Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House Has New Head

Landscape Architect and Illinois Tech Faculty Member to Oversee Historic Structure

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Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House Has New Head

Architecture leadership veteran Scott Mehaffey, an adjunct professor at Illinois Tech’s College of Architecture, began his new role as executive director of the renowned Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois, on April 2.

The award-winning Mehaffey, who has been with the university since 2015, has his own landscape architecture practice and has served as a landscape architect (specializing in context-sensitive landscape architecture, including historic preservation and contemporary design), public- and private-sector leader, and educator over the course of his career. He has worked for such notable organizations as Morton Arboretum, the City of Chicago, and Chicago Botanic Garden, among others.  

Originally designed as a private country retreat by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Farnsworth House is now a National Trust Historic Site. It is considered to be an outstanding example of the International Style and modern architecture. The site is open to the public as a museum and offers special events including seasonal yoga and moonlight tours.