Kostow Greenwood Architects Names Two New Principals

(from left to right) Michael Kostow, Lena Dau-Ping Fan, Gary Li. The Principals, equity partners and leadership team at KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects). Photo Credit: @ Jeremiah Hadi Go

Kostow Greenwood Architects (KGA) names two new Principals and establishes equity ownership across the leadership team as they expand their practice, building on core proficiencies and successes.

Joining Founding Principal Michael Kostow, age 67, as equity partners and Principals of the firm are the two additional members of the leadership team:

·      Lena Dau-Ping Fan, promoted to Principal from Associate Principal

·      Gary Li, promoted to Principal from Associate Architect

In announcing the promotions, Michael Kostow says, “Lena and Gary step into their new roles prepared to continue the evolution and growth of our firm.  They have proven themselves as architects and as leaders and together we’re shaping and creating a business to meet our clients’ evolving aspirations and to expand on our successes.”

The two new Principals bring extensive project and client experience to their new roles having worked closely with Kostow and having benefited from the culture of design excellence and learning embodied in the firm.  Fan and Li each have considerable tenure with the firm and have expanded their responsibilities with proven successes.

Lena Dau-Ping Fan AIA, joined KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects) in 2012. Lena received a Masters in Architecture from Columbia University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida, Gainesville with a Bachelor of Design with a minor in Business. Her recent speaking engagements include being invited to present the James Earl Jones Theatre Annex project at the American Institute of Architects’ annual conference in San Francisco and the League of Historic American Theatres National Conference in Kansas City.  Lena, age 39, resides in Astoria, Queens with her husband and young daughter.

Gary Li AIA, LEED Green Associate, NCARB joined KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects) in 2017. Gary received his Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a juror for the international WAN Awards and a volunteer on NCARB’s Examination Committee.  His recent speaking engagements include being invited to present the James Earl Jones Theatre Annex project at the League of Historic American Theatres National Conference in Kansas City.  Gary, age 29, resides in Brooklyn.

An additional sign of the firm’s evolution is the leaning in to the more familiar acronym KGA, as many long-term clients and design partners have taken to referring to the studio.  The firm continues to operate under the legal name of Kostow Greenwood Architects, now working as a minority-owned business.

About KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects)

KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects) is an award-winning firm recognized for a creative design-driven approach to architecture, interiors, historic preservation and urban planning.  With a focus on performing arts, broadcast-media and creative workplace projects the firm’s design approach is centered on people, enhancing their experiences, optimizing their environments, supporting and inspiring them to excel in their creative endeavors.

Following an entrepreneurial path, Michael Kostow made a decision to create an architecture studio. In May 1987, a new kind of firm was born to bring design experience and technical rigor to complex challenges.  Design leadership and innovation for architecture and interiors for performing arts, broadcast studios, workplace and preservation projects garnered attention, recognition and loyalty. Michael would partner with like-minded architects including a 20-year co-leadership with Jane Greenwood creating a firm known for advancing diversity.

KGA’s (Kostow Greenwood Architects’) pulse is to push design ideas forward to serve their clients’ diverse communities with architectural solutions that reach both aesthetic and technological excellence. Michael’s 35-year career continues and extends to the Leadership Team of Lena Dau-Ping Fan and Gary Li. Nimble and flexible, the team thrives on exploring and experimenting with the possible.

Notable performing arts projects include the award-winning James Earl Jones Theatre Annex and the completed renovation of the Longacre Theatre, both for The Shubert Organization.  Also forthcoming is the transformation of The Apollo Theater’s legendary Victoria Theater into the Victoria Theater Redevelopment Project.  Notable completed performing arts projects include the re-envisioned adaptation of the historic Loew’s Metropolitan Theatre, for the Brooklyn Tabernacle, and the restoration of the Centennial Memorial Temple for the Salvation Army.  Several of these projects have received the coveted Lucy Moses Preservation Award from the New York City Landmarks Conservancy

Notable media broadcast and creative workplace projects include the CNN New York Broadcast Center, which occupied six floors and 250,000 sqft within the previously-named Time Warner Center; MTV’s Network Operations Center designed within their office building; Verizon Media, a division of Verizon Communications to house an ecosystem of digital brands like Yahoo, TechCrunch, HuffPost, RYOT, and MAKERS; a new headquarters for Smart Design in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and The Shop East at VSP Global which was named one of the “5 Coolest Offices” by Crain’s New York Business.

kostowgreenwood.com