KPF founder Gene Kohn becomes first architect to be appointed as Urban Land Institute Life Trustee

Kohn Pedersen Fox co-founder Gene Kohn has been named as a Life Trustee for the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the first architect to ever receive the honor. Awarded to individuals who have made a “meaningful, distinctive, and extraordinary” service to the ULI, the accolade was given to Kohn at the same time that KPF and Kohn’s family pledged $1 million to the ULI Foundation establishing an annual fellowship.

Along with William Pedersen and Sheldon Fox, Kohn founded KPF in 1976 and served as its first President and Chairman. Kohn has been a member of the ULI since 1982 and has previously served as both a juror for ULI competitions and a ULI Foundation Governor.

“Throughout my professional career, ULI’s values have served as a guiding principle,” Kohn said as the news was announced. “ULI has tremendous reach throughout the architectural community and has catalyzed positive change across the globe. After four decades as a member of ULI, I’m deeply grateful to be named a Life Trustee.”

In recognition of the connection between Kohn and the ULI, KPF is partnering with Kohn’s family to deliver a $1 million gift to the ULI to create the A. Eugene Kohn/KPF Fellowship. The annual fellowship will fund research on low-carbon design and associated topics at the ULI Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate.

Research topics to be investigated using the funds will include carbon neutrality in design, low-carbon materials, transit-oriented development, urban green space, and progressive urban and community policy.

News of the award comes months after KPF and Heatherwick Studio revealed their design for the new Terminal 5 at Changi Airport in Singapore. The firm has also recently broken ground on a new headquarters for T. Rowe Price in Baltimore.