ONE MAN 86 STORIES
F
or one year, we have been on a journey through the cityscape of one of the most diverse, eclectic and fascinating places in the world with the man who is most likely responsible not only for the way New York City looks today, but also for developing the basis of how it will look in the future. Costas Kondylis has built thousands of stories all over the greater New York area and the world. He has 86 towers in New York to his credit, making him the most prolific architect of his time in the city; each building is attached to a compelling story. We are thrilled to bring you, Building Stories, a blueprint of an incredible and controversial man. Costas Kondylis has been at the vanguard of high-rise residential design in New York, and has also completed hotels, dormitories and urban mixed-use residential projects. Over the years, his contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for Design Excellence from the New York Society of Architects, the Leader of Industry Award from the Concrete Industry Board, the Service Award from the World ORT, and Person of the Year from the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce; he is also a member of the Real Estate Board of New York's Board of Governors. Born Constantine Andrew Kondylis on April 17, 1940, in Burundi (the Belgian Congo) after his parents emigrated from Greece to Africa, he traveled all over Africa with his father, an entrepreneur who ran coffee plantations and a chain of general stores. Later, upon returning to Greece as a teenager, he had the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe. He says, “For an architect, it’s always very important to be exposed to different cultures and different countries. It’s all about widening your mind." Costas showed an early affinity for architecture. When his parents were building a home in Athens, he would visit the site and give them his opinion. “It occurred to my parents that I had a talent for architecture. [But] they were very careful not to tell me what I should do because that would cause me to rebel and say no, and do something else.” Costas received a master's in architecture from the University of Geneva’s Institute of Architecture and worked as an architectural draftsman at a Swiss firm during his studies before moving to New York City, where he received a master's in urban planning from Columbia University’s School of Architecture. During the next 10 years, he worked on numerous projects in New York and Iran for Davis, Brody & Associates, and subsequently was a senior partner with Philip Birnbaum & Associates for nine years, where in 1984 he received his first design architect credit, for the Manhattan Place project.
We have a history of evolutionary designs, not revolutionary designs. Our firm takes a design and makes it better. I sometimes call this the Mercedes-Benz approach. You take a good product and keep improving it over the years.
1989 Costas founded his own firm. 2001 Costas Kondylis & Associates, PC became Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP.
Original sketches by Costas Kondylis
1927
1969
Costas' father, ANDREAS KONDYLIS, emigrated from Greece to Africa, and later was joined by VASILIKI KALOGREAS, whom he married
1953
COSTAS returns to Greece to go to boarding school
COSTAS
1966
Costas’ father, ANDREAS KONDYLIS, passes away in Greece
1940
LIFE & WORK of
Marries GRETCHEN BARNES who had returned to the United States
1967
CONSTANTINE ANDREW KONDYLIS (COSTAS) is born on April 17th in Bujumbura, Burundi.
1953-55 Attends Liodios School
Starts working as an Architect Urban Designer for DAVIS, BRODY & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS in New York City
1959
Graduates from the National School of Anavryta
1956-59 Attends National School of Anavryta
1964-67 Works with BONNARD GALERAS & PAGÉ while attending university
1959-67 Attends the Institute of Architecture at University of Geneva in Switzerland.
Meets GRETCHEN BARNES from Tulsa, Oklahoma while she was studying in Geneva. Costas earns a Diploma in Architecture from the University of Geneva
1967-69
Studies Urban Design at Columbia University School of Architeture. Costas earns his 2nd Master’s Degree in Architecture /Urban Design Thesis Project: East Midtown Manhattan Pattern For Development *Written with PATRICK RICHARD PLOTTIER
1971
Costas’ first daughter, KATHERINE CARY KONDYLIS, is born on January 29th
1975
1975
Meets LORI LOTTE NEUNER
1979
Marries LORI LOTTE NEUNER
Project Designer with Davis, BRODY & ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS, STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO in Amhurst, NY
LORI KONDYLIS is diagnosed with breast cancer
1977
ALEXIA MARIA KONDYLIS, Costas’ and Lori Lotte Neuner’s daughter is born January 26th in Tehran
1979
Project Designer with DAVIS, BRODY & ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS, RUPPERT TOWERS in Yorkville, New York City
1972
1983
Returns to NEW YORK from IRAN
1975-78 Costas goes to IRAN for DAVIS, BRODY & ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS / DAZ ARCHITECTS SUSHTAR NEW TOWN ESHAFAN INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL RASHT INDUSTRIAL CITY MASTER PLAN LAVIZAN HOUSING ELAHIYAH GARDEN APARTMENTS
BETWEEN 1980 TO 2010, COSTAS KONDYLIS HAS DESIGNED 86 BUILDINGS IN NYC
He is recognized as a leader in the design of complex, large-scale residential and hospitality projects and has set the standard for high-rise residential design.
