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William “Bill” Prescott Lecky, a Washington-area architect who helped bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial to life, died April 5, 2026, surrounded by his family. The Annapolis resident was 92.
Lecky spent nearly four decades shaping the region’s architectural landscape through Cooper-Lecky Architects, the firm he established with W. Kent Cooper shortly after earning his architecture degree from the University of Virginia in 1960.
His portfolio ranged from schools, churches, libraries and private homes to offices and prominent government sites. His work included projects at Blair House, the White House Press Room and the National Zoo.
Lecky’s most recognized role came during the development of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Maya Lin, then a Yale architecture student, created the concept selected through a national competition. Because she had not yet graduated, an architect of record was needed to complete the design and engineering work and oversee construction. Lecky assumed a leading role in that process.
Cooper-Lecky Architects was later selected for the team that designed the Korean War Veterans Memorial, dedicated on the National Mall in 1995.
The projects earned major professional recognition, including the American Institute of Architects’ Twenty-five Year Award for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Lecky was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2008.
Another achievement he valued grew from the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Cooper-Lecky worked on accessibility renovations at numerous public and private buildings after Congress required facilities to accommodate people with disabilities. Those projects placed the firm at the forefront of the first generation of accessibility standards in American building design.
Lecky was also known as a mentor. Hundreds of young architects trained at Cooper-Lecky during its nearly 40 years in Washington, and many later became leaders in the region’s architectural community.
His design sensibilities drew from the Bauhaus movement, Frank Lloyd Wright and mid-century modern architecture.
Born Jan. 21, 1934, in New York City, Lecky lost his father at a young age and attended Cooperstown Academy in Cooperstown, New York. He developed an early interest in woodworking and design there.
While serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Lecky visited a contemporary church while on leave in Mexico. The experience inspired him to pursue architecture after completing his military service.
Lecky lived in McLean for more than 40 years before retiring to Annapolis. He enjoyed spending time with his family at their weekend home in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and traveling, particularly to Tuscany and Santa Fe.
After retiring, he returned to woodworking and other forms of craftsmanship, including sculpture and jewelry making. In 2012, he self-published Designing for Remembrance: An Architectural Memoir, an account of the challenges involved in constructing memorials on the National Mall.
He remained devoted to the University of Virginia and its Cavaliers sports teams, as well as Washington’s Redskins and Commanders football teams.
Lecky is survived by Paula, his wife of more than 60 years; his children, Brooke, who is married to Matt Supple, and Eric; and his grandchildren, Stirling, Campbell, Ava and Grant.
His family will hold a private ceremony in Richmond. Memorial donations may be made to the Architects Foundation, which supports scholarships and educational programs for aspiring architects.