KPF’s President sat down with Rens Hayes for a wide-ranging conversation about the ideas that drive KPF’s mission as well as the firm’s legacy of innovation and approach to mentorship.
As KPF celebrates its 50th anniversary as an architectural practice, Jamie joined podcast host Rens Hayes for a lively discussion of what makes the firm unique. Jamie focuses on the idea of connection—between buildings and streets, towers and transit, public space and private development, and even architect and client—as a driving impulse behind KPF’s transformational architectural work in major cities such as New York, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, and Singapore, among many others, as well as its homegrown culture. “This idea of opening up and urban connection was something that, from the beginning [of the firm’s history] was part of the instinct of our contextual architecture,” he recalls.
He also shares what it takes to lead a global architecture firm without stepping away from design itself. KPF’s culture is shaped by architects who design, lead, teach, debate, and stay close to the forces changing cities around the world. From succession and authorship to AI, agility, public-private partnerships, and the future of urban density, their discussion touches upon many of the most critical topics in architectural discourse today.
Design Development spotlights perspectives from leaders in design, real estate, development, and construction.