1980 NEW YORK CITY CONDOMINIUM “BOOM” THE PROMENADE THE HORIZON THE STRAND
1979-89 Works with PHILIP BIRNBAUM & ASSOCIATES in New York City as Senior Partner
1984
MANHATTAN PLACE, the first New York City project for which Costas receives ‘Design Architect’ credit, is completed and TRUMP PLAZA, Costas’ first Trump project, is completed
1985
THE BROMLEY 225 West 83rd Street, NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis of Philip Birnbaum & Associates, Architect. Developed by William L. Haines
1989
1992
COSTAS KONDYLIS & ASSOCIATES IS LAUNCHED
1991
1990 LORI KONDYLIS opens Department of Design in Costas Kondylis & Partners LLC
1988
1986 THE SAVOY 200 East 61st Street, NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis of Philip Birnbaum & Associates, Design Architect. Developed by Morton L. Olshan, Mall Properties
279 CENTRAL PARK WEST NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Sutton East Associates. Costas favorite building at that time
1049 FIFTH AVENUE, NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Heller Equities and Investcorp
1995
1997
LORI KONDYLIS LIBERTY VIEW Costas’ second job for succumbs to cancer 99 Battery Park his new firm Place, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP and Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut and Whitelaw, Architects Developed by Milstein Properties SERVICE AWARD, WORLD ORT
LEADER OF INDUSTRY AWARD, The Concrete Industry Board
1995
1993
1991
CARLYLE TOWERS 100 Winston Drive, Cliffside Park NJ, Condominium Costas Kondylis, Architect
LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARD FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE, New York Society of Architects
1992
THE FUTURE 200 East 32nd Street, NYC, Condominium Costa Kondylis, Architect. Design Consultant, Paul Rudolph. Developed by Donald Zucker
THE MONTEREY 175 East 96th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Related Companies
1997
ALEXIA KONDYLIS and BRIAN CALLAHAN join Costas’ firm to carry on Kondylis Design established by Alexia’s mother Lori
1997
PROFESSOR EMERITUS University of Ioannina, Greece
1995
THE BRITTANY 1775 York Avenue, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Glenwood Management
1997
THE STRATHMORE 400 East 84th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Related Companies
THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA
1998
VASILIKI KONDYLIS, Costas’ mother, passes away
1999
1998
TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL AND TOWER 1 Central Park West, NYC Hotel, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP and Philip Johnson, Architects. Developed by Trump New World Management, The Galbreath Company and General Electric Pension Trust
1999
180 RIVERSIDE BLVD. AT TRUMP PLACE, NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP and Philip Johnson, Architects. Developed by Trump New World Project Management Ltd., Hudson Waterfront Associates, LP
1999
1998
TRIBECA BRIDGE TOWER 450 North End Avenue, at Battery Park City, NYC, Rental, Public School Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Richard Cook and Associates and Pasanella + Klein Stolzman + Berg. Developed by Glenwood Management
285 LAFAYETTE STREET, NYC, Condominium, Costas Kondylis Interiors Inc., Architect for the Interiors. WYS Design Partnership, Architects Developed by Allied Partners
1998
90 EAST END AVENUE NYC, Condominium, Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Sidney Fetner Associates and Gotham Construction
Costas is also responsible for a number of large-scale international projects such as the Lusail Waterfront Development in Doho, Qatar and the Dom Architecta Office Development in Almaty, Kzakhstan. He has also developed in Belaruse, Mintz, Manilla, Istanbul and other places around the world.
200 RIVERSIDE BLVD. AT TRUMP PLACE NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP and Philip Johnson, Architects Developed by Trump New World Project Management Ltd., Hudson Waterfront Associates, LP
1999
THE CHESAPEAKE 345 East 94th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Sidney Fetner Associates, Gotham Construction
1999
1999
610 PARK AVENUE Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Trump Organization, Colony Capital Advisors
1999
EASTBRIDGE LANDING 577 First Avenue, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by RFR/Davis & Partners
TRIBECA PARK 400 Chambers Street in Battery Park City, NYC, Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects and Robert A. M. Stern, Architects. Developed by Related Companies
2000
BRIDGE TOWER PLACE 401 East 60th Street, NYC Condominium, Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Brodsky Organization and Peter M. Lehrer
2001 2001
160 RIVERSIDE BLVD. AT Trump Place, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, and Philip Johnson Architects. Developed by Trump New World Project Management Ltd., Hudson Waterfront Associates, LP
PARAMOUNT TOWER 240 East 39th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Glenwood Management
2001
THE LYRIC 95th Street and Broadway, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Related Companies
2001
2001
CHELSEA CENTRO 200 West 26th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Rockrose Development Corp.
