Ken, a leader in SOM’s New York studio, is an expert on his home city. Ken knows New York’s development world like the back of his hand, having managed some of the most complex building projects in the city’s recent history.
It’s a thrill to build in the world’s architectural test kitchen. New York is a place that can transform before your eyes—we get to work with the world’s most ambitious companies and our incredible designers to build a more sophisticated and sustainable city. With the right vision, anything is possible here.
In his 35+ years building in New York and beyond, Ken has realized projects that inspire, enhance the public realm, and cement the city as a place where the most daring, complex ideas can be built. Ken’s work includes One World Trade Center—the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere—and its neighbor, 7 World Trade Center, both built under extraordinary circumstances. Ken led SOM’s work at 35 Hudson Yards, an undulating residential tower and home to the first Equinox Hotel. More recently, Ken led construction of Manhattan West, a seven-million-square-foot mixed-use master planned development built above active railroad tracks, encompassing four new towers and reuse of an existing loft building. Today, Ken is leading the most significant renovation and reuse project in New York’s history, the complete transformation and ground-up renovation of the landmark Waldorf Astoria.
Ken is the President of AIA New York, charged with leading the organization with optimism and pride through one of the AEC industry’s most challenging periods in recent history. He also serves on the Urban Green Council Board of Directors, the Center for Architecture Board of Trustees, and the Architectural Review Board of Irvington, New York.
