out very quickly that it had happened to a lot of women at the office, everyone knew, everyone was advised to be hush about it. Management knew, nobody did anything about it, women encouraged each other to keep it to themselves out of fear of losing their coveted jobs at this extraordinary firm. And indeed, when it happens, you doubt yourself and question as to whether what just happened to you really just happened. This was Richard Meier! I thought about it several months ago and was wondering if and when this would surface. I didn't have the courage back then and didn't now. Kudos to those who finally did. The reckoning has arrived, exquisite architecture notwithstanding. A Woody Allen moment has hit the Pantheon of Architecture.
380
I also worked in the office in the 90's and yes everyone knew and yes we were advised to not talk about it. As a man I wasn't subjected to any harassment myself but the things I witnessed in that office, especially when there weren't any women in the room, have led me to wholeheartedly celebrate the current movement of women standing up to the harassers and the sexism and finally being heard.
34
You mean he talked badly about women when only men were present?
2
Finally, disgusting, disturbed ignorant men who sexually abuse women are being exposed for who they really are. It has nothing to do with profession, age or education level. It has to do with the pervasive patriarchal sense of entitlement. At last, this destructive and disturbing cultural attitude against women is beginning to crumble. Only about 3000 years too late. But better late than never.
183
The AIA should rescind the Pritzker Award.
220
Or at least the Pritzkers should rescind the Pritzker Prize....... the AIA should rescind the AIA Gold Medal he recieved in 1997
4
The Hyatt Foundation awards the Pritzker Prize. However, the AIA does award the Gold Medal, and perhaps might rescind that, if it was considered proper after thoughtful evaluation.
the AIA doesn't present the Pritzker, the Pritzker institute does.
Wow! This behavior is inexcusable. American Institute of Architects needs to take his Gold Medal back and Pritzker its award.
145
If this man built houses the same way he managed his anatomy then he would still be in kindergarten.
How creepy.
14
The American Psychological Association needs to give these men a formal diagnosis. Every single one of these men fit the exact same pathology: over 40, in a bathrobe, younger women surrounding them, exposing themselves, insinuating inappropriate acts, threatening them with a loss of their job or connections or livelihood if they don't comply.
Enough is enough.
137
Good point. A psychology professional I know researched DSM -- Anti-Social Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder seems to fit/
5
I work in a vintage shop part time. We have a guy -- nice looking, white, well groomed, well spoken, early 40s -- who regularly comes in to try on bathrobes and then likes to wander out of the dressing room for us to "help him choose" one (meanwhile, he never actually buys anything!). The last time this happened, I was alone in the shop and he came out of the dressing room "having trouble tying the belt." TG he was wearing underwear (skimpy, but it was there). What is it with bathrobes? Is this some sort of rehashing of a bad childhood memory of Daddy/Uncle Jim/Grandpa and his untied bathrobe? Gross. I told him not to come back -- unlike the owner, who is always hopeful of a sale, I am more concerned about our safety and dignity.
15
Ms. Vena-Mondt's encounter was not harassment. It was attempted rape.
370
Thank you for calling it as it is - the media vocabulary minimizes what is actually happening to women ( some men as well ). Rape and attempted rape is violent, predatory and very common throughout industries.
15
A Texas Liberal in Austin! What are the odds?
Come visit us Libertarians in Abilene.
1
People who say "this was common knowledge" always confuse me - if YOU knew, why did you not say anything? Everyone expects someone ELSE to make the call. Meanwhile - 30 years later...
30
One reason is the feeling that if it's common knowledge, the higher-ups must know it and think it's okay. Women often got the message that it was our job to fend off or "ignore" this kind of thing -- it was just "how some men are," and there was no expectation that they should not be this way. We had to cope; they didn't have to change. And if you raised the alarm, you felt that you would succeed only in making everyone "uncomfortable" and in getting yourself labeled as a complainer.
30
See my post - we did say something, but nobody was there to hear it or, worse, deny the reality of it. After Harvey Weinstein, you think about it, but then - hey, this guy is going to be dead soon anyway, and there's till people there you worked with and respected. Perhaps wrongly, as those who are silent, are complicit. Everyone likes to keep a job at an esteemed place. Counting on you to say something when you see something, will you?
14
Why are we even shocked by men, who, no matter how old, feel they can physically impose themselves on women? I think it’s the hunters and gatherers gene, which in most men lies dormant, but in these, has worked its way to the fore. It’s embarassing to watch these old men make fools of themselves with beautiful young women who find them, and their acts, appalling.
Shame on these fathers and grandfathers, who should consider whether they would commit these acts on their own daughters, granddaughters.
