THOMAS KERWIN THOMAS KERWIN BIOGRAPHY Before founding bKL Architecture, Thomas Kerwin was a Partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Chicago, where he began his architecture career in 1986. At SOM, Kerwin developed a special expertise in the management of highly complex, large-scale urban projects across the globe. He lived and worked in Manila, Philippines, during the mid-1990s. Kerwin has BIOGRAPHY participated in the design and construction of significant commercial and civic buildings around the world over the past two decades, including the Greenland Financial Center in Nanjing, China; Pearl River Tower in Guangzhou, China; White Magnolia Plaza and Chongming Island Master Plan in Shanghai, China; Rockwell Center in Manila, Philippines; and the Broadgate Development Exchange House in London, England. These projects have led to numerous awards and worldwide recognition in the industry. Along with more than two decades of international experience, Kerwin is committed to civic endeavors and projects in the Midwest and at home in Chicago. Kerwin’s tireless efforts as a member of the Chicago 2016 Committee and as the Managing Partner of SOM’s Olympic team have earned him universal praise from the architectural community, city government, and business and civic leaders. His concern for the well being of urban and regional communities can be seen in his determination to positively shape their future. Kerwin is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a past President of AIA Chicago. He is on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Sports Commission. He is an active member of The Commercial Club of Chicago, The Economic Club of Chicago, Chicago Sister Cities International, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Urban Land Institute and Executives Club of Chicago. Kerwin received a master’s degree in business administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Ball State University, where he was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005. THOMAS KERWIN PROJECTS Thomas Kerwin, FAIA has Shaping the Future of Asia Advocating Civic Leadership dedicated his professional career to Tom’s interest in Asia commenced Tom is an active member of many the management of projects that early in his career when he relocated civic organizations in Chicago and strengthen cities and the regions to Manila, the Philippines, to manage abroad. His involvement in the in which they exist. As an architect, the immense 10.8 million square Chicago China Sister Cities program Tom’s approach is grounded in the foot Rockwell Center project. His has enabled him to promote dialogue profound link between the civic and appreciation for and commitment and collaboration between the corporate worlds. Advocating greater to Asian culture opened doors two great international cities of awareness of architecture’s role in to new civic projects, such as Chicago and Shanghai. He is an avid corporate responsibility, he has led Chongming Island, a master plan that supporter of the Chicago Architecture community initiatives and committed re-positioned the district of Shanghai Foundation and a member of the PROJECTS significant time to pro-bono work. as a “green island” at the vanguard Foundations Board of Trustees. International speaking engagements, of ecological planning, and Pearl River Tom accompanied Mayor Daley as numerous publications and extensive Tower in Guangzhou, the region’s first a business ambassador to Beijing, awards are testaments to his supertall tower to produce nearly as resulting in the opportunity to help commitment to architecture in the much energy as it consumes. lead the city’s planning efforts for Midwest and abroad. Commitment to the Midwest the 2016 Olympic bid. He served on From 1986 to 2009, Tom worked A native of Indiana and a supporter the Chicago 2016 Committee and led in the Chicago office of Skidmore, of Midwestern interests, Tom efforts on behalf of SOM to design Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM). As developed a passion for investing a physical plan that emphasized a Managing Partner, he yielded in projects close to home. His work compactness, access to transit, and substantial opportunities for the has focused on the revitalization of integration of Olympic venues into growth of the firm, the education urban cites, such as the renovation downtown and the lakefront. Tom’s of young architects, and the of the five million square foot pro-bono planning work for the city, advancement of his professional General Motors Renaissance Center in coordination with various other practice. in Detroit, Michigan. Delegating business leaders, resulted in Chicago Throughout the process of driving and organizing hundreds of people being selected to represent the U.S. large-scale, multi-faceted