KPF

KPF's philosophy is firmly rooted in the belief that success is the result of collaboration and dialogue. Developed by the firm's founding partners, Eugene Kohn, FAIA, William Pedersen, FAIA, FAAR, and Sheldon Fox, FAIA, the KPF creative process stresses an open exchange of ideas both within the firm and more importantly, between the client and the firm, throughout the development of a project. Through this "comparative process," we are able to ensure that the client's needs and desires are addressed at each turning point in the life of a project. Ideas are not submitted solely for approval or rejection, but rather for discussion with the hopes of spurring additional questions and solutions that will each help craft a more complete structure.

The "Comparative Process"
The comparative process is not restricted to our interaction with a client; however, a similar sentiment is central to the manner in which we weave our buildings into the environmental fabric. Each KPF building has its own personality yet all KPF buildings share a never ending dedication toward creating a dialogue with their surroundings. Our buildings aim to make an important contribution to the environment in which they are situated, but not to the point where they disturb the delicate equilibrium that exists in modern cities but instead projecting a singular image that complements the structures and environment that surround them.

Today's business climate makes it necessary for buildings to adapt to different roles and meet various internal needs, and often this cannot be accomplished through the traditional edifice. KPF buildings, such as 333 Wacker Drive in Chicago, the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Baruch College in New York, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, DZ Bank in Frankfurt, and the Shanghai World Financial Center exemplify our belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The buildings are comprised of unique, easily discernible parts that are smoothly integrated into one cohesive structure. By creating a building comprised of components that respectively addresses individual needs, KPF maximizes the given space and creates equilibrium between internal needs and external capabilities where each empirical part of the structure contributes to the whole, just as the complete building augments its urban context.

Creating buildings that meet the changing needs of our clients is paramount to everything we do yet we achieve this goal amidst an ongoing search for greater technical capacity and artistic enrichment. Our buildings exemplify our belief that the art of architecture and art of urbanism are inseparable, and that when a KPF structure is completed, the client has not only made a contribution to their future, but the future of a city as well.