Biography

Arnold Arvin Arbeit (October 1, 1911, New York City - January 8, 1974, Scarsdale, New York) was an American artist and architect. He graduated from the Beaux Arts Institute of Design in 1936, and received Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees from New York University in 1938 and 1940. He received a diploma from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1945, and at least three honorary doctoral degrees domestically and abroad.

Arbeit was an architect for the New York Navy Yard at the Bureau of Naval Architecture from 1935 to 1938. He sat on the Bureau of Construction's Board of Education in New York from 1938 to 1943.

During World War II, Arbeit served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was on active duty in the Pacific, most notably in the Philippines, and subsequently in the Army Reserves as the branch Chief of Civil Affairs supervising Fine Arts, Monuments and Archives.

Arbeit graduated from the Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, KS in 1959. He rose to the rank of Colonel in 1961.

He was professor of architecture at Cooper Union from 1947 to 1961, NYU form 1962-1966 and worked as the Director of the Department of College Planning and Programming Services for the City University of New York System 1967–1973. In his capacity as University Architect, he was a designer of residences and commercial buildings. He served as chairman of the board of trustees of the National Institute for Architectural Education from 1970 to 1973 and was a member of the Society of College and University Planning.

Arbeit was also an artist in watercolors, enamels, metal sculpture, oil painting and pencil sketching. He was the recipient of the Morse medal design from New York University, and also of the Armstrong medal for his watercolors. Arbeit received an award for distinguished design and service from the New York Society of Architects in 1966 and served on the Mayor's Panel of Architects.

He was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the New York Society of Architects, the New York State Association of Architects, and the National Institute of Architectural Education. Arbeit contributed to professional publications. Among his designs were motels, hotels and bowling alleys. He also served as a principal architect for Safeway Stores, Inc.

His works of art were exhibited at the Laurel Gallery, the Brooklyn Museum, the Eighth Street Gallery, and the Delgado Art Museum. He also held many one man shows. His works are present in many private collections.

Arbeit  served as an art instructor at West Point during the last several years of his life. He was honored there with a posthumous show of his art work in the Spring of 1974.