Eugene Kohn, a co-founder of the firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, was an ambitious architect who paved the way for it to become, within a few years, a rival to long-established international architectural firms, was known to be one of the most prolific designers of skyscrapers in the world. He tragically passed away at the age of ninety-two on Thursday at his home in Montecito, Calif, after fighting a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.
Established in 1976, KPF is known to have designed more than 250 skyscrapers around the globe, including the World Bank offices in Washington; the International Commerce Center in Hong Kong; the Infinity Tower in So Paulo; Procter & Gamble headquarters in Cincinnati; Baruch College in Manhattan; the IBM headquarters in Armonk, New York; and Abu Dhabi International Airport. One Vanderbilt and 30 Hudson Yards are two of the tallest buildings created by the firm in New York. The firm’s first commission was remodeling an armory on Manhattan’s West 66th Street into ABC Television studios, completed in 1977. Eventually, the site grew into an entire ABC campus of production studios and a new corporate office designed by KPF.
His career commenced in 1960 as a designer at the architectural firm of Vincent G. Kling in Philadelphia. He moved to New York five years later to serve as the design director at Welton Becket Associates, a well-known commercial business, until John Carl Warnecke hired him to supervise his New York office as the head designer. He was appointed as the president of the firm shortly after. He established his architectural firm, Kohn Pedersen Fox, along with his classmates from the University of Pennsylvania, Sheldon Fox, and architect William Pedersen in 1976.
He was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he studied under the tutelage of Louis I. Kahn, whose use of influential geometries shaped his perspective on architecture. Kohn also served in the United States Navy for three years on active service between his BA and MA degrees, five years on reserve duty, and retired as a lieutenant commander. He was a member of the AIA and the president of the AIA New York City Chapter. Gene led KPF as its major President and Chairman through numerous economic and cultural cycles for nearly forty happy years, guiding its expansion into a range of sectors and geographical regions. He was also a member of the Japan Institute of Architects, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the American Institute of Architects, and an honorary member of the Fellows of the Philippine Institute. The firm, which is centered in New York, currently has nine offices all across the world, including locations in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Eugene aimed to broaden the firm’s horizons beyond Manhattan from the start. An early contract was in Philadelphia, where the firm created the One Logan Square complex in 1983, with a low, spreading wing coated in granite that housed the Four Seasons Hotel and a 30-story granite and glass office tower behind it. The combination was an attempt to fit a commercial program within Logan Square’s classical, civic backdrop.
Outside of the office, Kohn lectured at Harvard Business School and the Graduate School of Design and served on the boards of trustees for his Alma University, the National Building Museum, and the Urban Land Institute, where he was recently named the first architect Life Trustee. Kohn, a US Navy veteran, and ardent artist was known to care about young people, as indicated by his support for Publicolor, a design-centered non-profit organization for which he served as Chairman.
Mr. Kohn relinquished day-to-day management of the company in the early 2000s, but he remained chairman until his death. He continued to handle numerous projects on his own, including the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, which he wrapped in a pattern of silver ribbons set over what he called “Ferrari red corrugated aluminum panels.” He stated that he wanted the design to “convey the aerodynamics of wind whipping around a moving car.”
“Gene was universally admired in the community for his capacity to establish consensus,” said KPF President James von Klemperer. “His almost unlimited curiosity about other people provided him strong insights into the social aspects of building programs and bigger urban goals.” Such significant projects as Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, the World Bank in Washington DC, One Vanderbilt in New York, and the revitalization of Covent Garden in London would not have achieved their full potential without his easy charm and focused attention.”
“Gene was well-known across the architectural community for his ability to sell KPF’s services,” William Pedersen added. “As helpful as that has been to our firm’s growth, his contribution within the firm, counseling our team, has been invaluable.”
He is survived by his first marriage’s children, Brian Kohn, Steven Kohn, and Laurie Parkinson; his stepchildren, Alexandra, Charles, and Melinda Dubow; seven grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.
References
Online sources
- Archinect. (n.d.). Kohn Pedersen Fox co-founder A. Eugene ‘Gene’ Kohn passes away aged 92. [online] Available at: https://archinect.com/news/article/150341995/kohn-pedersen-fox-co-founder-a-eugene-gene-kohn-passes-away-aged-92 [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023].
- Goldberger, P. (2023). Eugene Kohn, Architect of Skyscraping Reach, Dies at 92. The New York Times. [online] 9 Mar. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/arts/design/eugene-kohn-dead.html [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023].
- Lowe2023-03-10T10:24:00+00:00, T. (n.d.). KPF co-founder A Eugene Kohn dies aged 92. [online] Building Design. Available at: https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/kpf-co-founder-a-eugene-kohn-dies-aged-92/5122159.article [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023].
- KPF. (n.d.). A. Eugene (Gene) Kohn, Co-Founder of Global Architecture Firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, Dies at 92. [online] Available at: https://www.kpf.com/news/a-eugene-gene-kohn-co-founder-of-global-architecture-firm-kohn-pedersen-fox-dies-at-92 [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023].
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