projects prior to construction—including in the international phase of the to completion, Tom has continually the client, developer, city and Olympic bid against the cities of Rio fostered client relationships and community—resulted in one of the De Janiero, Madrid and Tokyo. pushed for inventive problem-solving. most complex, large-scale efforts In addition to committing time He draws out the personal best of orchestrated in the United States. and guidance to the city, Tom has team members, effectively turning With equal finesse, Tom has delivered provided extensive leadership to daunting tasks into opportunities notable, smaller-scale civic projects, the AIA. During his tenure as the for improvement. Tom applies the including the Sioux City Art Center 2005 President of the AIA Chicago same efficiency and determination to in Iowa. His management of the Chapter, he ushered in fresh ideas spearheading civic initiatives, reaching Lakefront Downtown Master Plan and initiated change in the executive audiences beyond the building for Waukegan, previously one of the leadership. Tom’s collective, far- profession. most prominent cities in Illinois, has reaching contributions make him a put the city on track to becoming a highly regarded practitioner and a destination once again. valuable champion of the critical role of urban planning and architecture in today’s society. THOMAS KERWIN PROJECTS NANJING GREENLAND FINANCIAL CENTER NANJING, CHINA Client: Greenland Group Size: 308,000 sm; 3,315,300 sf The Nanjing Greenland project is a multi- Landscaping is a significant part of the use complex comprising several buildings project. The buildings are set back from resting on two sites, Parcels A1 and A2. the street with several large landscaped Parcel A1 contains a podium connecting public open spaces. South of Parcel A1, two towers. The 450-meter tower consists is a sunken garden that will connect to of offices and hotels, and the 100-meter the future subway. There is also a roof tower contains office space. Parcel A2 garden at the top of the podium in Parcel contains a 63-meter tower of offices with A1 to reduce the heat island effect and its own podium. offer views of the drum and bell towers. The 450 m high tower incorporates sky The shape and placement of the buildings gardens that wind up the façade like a are designed to echo the geometry coiling dragon. of the existing roads and maximize exterior views of the city. The buildings’ composition maintains the east to west view corridors along East Beijing Road and provides a visual link to the nearby historical drum and bell towers. NANJING GREENLAND FINANCIAL CENTER THOMAS KERWIN PROJECTS CHICAGO 2016 OLYMPIC BID MASTER PLAN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Client: Chicago 2016 Size: City of Chicago SOM, under the direction of the City of The plan placed most venues within an Chicago and Chicago 2016, participated in easy walk of transit and close to both the development of the physical plan for downtown Chicago and the lakefront. At Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic the geographic center of the plan was the and Paralympic Games. Coordinating Olympic Village, which would have provided with dozens of architects, planners, housing, training and support facilities engineers and construction firms, SOM for athletes. SOM developed conceptual was a key contributor in the planning effort planning for the Village that, following the that resulted in Chicago being selected Games, would have been transformed into to represent the United States during a mixed-use, mixed-income community the domestic phase of the bid into the in an effort to revitalize the area and international phase of the bid. Mr. Kerwin reconnect adjacent neighborhoods to the served on the Chicago 2016 Committee lakefront. Compactness, accessibility to and led efforts on behalf of SOM. transit and integration into both downtown and the lakefront were guiding principles of CHICAGO 2016 OLYMPIC BID the plan. MASTER PLAN THOMAS KERWIN PROJECTS COAST AT LAKESHORE EAST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Client: Magellan Development Group LLC Size: 62,500 sm; 671,000 sf This glass tower was designed in the unmatched within the downtown Chicago tradition of Chicago modernism, rising 47 rental market. stories above Wacker Drive to overlook The visual character of Coast stands out Lakeshore East Park, the Chicago River among its neighbors along the Chicago and Lake Michigan. In addition to 515 River. Glass handrails on the balconies residential units, the mixed-use tower create a strong horizontal line juxtaposed contains retail and amenities. All parking is with curtain walls of clear, translucent, located below Wacker Drive, enhancing the fritted glass. The horizontally captured pedestrian experience at