As a designer, Colin Koop is unafraid to take on complex problems, to design ambitiously within sensitive contexts, and to respond to the greatest societal and environmental challenges that we face today. He sees great architecture as the result of an inclusive, research-based design approach that leverages interdisciplinary collaboration to create useful, beautiful architecture that enriches the world around us.
Colin embodies the qualities that make the best architects—being a good listener, a restless thinker, a rigorous strategist, and a designer with an open and curious worldview—and these are evident in his projects. He is leading the single most sustainable project being constructed in New York City today: the New York Climate Exchange, an environmental research facility and climate solutions center on Governors Island in New York Harbor. His work for MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing and for a habitat on the Moon both demonstrate his passion for science, technology, and human-centered design. His relentless attention to detail, love of craft, and emphasis on cultivating connected communities are behind SOM’s design for the Walt Disney Company’s New York City headquarters at 7 Hudson Square. The monumental National Museum of the U.S. Army allows visitors to experience the story of the oldest branch of the United States military from a soldier’s point of view. Colin also brought the design for Moynihan Train Hall in New York, which has been hailed as one the most important U.S. infrastructure projects of the century, to the finish line.
The underlying idea in my design process is often: How far can we stretch the vocabulary of architecture, while still making buildings that respond to the imperative to truly make the world better? The most interesting work happens in the tension between our vision as individuals and the interests and needs of the collective.
Because of his personal interest in sports, Colin is leading the development of a studio focused on venues and high performance campuses. He was asked by New York Magazine to develop a design for The Queens Braid, which has an innovative timber structure that demonstrates the strength and versatility of wood as a low-carbon material for sports stadiums and other large-scale buildings. Colin led SOM’s competition-winning design for the 2026 Olympic Village in Milan.
Colin also works closely with the full partnership to advance SOM’s mission through the development and execution of a global leadership talent strategy. He is invested in creating the most productive and inspiring culture for SOM’s talent to grow, prosper, and make a lasting impact on the built environment.
