Design beyond the tower footprint
KPF President and Principal James von Klemperer addressed the Urban Planning & Tall Buildings Summit in Tel Aviv on October 13. In a report published the following day, the practice described his argument for designing towers in relation to the wider district, with public spaces and different uses considered together. [1]
His examples included Lotte World Tower and Mall, Hudson Yards, One Vanderbilt and Azrieli Spiral Tower. The discussion connected ground-floor design with the surrounding public realm; the announcement reports a presentation, rather than a construction or completion milestone for those projects. [1]
Editorial analysis: for engineering teams, this district perspective suggests evaluating passenger arrivals, service access and building circulation together early in design. A tower’s connection to street level deserves attention alongside the efficiency of its upper floors.
Sources & references
Sources reviewed 16 October 2026. Undated guidance and product pages can change. Dated research and announcements retain their original context; technical principles do not substitute for locally adopted project standards.