About Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC (KPF)

Our Practice KPF is a unified architectural practice focused on the design of buildings of all types and scales, in all geographic regions. Our projects include the world’s tallest towers, longest spans, most varied programs and inventive forms. The goal that binds our work – and what motivates our efforts – is finding the smartest solution for each project. We believe that the best design is the product of an open-minded search, one without preconceptions or stylistic formulae. Purpose Our buildings make contributions to the built environment that go beyond their physical footprint. The aspirations that shape our design include optimizing programmatic functions, strengthening the urban context, promoting sustainable environments, advancing the commercial success of development strategies, and creating beautiful buildings that reflect and inspire the communities they serve. We work closely with our clients to balance these forces and to capitalize on the benefits of multidisciplinary thinking. Collaboration In order to support these aims, the firm is organized as a collaborative group of diverse talents. Our best designs occur when individuals come together, challenging each other to invent new techniques and search for new expressions. Each project is expected to advance the larger practice, while answering to a very particular set of individual parameters. In our studios, passionate young architects work alongside the most experienced hands, blending wisdom with fresh inspiration. One Firm The firm consists of over 700 staff led by 34 principals, with offices in New York, London, San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Abu Dhabi, Berlin, and Singapore. All of the principals convene regularly to ensure the cohesiveness of philosophy and share knowledge about their work. Each principal understands and participates in the global breadth of the practice. Exchange of staff between offices is a regular practice. Often a single project will avail itself of expertise residing in multiple offices – working together as a single team – in order to derive maximum benefit from the firm’s broad base of knowledge. Process An important part of our method is collaborating with clients and listening effectively to their needs. The client is often defined as more than a single entity, including owners, users, and public officials. We engage these groups through our comparative method, in which alternative solutions are considered and evaluated. This open-source approach allows for broad discussion and participation. Craft We make quality buildings by focusing on every project from concept to completion, from the “big idea” to the finest detail. We believe an ambitious concept is only successful when richly composed and well-executed. Focused on the art and science of architecture, we always pursue a high level of detail to elevate our designs in terms of both beauty and practicality. This philosophy has manifested in KPF Making, an exhibit and forthcoming book, which highlights our commitment to architectural craft from the scale of the low-rise neighborhood to the supertall tower. Wellness Our goal is to create healthy environments, both inside and out, that enhance physical, cognitive and social well-being. Drawing on research and real-world application, we consider space, form, color and texture to design for wellness at all scales, from the urban realm to the interior room. Underlining our approach is the integration of nature with architecture with attention to air quality, access to light and landscape balanced with opportunity for activity, community and connection.