41
Many of them would, if they were attractive enough. Just ask trump.
9
Lest we forget the "star" elephant in the White House who has yet to take responsibility for his words or deeds: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/08/us/donald-trump-tape-transcript.html
72
No....Hillary made him do it.
1
Shame on these papermachie, incomplete men, who think that employing a woman means that they own a woman's body. Hopefully the wave of women becoming proactive in taking back and owning their own bodies, and asserting equal status with men will continue. It's long overdue that women take their places of power and leadership. My dream of the earth is that women assert their status as ancient women had, as goddesses, and stewards of our earth home. perhaps then we'll be able to clean up the mess made of our earth home, mainly by men, and gain back a sustainable home once more, for the entire community of life.
14
This man designed Westbeth Artists Housing. It was his first big job.
I wonder if this was going on back then too.
8
A brilliantly creative architect, he was also a rude, sneering bully. If you played beach volleyball on his team, and played imperfectly, he would scream insults at you even if he had never met you. I am unsurprised by this news.
128
He could play volleyball?
9
Enough! I am so sorry for the abuse suffered by these women, but am gratified that men are no longer safe if they harass and abuse women. Men yet-to-be-exposed? Time's Up. You have no way out, because you are going to be found out.
33
When I was an architecture student in the 1970s, anyone who wanted to intern with Mr. Meier over the summer had to pay him $500 for the privilege. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that such arrogance has apparently extended to sexual harassment. Disgraceful.
195
I am now wondering who actually designed all of these wonderful buildings for which Mr. Meier is accredited. Is it possible that interns did most of the designing .. and Mr. Meier signed-off on the designs in order to get them built?
4
Janet, I don't think you understand how architecture firms work. There are many levels of the design process. At a certain level of achievement and fame, the architect can choose his level of involvement, much like very few famous visual artists work without assistants doing the actual painting, sculpting, film developing, photo-shopping, etc.
3
Read "the fellowship" on FLW. It addresses the exact same thing. His career was built by talented interns (and architects) who got no credit. Countless examples. He set the stage for all of this.
5
The design fields have long been dominated by 'cult of personality' individuals like Richard who have long preyed on young designers and interns, both sexually and economically, acting as gate keepers for a career. The design fields are in a very sad state from an organizational perspective.
119
Very sad.
4
At age 75?! Ugh...
20
Ageist.
4
In reply to Martha Goff's comment: "At age 75?! Ugh..."
At any age!!!
6
At any age UGH! Is it better if they are 25 and good looking? Come on...
14
What a footnote to add to a career that should have had him celebrated as one of the greatest architects in modern times ! The fact that this was common knowledge amongst female staff members should have mortified him and his team long ago. Despicable behavior.
65
It was common knowledge among the men too.
7
One of my architecture school classmates was working at Richard Meier's office in New York City when the architect was awarded the Pritzker Prize. I've never forgotten how stunned this young designer (male, fortunately for him) was when Meier did nothing to celebrate with or thank his associates and staff at the firm for their part in this major award -- "he didn't even open a bottle of wine in the office."
And indeed this phenomenal self-selfishness is part and parcel of being a sexual predator, as well. The famous stark white purity of buildings by this "starchitect" is besmirched forever, well beyond 6 months of leave.
200
What bothers me about this coverage is that these guys, in a real way, get off lightly. They are seen as great men with little control, frat boys acting badly. That's not true. They are predators, rapists. They are not like "all men.'' They are deviants more like the sexual predators in prison than a man with poor judgement. If you think Senator Franken resigned solely for the cases that had already come to light, you are mistaken. He knew what he had done and the details that would come out through an investigation. These guys are criminals, not victims of changing times. I know hundreds of men and virtually no one who would act like this to women. Me-Too is revealing criminals, not poorly trained men, though they are that too.
60
Do you think these men are lacking in the kind of sexual confidence that would get them a loyal sexual partner? Or are they more interested in being predators, which you would think is not a very reliable way to foster your sexual life. My money is on an inability to attract and sustain a relationship. The use of their power must compensate for a lot of inability to be a decent man. Not that I feel sorry for them. They are responsible for their behavior and must get enough out of it to continue, unappealing as it is.
3
Don't be distracted by their power or money. What you describe there in lacking "the sexual confidence" can be applied to rapists and sexual abusers now in prison. Not to mention the clergy who used their position to act on their deviant needs for control and sexual satisfaction. These guys are sick but were cloaked, like the clergy, by their authority. There are many maestros, bosses and men fo all stripes, in the same position, who would never do this.
