2016 Women in Real Estate: Heidi Kahn

Name: Heidi Kahn

Title: Director of Design, President

Company Name: Kahn Architecture

Email: [email protected]

Years in the Industry 25

Telephone: 212-736-6705

What recent honor or achievement has meant the most to you and why?

Our firm was recently recognized by the US Small Business Administration. We were among 12 NYC area businesses to be honored, and within the group, receiving the New York District Office Women Small Business Champion of the Year. It is a reflection of growing a small business in a competitive field, advancing women’s business ownership, as well as empowering staff.

What recent project are you most proud of?

This includes our renovation at The Bricken Building and the redesign of the arcade which will be reaching completion in the coming weeks. We’ve been able to capture in the new design a beautiful blend of historic details and modern elements. This includes paying tribute to original features, a vaulted rosette stamped tin ceiling while introducing contemporary details: steel wall cladding designed with a laser-cut filigree patter which is backlit by LED’s.

When you launched your business what were some of the challenges and why?

We were founded in 2005, and our work has grown nationally. We have had to find our way growing the team, and we’ve been able to steer the firm and sustain it through some of the toughest economic downturns.

What was a significant milestone or achievement for your company?

We are in our 11th year. The business has been through several transformations and we have developed the firm into a creative and solution-oriented corporate interior design practice that is sought after for complex projects.

How do you empower other women in your workplace?

I allow for one-on-one time to collaborate and provide an atmosphere to work together, and share ideas. Watching them grow as young professionals reminds me of when I first started working in architecture & design. It’s a tough industry, deadlines and late hours can take a toll on creativity. Inspiration needs to come from many sources, and employees are encouraged to share experiences and inspiration they’ve encountered.