KPF50 will honor the firm’s 50-year legacy, celebrate its ongoing achievements, and introduce new initiatives for growth and innovation.
KPF, a global leader in architecture, urban design, and planning, is proud to announce the launch of KPF50, a year-long campaign commemorating the firm’s 50th anniversary and sharing plans for its continued success. Beginning today and continuing throughout 2026, KPF50 will celebrate five decades of design excellence, innovation, and enduring impact on cities and communities worldwide, while also outlining future plans.
“We recognize that few architecture firms reach this 50-year milestone, and we’re excited to celebrate the collective effort that made this possible, beginning with the vision of founders Gene Kohn, Bill Pedersen, and Shelley Fox,” said James von Klemperer, FAIA RIBA, KPF President. “The KPF50 campaign gives us a chance to look ahead to the next 50 years and ask how we will shape buildings and cities in the decades to come. By actively engaging with our global community of clients and peers throughout the coming year, we will further the debate about how design can transform and improve our world.”
“KPF50 is a chance to connect our legacy with our ambitions,” said Forth Bagley, AIA, KPF Principal. “This campaign allows us to share the stories, ideas, and collaborations that define KPF, while introducing new initiatives that will guide our evolution. By reflecting on the firm’s journey and celebrating the people who have contributed to our success, we also look ahead to the opportunities and challenges that lie before us. Throughout the year, KPF50 will invite our clients, collaborators, and communities to join us in shaping what comes next.”
Founded by A. Eugene “Gene” Kohn, William “Bill” Pedersen, and Sheldon “Shelley” Fox in 1976 with a mission to elevate the basic building blocks of the city, KPF has evolved into a global design powerhouse with a broad portfolio. Today, the firm continues to hold true to its founding principles, delivering contextually sensitive, well-crafted, and high-performing buildings of all scales and typologies around the world. KPF50 will recognize the firm’s achievements and inspire the next generation of city-shaping design.
Key elements of the KPF50 campaign include:
- Legacy Video: Bill Pedersen reflects on KPF’s origins and the enduring relevance of its founding principles.
- Interactive History: A digital narrative outlining the firm’s history of transformation and impact.
- Film Series: A new series of KPF films debuting on YouTube highlighting the firm’s projects, people, and beliefs.
- Weekly Social Media: Posts showcasing the depth and breadth of the firm’s portfolio from 1976 to today and into the future.
- KPF Review: KPF50: An anniversary edition of the firm’s client-facing magazine.
- Two New Books: One on the evolution of architectural photography through the lens of KPF’s collaborators; the other on high-performance design in KPF projects, completing a trilogy on the firm’s mission, approach, and expertise.
- Global Celebrations: Gatherings of clients, collaborators, staff, and friends in cities KPF has helped shape.
- New Announcements: Updates on global initiatives to shape the practice in the decades to come.
Visit KPF.com/KPF50, a special, curated web page, to find everything related to the campaign. Check back regularly for exciting updates throughout the year as KPF celebrates five decades of transformation.
