PRESCOTT -- Architect Paolo Soleri celebrated his 90th birthday with a grandiose party at Arcosanti, his signature architectural creation 65 miles north of Phoenix.
More than 300 people attended the party with Soleri, who had a characteristic twinkle in his eye.
Soleri was born in Turin, Italy, on June 21, 1919. His birthday fell on the summer solstice; the sun is the focal point of Soleri's architectural designs.
Soleri came to the United States in 1947, and spent one and a half years in fellowship with architect Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West in Scottsdale and at Taliesin East in Wisconsin.
He broke ground on Arcosanti in 1970.
Soleri also is working on a bridge across the Arizona Canal in Scottsdale. Construction is set to start sometime this year.
