Deborah Berke, FAIA, LEED AP is an architect, educator, and the founder of New York-based architecture firm TenBerke. Among the firm’s most significant works are the Residential Colleges at Princeton University, the Cummins Indy Distribution Headquarters, the Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia, the Yale School of Art in New Haven, Connecticut, and the 21c Museum Hotels across the South and Midwest. In 2017, TenBerke was honored with a National Design Award from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Deborah is the J. M. Hoppin Professor of Architecture and the Edward P. Bass Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, the first woman to hold the position. She has been a Professor at Yale since 1987.

Berke is the recipient of the 2025 AIA Gold Medal, the Institute’s highest honor recognizing individuals whose work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. She was also the recipient of the 2022 AIA/ ACSA Topaz Medallion, the highest honor for architectural education. In 2012, she was the inaugural designate of the Berkeley-Rupp Architecture Professorship and Prize at the University of California at Berkeley. Deborah spoke for The Forum a decade ago and also was a juror for The Forum’s Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Design Recognition.

TenBerke

Karen Ann Buchanan, the first Executive Director of The Dallas Architecture Forum (The Forum), passed away peacefully on February 23rd, 2026, in Dallas. Creative, caring, dedicated, and thoughtful are some of the many positive attributes that describe Karen and also Russell Buchanan, FAIA, her devoted and loving life partner. Karen was born January 23rd, 1956, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, but spent most of her life in Dallas. She found a lasting soulmate in her husband, Russell, and deeply loved him along with her two sons, Yale Johnson (Rachel) and Evan Johnson (Victoria Villarreal). Karen was an avid reader, a fabulous cook, and the smartest person in the room. She had an infectious smile, a gentle demeanor and a fierce wit. She never met a stranger and always made room for everyone at the table. Her favorite saying was, “We’re lucky to be us.” Conversation was lively around Karen’s dinner table with her masterful cooking generously offered to her guests. Somewhat like a Dallas version of the literary Algonquin Roundtable in New York, people left Karen’s house “smarter than when they started” while enjoying her hospitality. Karen at times had an initial litmus test for people she met – do you read The New Yorker and Dwell, and really care for people in need? If the answers were “yes”, then you and Karen were probably kindred souls who would develop a friendship that would enrich both lives.

After a successful career in business, Karen joined The Dallas Architecture Forum as its inaugural Executive Director in November 2001. Karen brought her organizational skills, singular focus and determination to grow The Forum while continuing to encourage the creative ideas The Forum Board members had. Prior to Karen becoming its Executive Director, The Forum had progressed and begun to make a positive influence in Dallas due to dedicated Board and other volunteers, with some part-time employee help. Karen, along with Forum Board leaders, greatly expanded the beneficial impact of the creative capital from thought leaders into systematic plans that expanded the impact of The Forum. Karen also supported Russell in beginning The Forum’s Panel Discussion Series, where topics of regional and national importance are discussed by local subject matter experts in lively conversation with each other and program attendees. Russell, the recipient of numerous AIA and other design awards with selected pieces of his original furniture designs in the permanent collection of the Dallas Museum of Art, would credit Karen’s organizational skills and management expertise as the foundation on which he excelled both creatively and professionally. Karen and Russell became a powerhouse couple in the Dallas design community .Russell’s architecture and furniture design practice continued to flourish during Karen’s years as Executive Director. In March 2005 Karen passed the baton to current Forum Executive Director Nate Eudaly so that she could manage and continue to grow Russell’s studio on a full-time basis. In her last years, Karen enjoyed a slightly slower pace of life while continuing to make family, friends, and new arrivals to Dallas, including Dallas Morning News architecture critic Mark Lamster and family, welcome in her home.

In deep appreciation of Karen, and in recognition of the lasting positive impact she and Russell achieved by establishing the Panel Discussion Series, The Dallas Architecture Forum is creating an annual Panel that will be named “The Karen Buchanan Memorial Panel” in her honor. Should individuals or organizations desire to support this initiative, they may donate in tribute and memory of Karen to this fund – see link below. Donations in Karen’s honor may also be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and Faith Presbyterian Hospice. Karen will be missed greatly by family, friends, and the Dallas design community; but her legacy will live on and continue to positively impact Dallas.

Karen Buchanan Memorial Panel

Donations in honor of Karen to support the Karen Buchanan Memorial Panel fund can be made at this link

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Donations may also be made by check to The Dallas Architecture Forum, and mailed to P. O. Box 140769, Dallas, TX  75214.

Thank you!

• City Hall has been a place of public gathering – from celebrations to protests, center of Dallas’ history for almost half a century
• Appx 45 years of deferred maintenance cannot be resolved in a few weeks by “back of napkin” estimates – we have had de facto “demolition by neglect”
• The city must conduct a comprehensive and transparent analysis of needed repairs by recognized experts: Structural engineers, MEP engineers, architects, contractors, and preservation experts
• Commercial office buildings in Dallas may be in similar condition with aging infrastructure and smaller floor plates – City’s track record on this issue is not good – i.e. 7800 N. Stemmons
• Dallas must not destroy an internationally renowned public building for a real estate play for private entertainment

How You Can Help Save and Transform City Hall

• Contact your City Council representative
• Ask City Council to insist on a thorough, expert-led study of this crucial issue
• Urge City Council and Staff to analyze financial expense and civic detriment related to relegating the city’s municipal center to rented commercial space
• Insist that the council and city leaders engage innovative design professionals to reimagine the current City Hall plaza and building for the city and its citizens – maintaining this masterpiece while renovating it for future decades
• Talk to friends, neighbors, and colleagues – ask them to contact their City Council member
• Sign the petition at savedallascityhall.com
• Wear a “Save Dallas City Hall” button
• Attend and speak at City Council and other meetings to show support

Enjoy this E-Magazine about our 2024-2025 Season 

The Dallas Architecture Forum is pleased to present inspiring talks by past Forum speakers on our YouTube Channel!

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Experience inspired design — virtual and online!