Born in Tokyo in 1957, Shigeru Ban earned a B.Arch from Cooper Union in 1984 and founded Shigeru Ban Architects in 1985, with offices in Tokyo, New York, and Paris. Known for pioneering recycled paper structures and global disaster relief through the Voluntary Architects’ Network, Ban's honors include the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2014), Praemium Imperiale (2024), and the 2026 AIA Gold Medal.