Andy Cohen is the global co-chair of Gensler, the world’s leading architecture and design firm. But his career began in his family’s dairy store on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, helping customers and stocking shelves—all while nurturing a passion for drawing and sketching. “Unfortunately, tragedy struck when my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer,” Andy explains. “I was expected to take over the business, but he told me, ‘I’m selling the store, follow your dreams.’” Andy took his advice, enrolling in the Architecture program at Pratt, and after his father passed, he moved to California to join Gensler.
Over his 45 years with the company, Andy has helped keep Gensler at the forefront of an evolving industry. For 20 years, he served as co-CEO with Diane Hoskins, before stepping into the role of global co-chair in 2024. Together, they have exemplified collaborative leadership, overseeing the strategy and operations of a global practice known for its award-winning design innovation and research. Under their guidance, Gensler has grown to become the most admired firm in the field, with some 7,000 people across 58 offices, serving more than 3,500 clients in over 100 countries. And the Gensler Research Institute has become the industry’s leading source of industry knowledge and insights, with its reports on user experience, urbanism, and more recognized as key indicators of global trends.
Today, Andy is tracking how technologies like AI could transform the field, especially for young architects. “The implications are significant—what used to take a month to design can now be done in a day,” he says. “We’ve hired many talented students from Pratt over the years; while we used to train them to be technically proficient, we’re now also guiding them toward thinking more strategically about how advanced innovation platforms can enhance and elevate their practice. We’re encouraging them to get back to the essence of the craft, the force of creativity itself.”
“Now is the time to give back to these students. Technological advancements always create disruption, and it’s critical that we empower the next generation of design leaders to channel disruption into greater positive impact on our profession and our world,” he emphasizes. “Since its founding, Pratt has always been plugged into where the future is headed. I’m honored to support the leaders and creators of tomorrow.”
When a student walks into a building on campus, all they should be thinking about is making art, their designs, their artistry, and their collaborations—investing in Pratt’s capital projects is a direct investment in helping students sustain that focus.
Mickalene Thomas, BFA Fine Arts ’00
One of our greatest assets is our campus, and a lot of our goals for the campaign are to continue to improve the campus, modernize it, and elevate it to the highest standard.
Gary Hattem, MS City Planning ’75; Chair, Board of Trustees
It’s a historic opportunity for our community. This is our chance to imagine a bold new future for architecture education.
Quilian Riano, Dean of the School of Architecture
