Gene Kohn, a Philadelphia native and renowned architect who merged commercial with creative while designing some of the tallest buildings in the world, died on March 9 aged 92, writes Paul Goldberger for The New York Times.

Kohn graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1953. After spending three years in the Navy, he returned to his alma mater and received a master’s degree in architecture.

He began his career at the Philadelphia architecture firm of Vincent G. Kling as a designer. In 1965, he moved to New York City, where he worked as design director for Welton Becket Associates.

In 1976, he co-founded the firm Kohn Pedersen Fox and led it to become a rival to long-established international architectural firms within years.

One of Kohn’s early commissions was in his hometown. His firm built the One Logan Square complex which comprised a 30-story office tower of granite and glass with a sprawling wing sheathed in granite in front of it.

KPF has since designed over 250 skyscrapers worldwide, including the World Financial Center in Shanghai.

Read more about Eugene Kohn in The New York Times.

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Gene Kohn discusses his global architectural firm and his appreciation of Penn.