Gene Kaufman, AIA, RA
Principal

Education
Cornell University, Bachelor of Architecture, 1981

Gene Kaufman was born in New York City in 1958 and educated at Cornell University. Prior to starting his own practice, he was assistant State Architect of New Mexico; Design Director at Buro Raeber-Sieber Architekten in Switzerland and Associate at internationally renowned Rafael Vinoly Architects in New York City.

Capitalizing on a growing amount of free-lance work, he formed his own firm, Gene Kaufman Architect (GKA) in 1986. Within months he won a competition and several other commissions. The practice grew by focusing on commercial renovations, commercial interiors and residential work.

During the 1990's, Gene expanded the firm’s reach into new construction for the private market and also into institutional work. The firm won a following among the business community for design solutions that enhanced revenue but limited construction costs.

On the public side, the firm won competitions for major university projects for SUNY and CUNY, and was awarded commissions by New York City for three public schools for SCA. In coordination with these projects, he developed an expertise in modular buildings and construction, and is one of the foremost authorities in the U.S.

Starting in the late 1990's, the firm moved in the area of hotels and quickly became the leading hotel architect in New York City. GKA is responsible for over 80 hotel projects, more than 30 of which are open and operating today.

Gene Kaufman was profiled in "New York Architects, Volume 3" (U.S.A. Books, 1991), a review of sixteen leading New York City architects. His work has been exhibited in museums around the world, including Asia, Europe, North and South America. Gene Kaufman's work has also been published in numerous architectural and real estate periodicals, newspapers and repeatedly in the New York Times.