“This project began at the end of 2011. It was first envisioned as a small yearbook documenting the staff at SHA, as a gift for Steven on my 20th anniversary in the office. But as I started to chart who was in the office each year of my tenure, I realized 1992 was an arbitrary starting point, and 1977, the beginning of the New York office, would make more sense. The journey of tracking down 290 employees, and seeking out their photographs and stories, was moving and rewarding, and at times overwhelming. I never imagined at that time that in 2024, having now celebrated my 30th anniversary in the office, I’d be preparing the 3rd Edition of the book. Collaborators is no longer my secret off-hour project – true to the name it has become a collaborative effort. We have expanded the book to include an appendix documenting the full list of Projects, which was first assembled in the 2nd Edition by Alessandra Calaguire. This 3rd Edition contains a new section on Exhibitions which Marisa Espe has assembled, along with updating the Projects section and inviting additional staff to contribute new narratives. We now have 379 employees to track down for the Alumni Section which Nikolai Yaffe and Eleanore Ho have helped me document.
It has been very rewarding to have Steven’s involvement in the ongoing iterations of this book. His suggestion to rename it “Collaborators” (rather than “Steven Holl Architects 1977-2012”) was a much more succinct expression of the inclusive nature of the project. With each new edition, his enthusiasm seems to grow and with it the scope of the book. This 3rd Edition comes upon the 50th anniversary of his first becoming a licensed architect in California in 1974, and with it I see he has made Collaborators his own.
None of this would have happened, however, if it hadn’t been for the very special working environment Steven has created, and the enduring commitment to the office he has inspired in so many who have passed through its doors. One of the great joys of this project has been discovering how alive the office is in the minds of those who no longer work here. This spirit has shown me that the work of the office is an effort larger than any one person at any one time. The office is an unfolding story with now 379 characters – and still growing.”
– Molly Blieden (1992 – )
