Generator Studio expands leadership team

Article posted by Coliseum, January 7^th, 2025

Image: Generator Studio

Generator Studio, the Kansas City-based architecture and interior design firm, has beefed up its leadership team with the appointment of a trio of partners.

Peter Baird, Christina Franklin, and Andrew Kesel join co-founders Tom Proebstle and Mike Kress in ownership, marking the first change to ownership in the studio’s 15-year history.

Generator Studio Co-founder Mike Kress said, “The leadership of Christina, Andrew, and Peter has played a large role in our success and their voices will shape our direction—now and in the future.

“They fully capture the spirit of Generator. We couldn’t have designed it any better as they have the ideal balance of diverse but complementary talents in this new ownership team.”

Generator Studio said that embodying the commitment to exceptional design, technical competence, and exacting execution, Baird, Kesel, and Franklin have contributed directly to Generator’s growth and recognition in the Kansas City area and beyond.

Changing the very landscape of Kansas City, each individual has impacted major projects, such as CPKC Stadium, Academy Bank’s Headquarters, and the new Riverside Amphitheater.

Nationally, they’ve each worked on many professional sports facilities contributing to Generator’s momentum.

Proebstle said, “It couldn’t be a better time to celebrate and recognize the people who have helped shape the Generator Studio you see today.

“These three in particular have their fingerprints all over Generator, and we are fundamentally different because of their leadership and the culture they’ve helped create.”

Peter Baird has been with Generator Studio for nearly 12 years, serving as the longest-tenured employee of the firm. Baird’s technical prowess is imperative to the studio’s projects, leading to enduring quality in both design and construction.

Affecting nearly every project the studio touches, he is key to the studio’s practical application and successful execution of designs.

Andrew Kesel joined Generator Studio over eight years ago and has directly impacted not only the firm’s design work but also the office’s efficiency and organization.

As the Director of Architecture, Kesel manages the firm’s day-to-day operations, ensuring all projects are running smoothly with streamlined processes. He exemplifies the ideal project partner, consistently going above and beyond for every client, and fostering lasting, successful relationships.

Christina Franklin has served as Generator’s Director of Interior Design for four years, building the department from the ground floor and personifying the firm’s philosophy of hospitality-driven design.

Franklin has made interior design a key component of every project across categories, leading the team to create storied, experiential design from her lens and background in boutique hotel and restaurant design.

The expansion of ownership took effect from January 1, 2025, and ushers in a new era for the comprehensive architecture and interior design studio.

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