Kenneth Drucker, director of design, Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum: Drucker helps elevate firm's stature in New York City.

Kenneth Drucker didn't always dream of designing buildings. As a child, he loved the world of science. Little did he know that while pursuing his pre-med degree, an elective course in sculpture would change the course of his entire life. Although he still enjoyed science, the class helped him cultivate a passion for sculpture and art. In reconsidering his career options, architecture emerged as an ideal combination of his two latest passions.

After receiving his B.Arch. degree from Cornell, Drucker took the first steps toward becoming a notable architect, starting his career with Hartman-Cox Architects in Washington, D.C. In addition to his daily work schedule at the firm, he took a position at Kent State University teaching first-year and fourth-year design studios before returning to school in order to earn his master's degree from Harvard's Graduate School of Design.

His knowledge and keen eye for design came into play while working for some of the country's top architecture firms including Kohn Pederson Fox and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates' (HHPA). He stayed with HHPA for nine years, working primarily on museums, universities, performance venues and cultural buildings until 1998 when the opportunity to join HOK New York as director of design presented itself.

"I knew that HOK already boasted some great national and international clients and I was very impressed by the partners in the New York office," said Drucker. "It seemed like an ideal platform from which to do significant work in one of the world's greatest cities."

Drucker works closely with the firm's other design leaders including Juliette Lam, Director of Interiors and Chuck Siconolfi, Health Care Director. The three are responsible for the HOK NY's strategic leadership and daily operations.

They also manage a staff of 150 professionals including designers, project managers, technical staff, strategic consultants, medical & lab planners, and construction administration specialists.

The trio has seamlessly infused their talents and skills to create some of the most recognized architecture for commercial developers, major corporations, cultural institutions and public and private universities. For the past eight years, Drucker has played a pivotal role in elevating the firm's stature in the city. "The challenge is that several of the world's great firms are based here and HOK is still viewed by many as an outsider," he noted. "New York is an arena which includes international and New York firms as well as smaller, design-oriented practices focusing on state-of-the-art work. Design has become the differentiator in winning new commissions."

Drucker believes that meaningful architecture comes from the search for solutions inherent in each situation. In order to achieve results that meet both pragmatic and aesthetic issues, the design effort should be a process of discovery. Solutions should express a plurality of ideas rather than a singular theme. Drucker and the other team leaders strive to generate a clear sense of place--with a human scale--and to create a logical relationship between programmatic functions and user sensibilities. The firm is also interested in integrating sustainable design, exploring the use of new materials, expressing building structure and technologies, and creating buildings that are indigenous to their surroundings.

On a firm-wide level, Drucker considers HOK's blend of diverse talents as the firm's greatest strength. "We boast an unparalleled collection of recognized experts in specific building types. Additionally, our shared belief in a sustainable world has become a foundation of design that we continue to build upon."

Some of the firm's most notable projects include the design commission for new facilities at the U.S. Headquarters of BMW North America in Woodcliff Lake, NJ; the master plan, modernization and expansion project for Harlem Hospital in New York City; the planning, design and construction of the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island; the master plan and Environmental Impact Statement for expanding the Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The firm's Interiors group has also played a major role in its overall success, recently completing the "rolling refurbishment" of Time Inc.'s headquarters; the offices of Guy Carpenter; Ann Taylor Headquarters and American Express Publishing, all located in Manhattan. Furthermore, the Health Care group, a national leader in designing the next generation of medical facilities, designed the new 12-story Clinical Services Building at the University Health Network's Toronto General Hospital; the building recently opened after a decade-long effort.