2025 Theses Master's

Metal, Mylar, and Mirrors: On the Significance of the Interiors of Kevin Roche

Schmit, Jerry

Are Late Modern and Postmodern commercial interiors worthy of preservation? How can a better understanding of these spaces help substantiate their significance as heritage? In light of increasing threats of renovation and demolition, this thesis explores these questions through the architectural interiors of Irish-American architect Kevin Roche, a prominent figure in Late Modern and Postmodern design whose interior work has recently faced preservation challenges. Contributing to ongoing discourse on the conservation of architecture from this era, the thesis focuses on Roche’s use of mirrored surfaces in the 1970s and 1980s, situating these design choices within the broader context of Postmodernism.

To closely examine Roche’s work, this study traces his design evolution and systematic architectural approach, drawing on published literature and an interview with one of his former principals. It also considers concurrent cultural and labor shifts in the United States that shaped the work of Roche and his contemporaries. These themes are explored through case studies of three key buildings, supported by primary source material from the Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo & Associates archive at Yale University.

Spurred by the recent demolition of one of Roche’s late-1980s buildings, this thesis argues that his later work is equally—if not more—significant than his earlier projects. His prolific use of mirrored finishes during this period reveals a thoughtful response to shifting material conditions, environmental concerns, and urban constraints, underscoring the lasting value of these interiors in the architectural heritage canon.