<P> Minoru Yamasaki ( December 1 , 1912 -- February 6 , 1986 ) was an American architect , best known for designing the original World Trade Center in New York City and several other large - scale projects . Yamasaki was one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century . He and fellow architect Edward Durell Stone are generally considered to be the two master practitioners of `` New Formalism '' . </P>
who was the lead architect that designed the world trade center and when was he born
Minoru Yamasaki December 1 , 1912