Milo H. Thompson (1965 Fellow), an award-winning architect, educator, and founding principal of the influential architectural firm Bentz/Thompson/Rietow (BTR), died on April 10, 2025, in Minneapolis. He was 89 years old. Widely admired for his thoughtful design, rigorous teaching, and deep commitment to public service, Thompson leaves a legacy that shaped the architectural landscape of Minnesota and beyond.
Born in Minnesota in 1935, Thompson earned degrees from the University of Minnesota and Harvard University. He was awarded the prestigious Rome Prize early in his career, an honor that profoundly influenced his design philosophy.
In 1971, he cofounded BTR, a practice that would receive more than seventy state and national honors for work across residential, public, urban design, and religious architecture. Over four decades, Thompson’s designs were recognized by many respected architectural juries, including the AIA National Honor Awards Program, the Chicago Distinguished Building Awards, and numerous state AIA chapters in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Utah, South Dakota, Colorado, and beyond. He also served as jury chairman for competitions such as the Whittier Alliance Infill Housing Competition and the Committee on Urban Environmental Awards Program.
As principal designer, Thompson was responsible for numerous significant projects. His work included the Blue Cross and Univac office buildings in Eagan; Webster Intermediate School, Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, and Greenway Gables Townhouses in downtown Minneapolis; libraries at Jamestown College in North Dakota and the St. Paul campus of the University of Minnesota; and private residences in Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, and Colorado.
His contributions to historic preservation were equally notable, with restoration efforts at the Minneapolis City Hall and Courthouse, the Basilica of St. Mary, and the iconic Lake Harriet Bandshell and Refectory, his family’s favorite project. In 1996, he led the Riverfront Vision Forum, presented at the AIA National Convention in Minneapolis. Thompson’s work was widely published in professional journals and books.
A gifted educator, Thompson taught at the University of Minnesota for thirty years, inspiring generations of students with his thoughtful critiques and dedication to design excellence. He also lectured nationally and internationally, with appearances at the Walker Art Center, Luther Seminary’s Kairos Series, the Civic Design Center in Milwaukee, and the University of Manitoba’s Seagram Lecture.
His service to the architectural profession and civic life was profound. He served on numerous advisory boards and public committees, including the Experimental City project at the University of Minnesota, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee, and the Federal Courts Master Plan Committee. He was a Minnesota Registered Architect (no. 9856) and a longtime fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
Thompson is remembered not only for the depth and elegance of his work but also for his generosity, integrity, and unwavering belief in architecture’s role in shaping humane, enduring environments. His contributions continue to resonate in the built environment and in the many students, colleagues, and clients who were fortunate to know him.