Patrick P Shaw

1933 - 2021
Patrick P. Shaw passed away peacefully on April 21, 2021.

He was born on June 29, 1933 in Chicago to Rue Winterbotham Shaw and Alfred P. Shaw.

Shaw was an architect, civic leader, conservationist, poet, and sculptor. He attended the Latin School of Chicago; the Middlesex School; and Harvard University, B.A. Architecture (1955). After serving in the Korean War, he attended Harvard University's Graduate School of Design (M.A., Architecture, 1961).

In 1969, after working for architecture firms Holabird and Root; Skidmore, Owings and Merrill; and Alfred Shaw and Associates, Shaw founded Shaw and Associates. Until his retirement in 1996, Shaw set the firm's architectural vision and was responsible for overseeing the office's large team producing documents for more than 11 million gross square feet of built space. Buildings included office structures, hotels, houses, public schools, and a City College of Chicago. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Shaw and Associates was consistently one of the five largest architecture firms in the Chicago region and partnered with international architects such as Kenzo Tange and Philip Johnson. Independently and through collaboration, Shaw was responsible for adding many iconic highlights to the Chicago skyline, including 55 East Monroe St., the former American Medical Association building (515 N. State St.), 181 W. Madison St., 33 W. Wacker Dr., and 190 S. LaSalle St. He also meaningfully contributed to Chicagoland's suburban landscape, including Mid America Plaza (Oakbrook Terrace) and 5215 Old Orchard (Skokie). President's Plaza (8600 and 8700 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.) graces every drive or flyover to and from O'Hare Airport along the Kennedy Expressway.

Complementing his professional work, Shaw was affiliated with many nonprofit organizations, including Openlands; the Arts Club of Chicago; the Modern Poetry Association (where he was board president for 11 years); the Art Institute of Chicago; and the Economic Club of Chicago, University Club of Chicago, and American Institute of Architects. In his tenure as an officer at the Arts Club of Chicago, Shaw participated in the transformative sale of Constantin Brancusi's Golden Bird to the Art Institute and was engaged in shaping the program and design for the Club building at 201 E. Ontario Street. Shaw also was committed to environmental conservation, open-space preservation, and habitat restoration. He created an important conservation easement and Illinois Nature Reserve.

In 1991, at the Arts Club, Shaw coordinated the first solo exhibition in the United States by sculptor and photographer Andy Goldsworthy. The exhibition merged together Shaw's love of both art and nature. Shaw's sculptures were exhibited in the show "Perception" at Gallery 2506 and he published a volume of poetry, Poems and Postcards.

Shaw is survived by his wife of over twenty years, Mary Sue Glosser, Shaw's two children, Sophia Shaw (Art Collins), Alfred Shaw (Kylee Shaw), and three grandchildren (Nathan Siskel, Jonah Siskel, and Avery Shaw). His brother, Joseph Shaw (Maria Shaw), resides in Toronto, Canada.

Tribute gifts may be sent to Openlands, 25 E. Washington Street, Suite 1650, Chicago, IL 60602. Memorial services will be private.