William Lescaze (1896-1969) was a Swiss-born American architect. He is best known for introducing the International Style of architecture to the United States. He studied under the modernist architect, Karl Moser (1860-1936), in Zurich and received his degree in 1919. He came to America in 1920 and went to work at Hubbell & Benes in Cleveland, then moving to New York in 1927. One of his early important commissions was the Oak Lane Country Day School, near Philadelphia. It was noteworthy because its features were scaled down to child size. It also used a cork floor to lessen knee injuries.

Lescaze’s most famous work was the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society skyscraper built in 1931-1932. It was designed in partnership with George Howe and was the first example of International Style of architecture in the United States. It is a landmark building that is considered one of the best designed skyscrapers in the pre-World War II period. In 1934, he set off to work on his own, designing residences and commercial buildings. He also taught industrial design at the Pratt Institute. Notable works later in his career include the Borg-Warner Building in Chicago built in 1955, the chancery building of the Swiss embassy in Washington, D.C. built in 1959, and the Church Peace Center at the United Nations Plaza in New York built in 1962.

William Lescaze and the Rise of Modern Design in America was an exhibition of models, drawings, and photographs of his work.