It was somehow appropriate that I entered this memorial event on a packed freight elevator that opened up to reveal not a beautiful penthouse lobby, but a bustling and steamy kitchen. Everybody on the elevator was going to the same event, and we all laughed. It was just the kind of thing that would have made Gerard Robertson laugh as well; I am sure he would have made a witty remark about it at the end of the festivities to bring the event full circle.
The elevator passengers and over 200 of Mr. Robertson’s closest friends had gathered on the rooftop of Ink 48 Hotel in New York on May 16. We had all come to honor a man who died the same way he lived his extraordinary life – surrounded by friends and loved ones. He passed away in April at Beth Israel Hospital. He was 51.
Over the three decades Mr. Robertson was an interior designer in New York, he worked on significant and iconic projects like HBO Headquarters, MTV Headquarters, Nickelodeon, Vonage, Met Life and the United Nations. For over 13 years, Mr. Robertson was a designer at HLW Architects. He also worked for many years at KPFC Architects. In addition to making complicated major interior designs look their best, Mr. Robertson also worked on modest projects like homes for his closest friends. His last completed project was the design studio for Lori Weitzner.
The memorial event was borne out of necessity; Mr. Robertson had profoundly touched hundreds of industry professionals during his years in the New York A&D community. We were not going to let him go without a proper and respectful sendoff. Complementary adjectives do not even begin to describe Mr. Robertson’s spirit. He wasn’t just a force of nature; he was a force of inspiration.
To view the full article, please visit officeinsight