Editing Louis Kahn (section)

== Death and Legacy ==

Louis Kahn died of a heart attack in New York's Penn Station in 1974, returning from a project in Bangladesh. His death revealed chaotic personal circumstances—including families he had maintained in secret—that have complicated his biography. His office was deeply in debt, having pursued projects that brought recognition but inadequate compensation. The architect whose buildings expressed such clarity and order had lived a life of considerable disorder.<ref name="wiseman"/>

Kahn's architectural legacy has only grown since his death. Buildings he designed have been celebrated, preserved, and studied as among the twentieth century's most significant architectural achievements. His influence on subsequent architects—through buildings, writings, and teaching—extends across continents and generations. The questions he asked about architecture's nature continue to inspire designers who find in his work resources for addressing challenges he never faced. Philadelphia remembers him through his buildings, his teaching legacy at Penn, and his honored place among the architects who have shaped the city.<ref name="brownlee"/>