John Shreve Arbuckle brings many years of relevant experience organizing and leading successful tours and educational programs for a variety of organizations. His professional background in architecture includes senior positions with the nationally recognized firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates and Beckhard Richlan Szerbaty & Associates, successor to the office of Marcel Breuer. He received a B.A. in Architecture in 1986 from the University of California at Berkeley, and pursued graduate studies in real estate development at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
Dedicated to preserving and enhancing appreciation of Modern architecture, he is the President of DOCOMOMO New York/Tri-State, the nation’s largest chapter of an international organization, active in over 60 countries, devoted to documenting and preserving architecture of the Modern Movement. Chairing the group’s Programs Committee since 2004, he has been responsible for the planning of numerous bus and walking tours. In addition, John oversees the chapter’s ongoing speaker series, Modern Conversations. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of DOCOMOMO US.
John is one of the guides of the AIA NY Around Manhattan Architecture Boat Tour and the Lower Manhattan Architecture Boat Tour, offered through a partnership between the AIA New York Chapter and Classic Harbor Line. The regularly scheduled yacht cruises offer a narrated overview of iconic landmarks, contemporary architecture and engineering marvels, emphasizing the ongoing transformation of the waterfront.
John co-chaired the Historic Buildings Committee (HBC) of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter from 2011 until 2015. In collaboration with his Co-Chair, he organized a variety of tours focusing on recently completed renovation, restoration and expansion projects involving historic buildings led by key members of the design teams. They also planned a wide variety of talks, panel discussions and other programs related to historic preservation and architectural history.
He has actively participated in and helped to plan programs for the Society for College & University Planning (SCUP), serving on its regional board, the North Atlantic Regional Council, from 2009 until 2013. John co-chaired their annual 3-day North Atlantic Regional Conference in New York City in April, 2012.
John is an International Member of DOCOMOMO, an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects, a Supporting Member of the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH), a Member of the Architectural League of New York and a Member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
He has toured significant architecture across the United States and in India, Bangladesh, Japan, China, Egypt, Italy, England, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Taiwan, Thailand, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Finland, Greece, Russia, Mexico and Canada.