2001
THE CAPRI 231-235 East 55th Street, NYC Rental, Student Dormitories for Marymount College Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by AIB Management
THE CAPITOL 776 Avenue of the Americas, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Adell Group/The Witkoff Group
THE PALISADES 100 Old Palisades Road, Fort Lee, NJ Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Applied Companies and Vomado Realty Trust 2001
Nicknamed “The World’s Tallest Residential Building”
2001
2000
2001
TRUMP WORLD TOWER 845 U. N. Plaza, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Trump Organization, Daewoo
2001
ONE RIVER PLACE 42nd Street & 12th Avenue, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Silverstein Properties
PARK LAUREL 15 West 63rd Street, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP and Beyer Blinder Belle, Architects. Developed by Vomado Realty Trust
2003
2002
THE CAROLINE 56-74 West 23rd Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Cook+Fox Architects. Developed by Pan Am Equities
2002
ARMORY PLACE AND THE SIERRA 125 West 14th Street/130 West 15th Street, NYC NYU Faculty Residences, Rental Apartments, YMCA Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Design Architects. Developed by The Related Companies
111 WORTH STREET, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects Developed by Forest City Ratner
THE ANTHEM 222 East 34th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Rosebud Associates
BEEKMAN REGENT 931 First Avenue, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Beekman International Center, LLC
43 WEST 64TH STREET, NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Athena Group
2004
GRAND BEEKMAN 400 East 51st Street, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Alexico Management Group
THE ALEX 205 East 45th Street, NYC Hotel, Short-term Rental Apartments Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Alexico Management Group
THE NICOLE 400 West 55th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Gotham Construction
2004
2003 2003
2004
1955 FIRST AVENUE, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by BFC Partners
2003
2003 2002
2004
220 RIVERSIDE BLVD. AT TRUMP PLACE, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects Developed by Trump New World Project Management Ltd., Hudson Waterfront Associates, LP
2004
THE ASTON 800 Sixth Avenue, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Adell Corporation
240 RIVERSIDE BLVD. AT TRUMP PLACE, NYC “THE HERITAGE” Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Trump New World Project Management Ltd., Hudson Waterfront Associates, LP
2005 2004
THE DEVONSHIRE 1 Devonshire Place, Boston, MA Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects, Developed by Lawrence Ruben Co.
2004
TOWER 31 9 West 31st Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Atlantic Realty Development
2004
GRAND TIER 930 Broadway, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Byer Blinder Belle, Consultants. Developed by Glenwood Management
ONE MORTON SQUARE NYC, Condominium, Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Jules Demchick for J.D. Carlisle Development
2004
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE 2700 Broadway at 103rd Street, NYC, Residences for Graduate Students Costas Kondylis and Partners LLP, Interior Architect. Cooper Robertson and Partners, Facade Architect. Developed by Columbia University
THE WESTPORT 500 West 56th Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Related Companies
110 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Anbau Enterprises, Inc
2005
2004-08 GOVERNOR OF THE REAL ESTATE BOARD OF NEW YORK
2004
2006
MOSCOW HOUSING STUDIES Moscow, Russia Residential Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects
2006
PERSON OF THE YEAR State of Israel Bonds
2005 2004
TRUMP PARK AVENUE 502 Park Avenue, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Trump Organization
TRUMP TOWER AT CITY CENTER White Plains, Westchester County, NYC, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects, Developed by The Trump Organization, with Louis R. Cappell
2006 217-219 WEST BROADWAY, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, and Cook + Fox Architects. Developed by Epic, LLC
2005 PERSON OF THE YEAR, Hellenic-Amercian Chamber of Commerce
2006
2007
THE ESSEX HOUSE 160 Central Park South, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Colgate Development LLC
2007
2007
2006
THE LINK 310 West 52nd Street, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Sosner Tshuva Architects, Interior Design, Elad Properties
200 CHAMBERS STREET, NYC Condominium, Retail, Community Facilities Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Jack Resnick & Sons, Inc.
