Antoine Predock, the visionary architect behind the University of Wyoming’s Centennial Complex, passed away on March 2, 2024, at the age of 87. The iconic structure, designed to house the American Heritage Center and the Art Museum, was composed of two distinct forms: an ovoid cone clad in black copper and lower, flat-roofed, cubic elements made of earth-toned concrete blocks. When the design was unveiled, it provoked controversy, but Predock’s scheme was eventually approved.

Predock conceived the design as an “archival mountain” situated within the larger geography of the plains, creating an “analogous landscape.” He positioned the building in relationship to distant mountain peaks and emphasized these features through carefully-placed windows. Predock’s award-winning design is evident in every line and curve of the Complex, a space that encourages exploration and contemplation, translating the natural world into concrete and glass.

The building’s interior features a striking five-story, top-lit vertical space with a monumental timber structure and a rotunda space with a cosmological feature – a silver dollar embedded in the floor, illuminated by a shaft of sunlight on the Summer Solstice. Historians and critics have described the American Heritage Center as a “primitivist metaphor” and “oneiric,” seamlessly merging with the Wyoming landscape.

Predock’s relationship with the University of Wyoming faced challenges, including a legal dispute over design aspects of the building. However, these moments, though difficult, do not diminish the brilliance of Predock’s contribution to our university’s landscape.

As we reflect on his legacy, we choose to focus on the countless ways in which Antoine Predock enriched our world with his bold and thoughtful designs. His work will continue to inspire students, visitors, and future architects for generations to come.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those touched by his remarkable life and career. Antoine Predock’s architectural vision is a lasting element of the University of Wyoming’s identity, and his work at the Centennial Complex will continue to be valued and remembered.