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A. Eugene Kohn, architect of soaring skyscrapers, dies aged 92


Written by Oscar Holland, CNN

Architect A. Eugene Kohn, co-founder of the design agency behind a number of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, has died from most cancers aged 92, the corporate introduced Thursday.

In an announcement, Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), whose best-known tasks embody New York’s One Vanderbilt and the Shanghai World Monetary Heart, described Kohn’s architectural legacy as “enduring.”

“With attribute optimism, diplomacy and unfailing good will, he introduced collectively designers and engineers, shoppers and civic leaders to realize important tasks which have modified our cities world wide for the higher.”

One Vanderbilt, the second tallest office building in New York City, pictured in December 2022 in New York, New York.

One Vanderbilt, the second tallest workplace constructing in New York Metropolis, pictured in December 2022 in New York, New York. Credit score: Anthony Devlin/Getty Photos

Born in 1930, Kohn grew up in Philadelphia earlier than finding out underneath the celebrated Modernist Louis Kahn on the College of Pennsylvania. He established KPF, alongside William Pedersen and Sheldon Fox, in 1976, and spent the following 4 many years serving to mildew the corporate into one of many giants of recent structure.

The agency, which Kohn served as founding president and chairman, is at the moment the USA’s tenth largest structure agency by income, in keeping with an annual rating produced by Constructing Design + Development journal.

Throughout Kohn’s time at KPF, the agency designed every thing from college campus buildings to airport terminals in cities together with Philadelphia and Abu Dhabi. However it’s best identified for gravity-defying high-rises — the tallest of which, the Ping An Worldwide Finance Centre in Shenzhen, China, soars 1,966 toes above the bottom.

The Shanghai World Financial Center is seen during heavy rain in September 2020.

The Shanghai World Monetary Heart is seen throughout heavy rain in September 2020. Credit score: Aly Track/Reuters

The corporate is behind 4 of the world’s 10 tallest buildings, having additionally designed the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea, and Citic Tower — higher often called China Zun — in Beijing. Additionally it is liable for New York skyscrapers on Fifth Avenue, Broadway and Occasions Sq., in addition to for grasp planning the Hudson Yards improvement in Manhattan.

The corporate’s present president, James von Klemperer, famous Kohn’s involvement in tasks as numerous because the World Financial institution’s headquarters in Washington, D.C and the transformation of London’s historic Covent Backyard.

“His seemingly limitless curiosity in different human beings gave him highly effective insights into the social facet of constructing applications and bigger city agendas,” Von Klemperer mentioned in an announcement.

The KPF-designed Petersen Automotive Museum in LA.

The KPF-designed Petersen Automotive Museum in LA. Credit score: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Photos

Along with his work at KPF, Kohn taught at Columbia and Harvard universities and was an government fellow on the latter’s Graduate Faculty of Design. Earlier this yr, he was awarded the Freedom of the Metropolis of London, the place his agency just lately accomplished considered one of its most recognizable tasks 52 Lime Road, higher often called “The Scalpel.”

He’s survived by his spouse Barbara, three kids and 9 grandchildren.


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