James von Klemperer
President & Design Principal
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, New York City

Chris Cole
National Sales & Marketing Manager
Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. Elevators & Escalators, Los Angeles

James Parakh
Urban Design Manager
City of Toronto Planning Division, Toronto

Chris Payne
Vice President
Riverside Investment & Development, Chicago

The skyscraper was first conceived of in the Americas, and so has been inextricably bound with its economic expansion and growth. Far from remaining staid, the form has embraced dynamic massing and creative forms to meet the demands of urbanites while navigating historic preservation, coastal and other climatic concerns, and hotly sought-after parcels of land. This discussion explores the intriguing tall building solutions and considerations that have defined the American skyscraper, and therefore, the American city.