UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Neil H. Porterfield, dean emeritus of the College of Arts and Architecture, died on Nov. 23, 2024, at age 88. A 1958 Penn State landscape architecture alumnus, he returned to the University in 1985 to serve as head of the Department of Landscape Architecture. He became dean in 1993 and served in that position until his retirement in 2000.
While dean, he led the establishment of the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, now called the Stuckeman School, in the College of Arts and Architecture.
Eliza Pennypacker, professor of landscape architecture, was on the search committee when Porterfield was ultimately hired as department head.
“In short order, Neil asked a group of us faculty to conceive the best undergraduate landscape architecture program we could devise. Neil implemented that groundbreaking program — heavy on humanities, including a required semester abroad — and our bachelor of landscape architecture degree became one of the most respected in the nation,” said Pennypacker. “Neil was a visionary thinker and a thoughtful, gentle man who always looked out for the well-being of his faculty and students. We were lucky to have his leadership.”
Before entering academia, Porterfield began his career in landscape architecture with Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) in St. Louis, Missouri, eventually becoming senior vice president and helping grow the firm into the largest architecture and planning firm in the world at the time. Some of his notable projects included the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.; Doha, Qatar new town development; King Khaled Airport and King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Kellogg's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan; and Levi Strauss in San Francisco, to name a few.
Porterfield, who also held a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, was appointed vice chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in Washington, D.C. by then-President Ronald Reagan in 1985, serving until 1993. The position combined his expertise in historic preservation, national memorials and public art, and coincided with serving on the design arts panel of the National Endowment of the Arts.
According to Dan Carter, who served as director of the School of Theatre from 1994 to 2017, Porterfield was a selfless leader.
“It was his vision that began the complex process of moving the College of Arts and Architecture from a loose confederation of disparate programs into a unified force on campus. The Department of Theatre Arts was transformed into the School of Theatre on his watch, for which we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude,” said Carter.
Porterfield is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sandra B. Porterfield; his three children, Garrett A. Porterfield, Jennifer P. Barber and Eric J. Porterfield (and spouses); and seven grandchildren, Ellie Harris, Emma Barber, Lily Barber, Sarah Barber, Penn Porterfield, Grace Porterfield and Neil Porterfield, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Neil H. Porterfield Endowment for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.