Throughout the month of June, the firm celebrated the LGBTQIA+ community with an array of events, fundraisers, and educational programming organized by KPF Pride.
The community group, working to raise awareness of LGBTQIA+ issues within the firm, kicked off the month participating in the AIANY Walking Tour: LGBTQ History in Greenwich Village. Those in attendance visited sites associated with early activism and learned about events that played key roles in the Gay Liberation Movement, notably including the 1969 Stonewall Uprising that Pride Month honors.
Both New York and London offices hosted Pride Happy Hour with themed food and drinks and a gallery display showcasing the various flags representing the different identities within the LGBTQ+ community. The happy hour also kicked off the KPF Pride Pin fundraiser, which this year raised proceeds for AKT, a UK-based organization supporting LGBTQ+ people aged 16-25 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living in hostile environments throughout the country.
Selected after a firm-wide design competition and vote, this year’s pin was designed by Rayka Luo of KPF Shanghai, who drew inspiration from Chinese Tangram puzzles and her own philosophy surrounding Pride Month. She explains, “There is no single answer to who we are. We celebrate the variety of opinions, embrace the unlimited possibilities, and we appreciate the uniqueness of all individuality.”
On June 25, the firm heard from a panel of co-authors of the recently released book, Out in Architecture, a collection of reflections by LGBTQIA+ architects and design professionals. Panelists included Julia Oderda, Seb Choe, Chris Daemmrich, and Gustavo Rodriguez with the conversation moderated by Beau Frail, one of the book’s co-editors, and KPF’s Francisco Alvidrez. The discussion centered around the personal stories shared in the book, portraying struggle, celebration, hope, and the need for a platform to raise awareness.
Later in the month, KPF Pride co-sponsored the AIANY LGBTQIA+ Alliance Pride Celebration. Taking place at the Lutron showroom, attendees celebrated the advancement of LGBTQ+ inclusivity, heard from KPF’s Alec Herskowitz on behalf of the Pride committee, and enjoyed performances by Cholula Lemon and Sweaty Eddie.
The group also went to see Cats: The Jellicle Ball at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, a reimagining of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that pays tribute to drag and queer ballroom history in New York. Before the show, they were treated to a special tour of the Perelman Center.
Pride-inspired models livened up the office and served as a reminder of the month’s significance, including an installation of colorful models arranged to represent the Progress Pride Flag, and a series of iterative One Vanderbilt models glowed with the colors of the rainbow. Learn more about the various LGBTQIA+ Pride Flags here.
Comprised of a cross section of the KPF community, KPF Pride meets regularly to discuss inclusivity in design and organizes events to promote social equity. The group hosts events during each Pride month and continues advocating for inclusivity throughout the year.
Learn more about the history of Pride Month and its traditions here.