2
another disappointment
10
Are there no gentlemen in this country? Are there no leaders?
33
It's the same MO as the playwright though much less aggressive than Weinstein. It seems so common that it's easy to imagine the casting couch of the 50's Hollywood was more truth than myth.
6
This just makes me want to cry.
11
Any apology that includes “I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my behavior” is not an apology. It’s a cop out.
316
Yup. He's not apologizing for his behavior. He is "apologizing" for the women being offended.
17
“I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my behavior”
Clearly the latest vacuous utterance on the express train to cultural oblivion along with "...thoughts and prayers..."
9
I was a student at Syracuse University School of Architecture from 1982 through 1987 where this guy was idolized. Given the attitudes of the male professors there, I have no problem believing this. Probably just the tip of the iceberg.
59
“I am deeply troubled and embarrassed by the accounts of several women who were offended by my words and actions. While our recollections may differ, I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by my behavior.”
The proverbial copy and paste response.
156
dictated by his attorneys
9
If this has been common knowledge, how many other architects have also been common knowledge? Is this the main reason there are so few women in architecture? Or is that so many of them get fired when they have kids?
28
Ben, I don't understand the point of your comment. It sounds like you are making an excuse for RM's behavior. I guess if a woman employee was warned, as you say, the warning provided reasonable opportunity for an employee to avoid going to RM's apartment where the unsolicited behavior occurred. Sorry, but this isn't really enough nor can we excuse the behavior.
10
Go to your apartment to look over some blueprints? Oh, sorry boss, I can't. Why? Well I heard you're a sexual predator.
Yeah, right.
6
In the future, women need not apply for any job that a man might do equally well. Apprenticeships, Internships, or associate positions at firms where men are the management will be equalized for sex and gender. No active firm can afford to be destroyed by the sexual behavior of its founding partners and managers and if the behavior cannot be controlled, the temptations will be removed. Nothing comes cheap in the world of sexual politics.
3
That sounds like a threat to let these men off the hook.
7
Well Thomas, if that is so, maybe we women should boycott firms were men are the management. How is that as a threat in retaliation? (Because you ARE trying to backmail women into submission, buddy.)
1
It's always without fail an unattractive man (often very overweight) who does these things. I guess they think "well I don't have the good looks to attract somebody but what I do have is unlimited power, so I'll get what I want anyway."
66
Absurd.
1
There is no shortage of attractive fit men on this New York Times list of alleged sexual predators. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/11/10/us/men-accused-sexual-mis....
8
That's demonstrably false. Look at any recent list. Men of all shapes, colors, professions, political persuasions and orientations have been accused. Equally true that women of all shapes and sizes have been subjected to this behavior. This is an equal opportunity blight upon humanity.
7
I am so glad women (and men, in some cases) finally feel safe coming forward knowing that their stories will be heard and believed. There is very little to gain by attaching oneself to these stories except a sense of justice and hopefully peace. The fear of retaliation and victim-shaming remain authentic concerns as women come forward, but more-and more people are understanding just how widespread this demeaning, harassing, and assaulting behavior actually is. Ultimately, it doesn't matter if a man is brilliant or talented or wealthy. It doesn't give them free access to the bodies of others.
29
As an architect who was around the same age as the accusers when these events took place, I wish I could even feign shock. Even though it's gotten better and more "diverse," architecture is still a boy's club--particularly with the "starchitects," of which Meier is one.
139
Bank in the late 1980s, I works for Mr Meier as an assistent for about 6 weeks. I too was in my mid 20s. During the time I was there, an architect asked him for a raise, writing out his monthly mandatory expenses (which left him with about $15 for food and other 'non mandatory' costs) and he was refused. When I gave notice, after I realized the job was a really little more than a travel and restaurant reservation clerk, I was offered a raise. I declined, and Mr. Meier wanted to have a party for me (no, thanks). He did invite me out for a drink, and later to his apartment. I declined the latter. Guess I dodged an unpleasant bullet!
167
I'm grateful that women continue to come forward. How can anyone claim that women have equal opportunity in any workplace where such behavior is tolerated? Even if a woman avoids assault, she is told or feels she has to forego opportunities to work alone with the boss or socialize with him, for her safety, which male colleagues can use to their advantage.
197
Dean, women are more than capable of standing up for themselves, they don't need the help of wimpy guys.
2
Hmmm....makes me wonder if the male colleagues don't speak up because as long as the women are cowed by the boss, the men face a lot less competition from worthy and talented women.
7
No, MDM, they need the help of brave, principled men.
