The Global Design Alliance LLC and Leevi Kiil, FAIA, announced that Kiil has stepped down as Executive Director of the GDA and assumed the position of Executive Director Emeritus.
Kiil has served as Executive Director of the GDA since 2004. The GDA Board of Directors is conducting a search for his replacement.
According to Kiil, “As our industry continues to experience profound change, GDA is playing an increasingly vital role for our member firms, for our professions and for our clients, offering a powerful platform for the exchange of ideas and to explore innovations, to share best practices and to discuss challenges and lessons learned with serve Global Design Alliance since its beginnings and most recently as its Executive Director. I treasure these opportunities to have worked closely with some of the foremost thinkers in our industry.”
Prior to taking on the role of Executive Director, Kiil was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the architecture/engineering firm HLW International.
His other industry leadership positions have included the American Institute of Architects, as New York Chapter President and Director of the AIA National Board, New York Building Congress and AIA Large Firm Roundtable.
His leadership, design and service to the profession have been recognized through many awards, including the 2010 Kideney Gold Medal Award, AIA New York State’s highest honor.
While at HLW, Kiil’s firm was one of nine co-founding members of the Global Design Alliance in 1993.
Gray Plosser, President of KPS Group, another founding member of GDA, stated “Leevi’s tenure as the Executive Director of GDA has been marked indelibly by his enthusiasm, his commitment to his profession and his abiding belief that we can always do better. Leevi brought a deep understanding of how design firms work and a credibility among his colleagues that helped him both recruit firms to GDA and provide leadership to a Board composed of peers.
“Leevi is a man of vision and he has kept the flame of GDA alive. He embraced ‘better together’ and by example helped to engender and sustain a culture of uncommon honesty and transparency among GDA members.”
The GDA is an international network of 14 design, planning and construction firms representing over 5,000 people, with over $500 million in design fees each year and more than 90 offices around the world.
Member firms include Affiliated Engineers, Inc., ALLiiANCE, The Beck Group, CO Architects, DIALOG, FXFOWLE, Idibri, Jensen Hughes, Inc., KPFF Consulting Engineers, KPS Group, Mark G. Anderson Consultants, Inc., PlastArc, RDG Planning & Design, and Zetlin & De Chiara.
John Gavan, President of KPFF and current Chair of the Board of Directors of GDA, commented, “Leevi’s passion for and dedication to the Global Design Alliance has helped the organization thrive during his many years of contribution.”
While continuing his affiliation with GDA, Kiil will also lead his own design and strategic advisory firm. In addition to working with clients, he will continue his exploration and research into the future of the building industry.
