ALAN BALFOUR is an architect and author, as well as Professor and Dean of the School of Architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. He was the AIA Year 2000 Topaz Laureate, the highest recognition given in North Americal for excellence in architecture education. He was formerly Smith Professor and Dean of Architecture at Rice University, and before joining Rensselaer was Chairman of the Architectural Association in London. His books include Berlin (also in the 'World Cities' series) documenting the transformation of Berlin after reunification, published by Academy Editions in 1995. Both this and the earlier Berlin: The Politics of Order: 1737 - 1989 (Rizzoli 1990), were winners of teh AIA International Book Award. Additional books are Portsmouth (Studio Vista, 1970), Rockefeller Center: Architecture as Theater (McGraw-Hill, 1978), and he contributed to The Edge of The Millennium (Cooper Hewitt 1993), Cities of Artificial Excavation: The Work of Peter Eisenman (Rizzoli International/CCA 1994), and Recovering Landscape (Princeton Architectural Press 1999). He lives in up state New York.