We all need each other's help to confront sexual oppression—or any sort of oppression.
6
I'm sure his behavior is just the tip of the iceberg in the architecture industry, especially among the old guard like Richard Meier. The old guard was always an old boys club of social elite (think MadMen) having 5 martini lunches, combined with the architectural norm of an oversized ego. If women wanted to get anywhere they had to prove themselves in more ways than one, and have enough grit to kill a lion. I worked for one of these old guards once, as the first female on the architectural staff he'd hired in 14 years. It was a learning experience for all of us.
123
Yes - this is DEFINITELY the tip of the iceberg in the architectural industry, particularly the private firms. Combine the male domination in senior positions PLUS the ever incoming waves of young women entering the architectural workforce straight from college EQUALS harassment.
40
You're most likely correct. I am a (female) architect and can certainly think of a few around whom the rumors always flew.
I can also think of several "old guard" male architects who effectively mentored women of all ages like the professionals they were supposed to be.
57
There are "common" stories about Paul Rudolph's office from the 1960s and 70s that narrate a predation of the young men in his office. Bruce Goff, too.
4
Thank you for this article. And also, please be sure to continue and broaden your coverage of workers facing harassment in sectors beyond media, entertainment, Wall Street, and the high-paid professions.
Yesterday's "Tipping Equation" article was a superb yet all-too-rare example of the Times applying its power and prowess to long-overlooked workers whose vulnerability to harassment and abuse is exceptionally and disturbingly high: low-wage employees in the food industry, hotels, factories, warehouses, custodial services, and similar areas.
I hope the Times will bring us their stories as often as it commendably covers more glamorous areas of work.
216
Shane, we still need stories about abusive men in media because, as long as they hold power, they will keep other stories from being told. As a reporter in the 1990s at the Tampa Tribune, I could get praised for writing a story on an alligator farm, for example, but then nothing if I wrote about discrimination against women. The men at the top influence what gets covered, even if they don't directly initiate or stop a story.
80
Sexcapades of the famous sell papers, whereas less influential people still dying in Puerto Rico do not. What still is going on there ceased to be news that sells.
8
Over twenty years ago, I attended a national conference where Mr. Meier was a guest. One of the conference receptions was held at a museum. Someone said Meier was upstairs. Another quipped he was probably paining something white. My group wandered upstairs, and there stood the star architect surrounded by adoring students and interns. His mane of white hair curled over the collar of his expensive leather jacket as he held forth. When I watched from a distance it was clear to me his star status was deeply imbedded.
13
Richard Meier is color blind, he only uses. White, Beach and Grey. All colors are selected by his partner.
7
"...paining something white."
Freudian slip?
3
Perhaps, but I am one of the worsts typists in America.
I comment thus far? The story has become a weekly and often a daily event. A prominent man exercising his power to take sexual advantage over women. The point to remember is that Mr. Meier's story is here because of his name, reputation and stature in architecture. Since the Thomas hearings when a Supreme Court nominee's power plays against women in his employ were revealed I have made it a habit to ask women on the three continents where I have lived since if they have had similar experiences. The response remains 100% of yes. This leaves one inescapable conclusion: we are barely seeing the very tip of an iceberg. As you continue to read these stories of prominent offenders keep in mind that the problem is ubiquitous, and universal. That is where a male dominated society has gotten us.
209
Also well known in Los Angeles in the late 80s. I remember several women coming to the large firm where I worked for a few years and telling the tales of their experiences in the Meier office.
148
This has been common knowledge in the NYC architectural community for many decades. Any woman who started working for him would be told after a few days not to be caught alone with him.
287
Indeed, it even inspired a Law and Order Criminal Intent episode.
I thank the New York Times for bringing this story to light for all of those who are not in the NYC architecture industry. The design world is often male dominated and while this is an extreme form of abuse, there are many other examples of males in power debasing women under them, often to the detriment of women's careers. The design world is also small, I know most of these women. I am completely disgusted right now.
253
So why didn't anyone do or say anything about it? Enablers!
13
Joan, You may have noticed that this is coming to light only in the few US professions where the perpetrator is famous and those abused are savvy about how to use media. Over most of the professions in the US (waitress, room cleaner) this type of revelation is still not happening and in much of the world harassment is not considered out to of the norm. The "enablers" you mention are also threatened with job loss over reporting harrassment, and in most cases they will be fired and nothing done. Millions of people out there are currently considering what they can report, and if they are sure there will be no action taken they keep quiet. There are many selfless people out there, e.g reporters in Russia and Syria, but getting rubbed out by the KGB is not that much fun.
15