Cornell University Architect Peter Karp plans to retire Nov. 10, after a decade at the university.

"Cornell has been truly fortunate to be able to benefit from Peter Karp's experience and reputation with associates throughout the profession," said Executive Vice President Stephen T. Golding. "He truly has left his mark on the campus."

Karp's influence can be seen and felt campuswide, including such notable structures as the Lab of Ornithology, the Beck Center addition to Statler Hall, the Africana Studies and Research Center expansion, Duffield Hall and the Life Sciences Technology Building, now under construction. Karp headed up the selection of architects for these and other projects and presented the designs for approval by the university and the Cornell Board of Trustees. His work has been critical in helping the university enter the 21st century with state-of-the-art facilities, Golding noted.

Karp also played a key role in orchestrating the university's West and North Campus Residential Initiatives, which have been a vital part of Cornell's commitment to the living and learning environment for its students.

"Peter's service as university architect has coincided with a period of great growth in Cornell's physical plant," said President Hunter R. Rawlings. "We are fortunate to have had the benefit of his expertise on a wide range of projects that have vastly improved Cornell's capacity for research and teaching, and have contributed substantially to the quality of campus life."

Karp noted that "the past 10 years for me here have been marked by great challenges and some considerable accomplishments. For this I will always be thankful to Cornell and the opportunity the university gave me to take risks and innovate for Cornell's future."

Before coming to Cornell, Karp was university architect at Virginia Tech and was in practice with the architectural firm RTKL in Baltimore.

Karp plans to relocate to New York City. He is an active member of the American Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects.