David Rockwell, FAIA, has long harbored a fascination with immersive environments. He grew up in the theater—his mother, a dancer and choreographer, often cast him in community repertory productions, where he witnessed firsthand the ways that design could propel narrative to create meaningful shared experiences. At age 12, David and his family moved from Deal, New Jersey to Guadalajara, Mexico, a formative scene change that would open him up to a vibrant new world of streets, marketplaces, and public spaces.

Storytelling forms the core of David’s work. After training in architecture at Syracuse University and the Architectural Association in London, he channeled his love for the color and spectacle of theater, both on Broadway and on the streets of Guadalajara, into establishing his own firm; one that could find the story across a diverse range of projects and typologies.

Founded in 1984, Rockwell Group has grown from its New York City studio into a 330-person, award-winning cross-disciplinary architecture and design practice, with satellite offices in Madrid and Los Angeles. Together with a dedicated and multifaceted team, David merges theater, public space, technology, and craft—often with new and unexpected results. His singular perspective and drive for invention are hallmarks of a portfolio that ranges from hotels and restaurants, theaters and Broadway sets, to cultural and educational institutions, products, exhibitions, and urban interventions. All capture his desire to connect, transform, and immerse through design. Regardless of industry, David seeks to forge visceral connections with environments that engage the public realm and unite communities in shared memories.

David’s honors include the AIANY President’s Award; the National Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for outstanding achievement in Interior Design; two Emmy Awards; a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for She Loves Me; the Pratt Legends Award; the Presidential Design Award; induction into the James Beard Foundation Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America; inclusion in Architectural Digest’s AD 100 Hall of Fame; Interior Design magazine’s Icon Award; and recognition by Fast Company as one of the most innovative design practices in their annual World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies issue.

David is a longtime supporter of several charitable organizations. He currently serves as Chair Emeritus of the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) and is a board member of Citymeals on Wheels, New York Restoration Project, and the American Theatre Wing. He is also the co-founder of the sustainability initiative Cork Collective.