Michael Kostow, Founding Principal, Lena Dau-Ping Fan, Principal and Gary Li, Principal, all three being equity owners of KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects), announced Nov. 12 the consolidation of Mitchell Kurtz Architects with KGA. Mitchell Kurtz will join KGA as a Principal and continue to oversee projects. The leadership and ownership of KGA will remain with Kostow, Fan and Li.
In announcing the consolidation, Michael Kostow explains, âMitchell and I have been friends and colleagues for years, having founded our respective firms at the same time. The mutual trust and admiration opened the door for a discussion of how KGA could deepen capabilities and expertise and how Mitchell could continue to provide exemplary design work for existing and new clients without the operational needs of maintaining an independent firm.â
In addition to Mitchell joining KGA, architects Paul Maguda and Dan Jacques transition to KGA as Associate and Project Architect respectively. The expanded KGA team will be located at the existing studio at 594 Broadway in Manhattan.
Mitchell Kurtz founded his firm in 1986. It became recognized for its broad knowledge of design of performing arts and civic buildings. Coupled with his earlier career experience in theater production and design for resident theaters and touring companies, Mitchell and his colleagues established specialized expertise with performing arts facilities, theaters, art studios, and dance spaces.
The consolidation of Mitchell Kurtz Architects with KGA brings even greater expertise of working on performing arts facilities. Kurtzâ designs for Playwrights Horizons, New York Theatre Workshopâs theater and their scenic and costume production facility, Signature Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre, and Chautauquaâs Bratton Theater and their Amphitheater are admired for their intimacy and integration of theatrical infrastructure.
On Broadway, Kurtzâ immersive transformation of the performance space for the 2023 production of Here Lies Love at the Broadway Theatre was ground breaking and an outcome of a long-time involvement with the production which started at The Public Theater, traveled to Seattle Rep, and then on to Broadway.
Kurtzâ work with production designers and producers in support of their spatial transformation of existing spaces for productions at St. Annâs Warehouse, New York Theatre Workshop, Ars Nova, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Park Avenue Armory, and Metropolitan Opera is notable as industry and audience favorites.
KGA (Kostow Greenwood Architects) is an award winning, Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) 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 firmâs design approach is centered on people, enhancing their experiences, optimizing their environments, supporting and inspiring them to excel in their creative endeavors.
Paving 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’s 35+ year career continues and extends to the new Leadership Team of Lena Dau-Ping Fan and Gary Li who were named Principals in September 2023.
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. The opening of The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater marked the first physical expansion in The Apolloâs 90-year history. KGAâs leadership of the Kit Kat Club Renovation Team to bring scenic designer Tom Scuttâs vision into reality and completely transform the interior of the August Wilson Theatre for the production of Cabaret garnered Scutt a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design in a Musical.
Additional performing arts projects include the re-envisioned adaptation of the historic Loewâs 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; MTVâs 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 â5 Coolest Officesâ by Crainâs New York Business.
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