This is KWD Architecture PLLC

With over two decades of experience in global architecture and design leadership, Kevin Davis AIA LEED AP founded KWD-A in 2024 to singularly focus on retrofitting and modernizing the city’s building stock to reduce carbon emissions.

KWD-A’s mission is to address the urgent climate crisis by helping New York City building owners meet the demands of Local Laws (LL97 +more) and transform existing buildings into sustainable, energy-efficient structures.

KWD-A is based in New York City – working in the Queens community to effect change at the local level.

About

Kevin W. Davis,
AIA LEED AP

Founder

Kevin Davis AIA LEED AP is an accomplished global architect with multi-faceted design and construction experiences that serve and underline his dedicated focus on sustainability for resilient communities. Having led the development of large-scale iconic retail spaces and cultural projects worldwide, Kevin is uniquely talented at pairing challenging conceptual processes with commercial realities and sustainability targets. He is also an agile collaborator, now applying his corporate experience managing complex, disruptive global relationships to the intensely local dynamics of community boards and neighborhood stakeholders.

In the sustainability and construction field, Kevin’s credentials include the following:

  • Registered Architect, New York State, 2002

  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, Interior Design + Construction (ID+C), 2010

  • Programs Committee Member, Urban Green Council, since 2022

  • Global Store Design Sustainability Guidelines for Calvin Klein, Inc., 2023

  • Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training, 2024

Prior to founding KWD-A, Kevin was employed by Calvin Klein, Inc. (CKI) (2004 – 2023) in progressive leadership roles, where he stewarded retail design, planning, and development for branded spaces worldwide. For over 20 years, he informed multiple CKI businesses, bringing his architecture background, knowledge, and view. Engaging with renowned leaders – CKI’s global CCO Raf Simons, LA artist Sterling Ruby, architects John Pawson (UK), Vincent Van Duysen (Belgium), and Christian Halleröd (Sweden) – on branding, design, and construction, Kevin influenced 1,000+ retail spaces and many special projects (i.e., the 40th Anniversary High Line Pavilion). As the chief decision-maker, Kevin navigated all aspects of process and development for retail concepts while working with joint venture partners, licensees, and local markets to meet diverse objectives.

Kevin’s expertise was honed in architectural practice before his corporate leadership role at CKI. At Gabellini Sheppard Architects (1999 – 2004), he traveled between New York and Italy, leading projects like Giorgio Armani’s retail destination in Milan (100Ksf) and an exhibition design for the Guggenheim Museum and Bergdorf Goodman store renovation (25Ksf) in New York City. From 1993 – 1995, Kevin was with Studio Passarelli, living in Rome designing and developing notable civic projects, e.g., the Acropolis Museum and Research Center (35Ksf), Rome’s National Library (20Ksf), and the Italian Federal Reserve (40Ksf). He started at Salsano Fahim Architects (1993 – 1995) on Lehman Brothers’ 40Ksf office.

Kevin earned a BA from Yale University in Economics and Political Science (semester abroad with Syracuse University’s pre-architecture program in Italy). He received his Master of Architecture from Columbia University, which included a semester in Zürich, Switzerland.