[2] Polshek initially intended to study medicine, enrolling in premed at Case Western Reserve University's Adelbert College in 1947.

Some of the first projects he worked on were two research facilities in Japan, as well as collaborating with Walfredo Toscanini to design a Midtown Manhattan community center.

[2] Polshek became the dean of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University in 1973, serving in that capacity until 1987.

[7] In 2003, Polshek served as an architectural adviser to the selection committee that chose SANAA as architects for the New Museum building.

[2] Polshek was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), and the 2018 recipient of the organization's highest honor, the AIA Gold Medal.

[9][13] He earlier received the Gold Medal award from the New York City chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1986.