Ψ, also known as the “Emperor of Skyscrapers”, was one of Manhattan’s best-known architects and a regular collaborator of President Donald Trump.
“He designed more tall buildings than anyone else in New York City history,” wrote Kathryn Brenzel of NYC real estate specialist therealdeal.com (TRD) referring to the death of Kostas Kondylis, who claimed to be proud of his Greek ancestry.
During his 50-plus year career in New York, he designed over 86 buildings. Among them was the 72-storey Trump World Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the city, which in the late 1990s had provoked opposition from local residents and also from the UN, which did not want the building to exceed the height of its headquarters next door.
In addition, he designed several buildings in the Trump Place complex, including the Trump International Hotel and Tower.
His work on 36th Street, including Manhattan Place at 630 First Avenue, built in 1984, caught the attention of the current US President.
In the 2012 documentary “Building Stories,” Kondylis recounts how meeting Trump changed the course of his life forever. “He had an amazing sense of design, and I loved it,” Trump explains in the same documentary, adding: “I went up to his office, saw him and started giving him business.”
In 2001 he built the 90-storey Trump World Tower in Manhattan, which was the largest residential complex in the world. “Costas is an architect with an exceptional aesthetic who can also scaffold,” Mr. Trump said. “He has never to date been given the credit he deserves. It is now starting slowly,” he adds.
Kostas Kondylis is considered a leading traditional architect, who uses new building materials and technology to build tall buildings.
His work is known worldwide, he has been honoured with many awards and the University of Ioannina has awarded him an honorary doctorate.
His wife, Lori, died in 1997 from breast cancer. The couple had 2 daughters, Katerina and Alexia. Alexia is the head of Kondylis Design, which deals with decorating.
He passed away on August 17, 2018 at the age of 78.
Some of his works are:
Capitol at Chelsea, New York, 2001.
Grand Beekman, New York, 2003.
The Aston, New York, 2004
240 Riverside Boulevard at Trump place, New York, 2005
Trump Tower at City Center, White Plains, banlieue de New York, 2005
Barclay Street Tower, New York, 2007
Trump parc, Stamford, banlieue de New York, 2009
“The Real Deal Magazine” prepared a documentary for Kostas Kondylis, mainly dedicated to his work, entitled “Treasures Of New York: Building Stories”.
