David Rockwell, FAIA, is the founder and President of Rockwell Group, an interdisciplinary architecture and design firm based in New York with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Madrid that emphasizes innovation and thought leadership in every project. Merging theater, performance and architecture, the firm’s work includes hospitality, luxury residential, airport terminals, cultural institutions, set design, products, exhibitions, and festivals.
Projects include Civilian Hotel (New York); FUTURES at the Smithsonian’s Arts & Industries Building (Washington, DC); 1 Hotel Toronto; Nobu Hotels and restaurants worldwide; Moxy Hotels (Times Square, Chelsea, East Village, and Miami); W Hotels worldwide; the Perelman Center in New York (Restaurant and Lobby Interior Architect); Illuminarium Experience (Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Miami); Equinox Hotel (New York); Warner Music Group headquarters (Los Angeles, CA); Union Square Cafe and Daily Provisions (New York); NeueHouse (New York and Los Angeles); The Shed (Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect); TED Theater (Vancouver); the Hayes Theater (New York); and the pro bono initiatives DineOut NYC and OpenStage NYC. David has designed sets, both on and off Broadway, for more than 60 productions, including Take Me Out, Kiss Me Kate, She Loves Me, Kinky Boots, and Hairspray. His latest book, DRAMA, developed in collaboration with designer Bruce Mau, was published by Phaidon in May 2021.
Honors include a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for She Loves Me; two Emmy Awards for production design for the Oscars (2021 and 2010); the AIANY President’s Award; the National Design Award from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum for outstanding achievement in Interior Design; the Pratt Legends Award; and the Presidential Design Award. Known for his commitment to non-profit and community organizations, David Rockwell serves as the Chair Emeritus of the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) and as a board member of Citymeals on Wheels and New York Restoration Project.
Photo credit: Emily Andrews