Renowned Uruguayan architect Rafael Vignoli, who designed iconic skyscrapers — such as the one on London’s Fenchurch Street, better known as the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ because of its shape – has died aged 78.

“On behalf of my family, colleagues and many of our partners around the world, I announce with sadness that my father died suddenly on Thursday, March 2, at the age of 78,” reads the message posted yesterday by Roman’s son on the website of the company founded by Vignoli and based in New York.

The architect, who was born in Montevideo in 1944, has left his mark on more than 600 projects around the world: among them hotels, concert venues, sports facilities, airports and the famous round bridge over Uruguay’s Garçon Lagoon.

Manchester City, for whom he designed its “City Football Academy” training center, expressed its condolences to the family of the late architect via Twitter.

Some of Vignoli’s creations had caused reactions. One such case is the 85-story skyscraper overlooking New York’s Central Park, an apartment complex whose millionaire tenants filed lawsuits over noise and vibration.

In London, the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ skyscraper made headlines in 2013 after the sun’s reflection on its hollow glass facade damaged a parked Jaguar.