33 WEST END AVENUE, NYC Retail, Residential Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Atlantic Development Group
2007
985 PARK AVENUE, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects, Developed by The Icon Group
2007
2006 2006
THE ARCADIA 408 East 79th Street, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Hiyee Realty Corporation
THE PLAZA HOTEL & RESIDENCES 768 Fifth Avenue, NYC, Condominium, Hotel, Retail Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects, Sosner Tshuva Architects, Interior Design. Developed by Elad Properties
CRYSTAL VALLEY Tang-Jeong, Asan, Korea Residential Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Samsung Electronics
ARRIS LOFTS 27-28 Thompson Avenue Long Island City, NY Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Andalex Group
2007 2007 157 EAST 84TH STREET, NYC Loft/Condominium Conversion Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Core Development
45 PARK AVENUE, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by SJP Properties
2007
88 LEONARD STREET, NYC Retail, Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Boymelgreen Developers
2007
2008
THE ATELIER 635 42nd Street, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Moinian Group
2008
BARCLAY TOWER 10 Barclay Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Glenwood Management
COLUMBUS TOWERS Warren Street and Christopher Columbus Drive, Jersey City, NJ Rental, Commercial Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects Developed by RKG Associates
511 NINTH AVENUE, NYC Hospitality, Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Assa Properties
2008
2008 2007 RENAISSANCE SQUARE 221 Main Street, White Plains, Westchester County, NY St. Regis Hotel, Offices, Retail, Residential Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects Developed by Cappeli Enterprises Inc.
80 DEKALB AVENUE, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Forest City Ratner
188 LUDLOW STREET, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Edison Properties
2007
2007
2008
1330 FIRST AVENUE, NYC Rental, Retail, Hospital Staff Housing Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by New York Presbyterian Hospital/Royal Charter Properties, Inc.
THE LAUREL 402 East 67th Street, NYC Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Alexico Management Group, Inc
2008 200 WEST END AVENUE, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by The Clarett Group
2008
THE PLATINUM 46th Street & 8th Ave., NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by SJP Properties
2008
COLUMBUS SQUARE, NYC 808 Columbus Avenue 795 Columbus Avuene 775 Columbus Avenue 801 Amsterdam Avenue Rental, Retail Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architect, Developed by Chetrit Group
2008
‘W’ SOUTH BEACH HOTEL & RESIDENCES Colins Avenue and 22nd Street, Miami Beach, Fl Condominium, Hotel Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by TriStar Capital, RFR Holding LLC, and The Related Companies
2010
2008
THE RUSHMORE 80 Riverside Boulevard, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Extell Development Corporation
2008
2008
SIDNEY L. STRAUSS AWARD New York Society Architects
SILVER TOWERS 620 West 42nd Street, NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by Silverstein Properties
RIVERWALK COURT 415 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects Developed by Related Companies and The Hudson Companies, Inc.
2009 2008 TRUMP PARC Washington Boulevard Stamford, CT Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects. Developed by F.D. Rich Company, The Trump Organization, and Cappelli Enterprises Inc.
2008 THE CONTINENTAL, NYC 885 Sixth Avenue Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects Developed by Tower 111, Rose Associates
GALLERIE 515 HOTEL AND CONDOMINIUM RESIDENCES 515 Ninth Avenue, NYC Hotel and Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects Developed by Assa Properties
2009 COSTAS KONDYLIS & PARTNERS IS DISSOLVED
2010 LIBERTY GREEN (Green Building) 300 North End Avenue, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP and Goldstein, Hill & West Architects, Interior Architects, Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn, Exterior Design Architect. Developed by Milstein Properties
BACK AT THE DRAWING BOARD!
In 2010, Costas launched his new firm, Kondylis Architecture, a 10 person operation focusing on international development, urban design and architecture. He has returned to his roots - being an architect
2010
KONDYLIS ARCHITECTURE IS ESTABLISHED
2010
THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL AND TOWERS WESTCHESTER 1 Renaissance Square, White Plains, NY Hotel Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architects and Harvey Kaufman, PC, Frank Nicholson, Inc. , Interior Design Developed by Louis R. Cappelli
2010
SANTA DOMINGO WATERFRONT, Dominican Republic Kondylis Architecture PROPOSED
2010
THE REMY 101 West 28th Street, NYC Condominium Kondylis Architecture. Developed by Adell Corporation PROPOSED
2010 2010 THE ALDYN 60 Riverside Blvd., NYC Rental Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP, Architect. Developed by Extell Development Corporation
LIBERTY LUXE (Green Building) 200 North End Avenue, NYC Condominium Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP and Goldstein, Hill & West Architects, Interior Architects, Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn, Exterior Design Architect. Developed by Milstein Properties
2010 2010 110 WEST 57TH STREET, NYC Theatre, Residential, Commercial Kondylis Architecture. Developed by Glick International Development Corporation PROPOSED
2010
BANK OF CHINA New York, NY Commercial, Condominium Kondylis Architecture. Developed by Andalex Group PROPOSED
GREENPOINT LANDING Brooklyn, New York Master Planning Kondylis Architecture. Developed by Park Tower Group PROPOSED
T
rump World Tower is a skyscraper on Manhattan’s East Side. The building is 860 feet high (90 stories), with curtain wall façades of black-bronze-tinted glass. The large windows allow for extensive views of the East River, the United Nations and Midtown
Manhattan. Terence Riley, chief curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art, said, “It works urbanistically, and the glass curtain wall is the best New York has seen in a long time.”
