Eugene Kohn (KPF) and Hudson Yards (Connie Zhou for KPF)
On March 9, 2023, Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) announced that co-founder A. Eugene “Gene” Kohn, who had long served as the public face of the firm, died of cancer at the age of 92. Mr. Kohn founded the firm with partners William Pedersen and Sheldon Fox (who predeceased him in 2006) in 1976. Fourteen years later, KPF became the youngest firm to receive the National AIA Firm Award for design excellence.
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“His seemingly limitless interest in other human beings gave him powerful insights into the social aspect of building programs and larger urban agendas” – James von Klemperer, President, Kohn Pedersen Fox
One Vanderbilt (Raimond Koch for KPF)
In the years that followed, Mr. Kohn’s obituary in The New York Times noted that the firm had grown from three partners in a borrowed Midtown office to 650 employees in offices on three continents who designed skyscrapers all over the world. Mr. Kohn stepped back from daily management in the early 2000s, but remained chairman of the firm until his death. While he had an unquestionable passion for design, his true forte was his ability to build relationships and find consensus between designers and developers. KPF’s notable works include the World Financial Center in Shanghai, the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong, the Covent Garden master plan in London, the World Bank headquarters in Washington, 333 Wacker Drive in Chicago, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
KPF’s works may also be seen in the New York City skyline. Their first commission was to convert an Upper West Side armory into studios for ABC Television; this was the beginning of ABC’s Lincoln Center production campus where all the buildings would be designed by KPF. Their ability to transform neighborhoods with architecture continues to be felt: The Hudson Yards complex is anchored by their designs at 10 and 30 Hudson Yards, and their work here also includes 55 Hudson Yards; One Vanderbilt, the city’s current tallest office tower, opened in September 2020 to revitalize its Midtown East neighborhood; and their residential buildings continue to attract luxury buyers.
60 East 55th Street
45 stories | 76 units | Completed in 2005
45 stories | 76 units | Completed in 2005
Park Avenue Place (CityRealty)
Architecture critic Carter Horsley describes Park Avenue Place, one of KPF's first residential buildings, as "elegant [with] a precision feel." The mid-block building is distinguished by its towering height, shallow setbacks, and gleaming facade. Its Midtown East neighborhood has undergone a residential renaissance since Park Avenue Place was constructed, but it remains one of the area's most prestigious condos.
122 Greenwich Avenue
11 stories | 30 units | Completed in 2010
11 stories | 30 units | Completed in 2010
One Jackson Square (The Corcoran Group)
A rarity in this section of the West Village, this gleaming, LEED-certified condominium rose on the former site of a parking lot. The facade's undulating bands of glass reflect the historic architecture surrounding it, not to mention fill the apartments inside with abundant natural light.
27 Wooster Street (CityRealty)
Long before the Soho/Noho rezoning, 27 Wooster Street rose as a contemporary take on the 19th century cast iron architecture surrounding it. Its massing corresponds to the surrounding structures, but the glass, metal, and stone facade distinguish it as a product of today.
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500 West 21st Street (The Corcoran Group)
Located right next to the High Line, 500 West 21st Street represents KPF's entrant in one of New York's most architecturally adventurous neighborhoods. The gridded appearance of the facade pays tribute to West Chelsea's industrial history, and a second-floor terrace with full growth trees allows for separation between residents and tourists.
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45 East 22nd Street
58 stories | 82 units | Completed in 2016
58 stories | 82 units | Completed in 2016
Madison Square Park Tower (Douglas Elliman)
At 777 feet high, Madison Square Park Tower is the tallest building in its downtown neighborhood and easily recognizable in the local skyline. The shape of the soaring tower allows for expansive floor plates and panoramic views. However, the granite base fits harmoniously with the buildings on the block, and the influence of the nearby Flatiron Building can be seen.
111 Murray Street (Douglas Elliman)
In the new Lower Manhattan skyline, 111 Murray Street is easily identified by its flared pinnacle. The soaring tower's column-free corners allow the apartments inside to enjoy unobstructed views of the World Trade Center and the Hudson River.
30 Riverside Boulevard
38 stories | 160 units | Completed in 2020
38 stories | 160 units | Completed in 2020
Two Waterline Square (Evan Joseph)
The KPF-designed Two Waterline Square is the largest building in the Waterline Square complex, where it is easily distinguished by its angled crowns and carefully broken-down massing that helps it avoid a "superblock" scale. The cascading glass facade allows for abundant natural light in all units, and a central lobby pours even more light into the building.
138 Willoughby Street
57 stories | 458 units | Completed in 2021
57 stories | 458 units | Completed in 2021
Brooklyn Point (Evan Joseph)
At 720 feet high, Brooklyn Point was once the tallest building in the borough. The Brooklyn Tower has since outstripped it in terms of height, but Brooklyn Point remains a standard-bearer for Downtown Brooklyn with its sculptural facade and iconic profile. The roof has room for the Western Hemisphere's highest infinity pool in a residential building and allows it to look out on views of the Manhattan skyline.
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