In October, Marianne Kwok and Hana Kassem, both leaders in the KPF studio, presented on their exciting and ambitious work with the firm, as well as the experience and challenges of being a woman in architecture today.
The AIA Women in Architecture Committee and LMNOP (Leadership, Mentoring, Networking & Opportunities for A&D Professionals) organized a special presentation in conjunction with Archtober. Headlining the evening were Marianne Kwok, who championed the women-led Hudson Yards team and the project’s success, and Hana Kassem, who spoke to the importance of public space in architecture. They discussed their experience as women designers and credited their excellent mentors for helping them launch their careers in architecture.
Director Marianne Kwok has more than 23 years of professional experience in architectural design for a variety of built commercial, residential, and cultural facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Since joining KPF in 1994, she has been the Senior Designer for some to the firm’s most high-profile projects, including numerous corporate headquarters, mixed-use commercial developments, and master planning projects.
Since joining KPF in 2001, Principal Hana Kassem has led design teams for a variety of project types and in locations around the world, bringing more than 20 years of design experience to these endeavors. Most recently, Hana has led the design team working on the NYCHA Red Hook Houses Sandy Resiliency and Renewal Program in Brooklyn. The project focuses on rebuilding, resiliency and sustainability as it improves dated public housing and infrastructure, including the design of two feature co-gen power plants that serve the development and a localized flood-protection system involving landscape strategies.
Learn more about the upcoming AIANY events here.