Richard Meier on a tour of his firm's model museum in Long Island City, 2010. (Photo: Kelsey Keith)

Addressing the common practice of architectural competitions, Meier explains, "Sometimes if you do a competition, you know you’re taking a risk of it not happening. Many of them that we’ve done remain unbuilt for us, and unbuilt for anyone. We always look at competitions very carefully to try and determine whether it’s just emotion on the part of the sponsors or it's something real. Photo 9 of 10 in Richard Meier's Practice at 50

Richard Meier's Practice at 50

9 of 10

Richard Meier on a tour of his firm's model museum in Long Island City, 2010. (Photo: Kelsey Keith)

Addressing the common practice of architectural competitions, Meier explains, "Sometimes if you do a competition, you know you’re taking a risk of it not happening. Many of them that we’ve done remain unbuilt for us, and unbuilt for anyone. We always look at competitions very carefully to try and determine whether it’s just emotion on the part of the sponsors or it's something real.