Costas says, "Donald is a very challenging individual. I’ve happened to know Donald for 20 years. He's a real visionary. He’s an entrepreneur like all the American entrepreneurs, like the Paleys and the Carnegies — they had guts. Donald’s vision always includes a building that is glamorous, innovative and demands the attention of the marketplace.” Costas adds, “[Trump] wanted a gold building, gold this and gold that, which ended up [darker and more subdued]. The only compromise was the way the canopy had to incorporate the Trump name [in gold]. The way I justify it for myself, it’s the brandi ng of the building. That’s something you sometimes have to deal with. Like designing for Gucci, it’s maintaining a brand.”
When asked about his favorite projects, Costas replies, “Trump World Tower for its aesthetics and for the fact that we had to reinvent high-rise technology for the building. … When designing Trump World Tower, one of the tallest residential structures in the world … we had to rethink the apartment building.” To provide the residents of Trump World Tower with a maximum level of comfort, a 600-ton damper system was engineered to reduce the sway of the building. Dr. Ahmad Rahimian, structural engineer and president of Cantor Seink Group, says, “The unique structural design and pioneering solutions used for Trump World Tower set a new standard for high-rise design and construction.” New York Times architectural critic Herbert Muschamp summarized, “Aggression and desire, violence and sex: Put them together and they add up to Trump World Tower, undeniably the most primal building New York has seen in quite a while.”
TRUMP WORLD TOWER
/ original sketches by Costas Kondylis
“
Each project is like a child to me — they are all special.
”
Costas says, “Some of my other favorite projects I’ve done include 279 Central Park West — it’s one of my all-time favorites because it fits into the existing Central Park West context but also adds something very new there.”
Costas says, “With housing, you have a sense of accomplishing something on a social level. You build neighborhoods.”
“
Since I have an urban design background, the assembly of buildings, what kind of space the buildings create, the activity at street level, and the life of the community is an exciting thing for me.
”
“I love to design a building that fits well with an established neighborhood, but if the job is to put up a new building in an area that does not have any distinctive architectural quality yet, I feel obliged to put up the best possible building, hoping that in the future, when other buildings come, they will try to emulate the quality of our building.”
Costas was pivotal in designing Riverside South, one of the largest private developments undertaken in Manhattan. His company designed seven towers in the project, extending from West 61st Street to West 72nd Street.
Riverside Boulevard, New York City / original sketches by Costas Kondylis
“
I was the experiment. I was the architect who went out there and worked with developers, and every architect friend said I was going to go out there and get killed by them.
”
B
eing an architect for a developer is almost like a different profession. It is different than being an architect for a public building. A developer’s building is a machine to make money for its owner, and as such, much of the design must follow the financial plan. It’s well explained in the book by the historian Carol Willis, Form Follows Finance. My challenge is to marry great architecture with successful real estate business. I wanted to prove that good architecture is good business.” “Developers appreciate design as long as you can show that design adds value to the building. You need to propose designs that will also be exciting to the buyer. The buyer selects an apartment because they get excited about it, but they’re also thinking that in two or three years, ‘I’ll want to move or sell my apartment,’ so they look at certain things in the apartment and say, ‘When I sell, I’ll get my money back or even make money.’” “It takes a great developer to make a great building. Successful developers must be creative individuals. They have a vision and I try to marry my vision with theirs. The developer could not do it without me and I couldn’t do it without the developer. … Sometimes we have battles. Some I win, and some I lose, and some I come out okay. I can’t think of one building I’d never want to associate my name with. I push the project to the limit until I feel I’m losing a client. We can’t afford to lose a client. Or rather, we can afford to, but it’s not professional.”