NEWYORKCITY Teamwork and Collaboration An Interview with A. Eugene Kohn, Chairman, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates EDITORS’ NOTE On July 4, 1976, mixed-use projects, both in the United A. Eugene Kohn founded Kohn States and abroad. More than 100 of Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), the fi rm’s completed projects are cer- alongside William Pedersen and tifi ed, or pursuing, green certifi cation. Sheldon Fox, with a commitment to outstanding design, quality of What are the key ingredients that execution, and exceptional client make for a great architecture fi rm? service. Since starting the fi rm, we have The Founding Partners wanted strongly believed in teamwork and to create a fi rm that would succeed collaboration as opposed to stressing Overall, the key ingredients that have proved well past their own tenures. With the star architect or individual. The our fi rm successful is an outstanding staff, excep- this in mind, they sought talented reality is that one architect cannot con- tional design talent, opportunities with excellent people who could be as good, and A. Eugene Kohn ceive all the projects that a fi rm might clients, and the successful execution of projects. ideally better, than themselves. do and develop the design alone; it How can the older buildings in New These employees, mentored by the founders, is truly a team effort. On any given project, we York City compete with all of the new prod- would be the next leaders at KPF – and hold the might have as many as 60 people working on it, uct available? responsibility of doing the same for following guided by design leadership, all while assuring First off, at a basic level, older buildings generations. that proper credit is due. simply cannot compete with the rising stock of Today, Kohn serves as Principal and Aside from these organizational tenets, new buildings. However, the demand for repo- Chairman of Kohn Pedersen Fox. Holding it might seem obvious that the fi rm needs to sitioned buildings is strongest when the exist- Bachelor of Arts and Master of Architecture secure projects and execute them well in order ing zoning codes do not benefi t demolition and degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, he to survive. Yet a successful building need not new construction on the same site. served in the U.S. Navy on active duty between only be visually interesting – too many of For example, where an older existing build- his academic degrees and, after graduation, today’s critics look for a different aesthetic or ing might have a larger fl oor-to-area ratio (FAR) remained in the Reserve for another fi ve years, form. A building design should work on many than the current zoning might allow, replacing retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. He is an levels for both its client and tenants, includ- it entirely would mean building a smaller struc- Executive Fellow of the Graduate School of ing being both structurally and fundamentally ture and a lower return on investment. If the Design at Harvard University where he teaches, sound and built on time. This is best served by site is ideal, the existing structure is in reason- in addition to teaching at Harvard Business the sort of collaboration that KPF allows, where ably good shape, and there is no opportunity School. He helped establish the Harvard Real we’ve gathered the most talented architects to for additional FAR, then developers will often Estate Center Academic Initiative, is a founding balance both design and management efforts choose to improve the existing structure with member of the Wharton School Real Estate Center for every detail of every structure. minor or major renovation. Advisory Board, and has served for over 30 years on the Board of Overseers at PennDesign. Kohn was a trustee for the University of Pennsylvania and was honored with the 2010 Alumni Award of Merit by the university, the highest award presented to alumni. Kohn has also been rec- ognized with the Wharton Real Estate Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the University of Overall, the key ingredients that have proved our Pennsylvania – PennDesign Dean’s Medal of Achievement, the highest honor awarded by the fi rm successful is an outstanding staff, exceptional institution, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and many others. design talent, opportunities with excellent clients, FIRM BRIEF Operating as one firm with six global offices, KPF (kpf.com) is one of the world’s premier architecture fi rms with approx- and the successful execution of projects. imately 600 staff members from 42 different countries, together speaking a collective 40 lan- guages. The fi rm’s diverse portfolio comprises corporate headquarters, investment offi ce build- ings, hospitality, academic, medical, research, civic, museum, transportation, residential, and 54 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2017 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 40, NUMBER 4 Have the needs for offi ce space changed spaces. In London, our repositioning of the considerably? Unilever House, which originally had an open The needs for office space continue to plan and then small offi ces, introduced a new change, with trends like the open plan becom- central atrium with offi ces in its restored wings ing increasingly popular. Yet this is nothing and suspended bridges and platforms that pro- new – if we were to look at offi ce space from mote informal collaboration. From our varied the 1800s, we would see everyone working in experience, it seems like there is no limit to open, factory-like layouts. Even the executives designing work space, but I do believe that we of the company did not have private offi ces, need to be sensitive to different types of people but paneling in the inside of the exterior wall and habits to get the best out of everyone. with open spaces and signifi cant space between Is Midtown Manhattan still as relevant work areas. From approximately the 1950s to as in the past or has the focus moved to 1990s, you could tell how important someone other areas? was by the number of window modules in their There is no question that tenants have a offi ce, with each module measuring roughly greater choice than in the past. Midtown still fi ve feet. The Chairman or President might have has the advantage of Grand Central Station with eight modules or more, and a more junior offi - an excellent choice of subways and trains, even cer would have two or three. For the senior though it is in need of upgrades. Many compa- executives, high-priced antique furniture and nies and their employees still like to have an oriental rugs would augment their status. address on Park Avenue, Fifth Avenue, or More recently, large, open work areas Madison Avenue and enjoy the proximity to have resulted from the desire for teams to work Central Park. Midtown will always be an attrac- together and provide flexible space where tive location, although it will probably remain people might be able to take their laptops or expensive because of convenience, all its assets, iPads to the cafeteria or outdoors if the weather and its name recognition. permits. However, not everyone works well in Lower Manhattan and the Wall Street area open space, and the privacy to think and solve still have widespread appeal and excellent trans- 30 Hudson Yards exterior (opposite page); 30 Hudson Yards Coach problems before approaching a team environ- portation, remaining ideal for people living in Atrium (above); 390 Madison Avenue details and exterior (below) ment can be benefi cial to collaboration. Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Downtown. Lower As I look to the future, I think work space Manhattan, with views across both rivers and Compared with other architects, we’ve will continue to adjust by responding to the to the Statue of Liberty, is an attractive area to probably done more than most in terms of requirements of individuals to both do their jobs live and work. For the moment, it seems to rank retrofitting existing buildings for a different properly and excel in their performance. What behind Midtown and the Hudson Yards area. use or improved them for their original use. that means is that there will be offi ces, not nec- Hudson Yards is the major development 390 Madison (formerly 380 Madison) was an essarily for the executives, but for those who that has changed the dynamic of New York, existing office tower that was overbuilt on require privacy to do their jobs well. Obviously, altering the landscape of where companies its site by over 150,000 square feet under the CEOs of companies may maintain their pri- choose to locate. Although it is still early, you the current zoning. The owner didn’t want vate offi ces and conference rooms where they can see that its demand is growing due to the 7 to tear it down because, obviously, it would can meet with other executives and guests in line station a couple of blocks north. Developed be replaced with a building smaller in size. private. At many companies, particularly tech by Related Companies and masterplanned by As a result, we were asked to change its companies like Bloomberg in New York or KPF, the neighborhood’s fi rst three offi ce build- disposition so dramatically so that it would Google in California, you see both food and ings, also designed by KPF, are fully leased. appear to be a new building with greater outdoor opportunities bringing people together One or two other buildings that are now under floor-to-ceiling heights and more open space outside of conventional work spaces. It is all construction also have a solid list of tenants.