As we embark on the promising journey of 2024, I am thrilled to share our strategic vision for the year ahead, aligning with transformative trends in Architecture and Interior Design. Our commitment to innovation and resilience will guide us through the year ahead.

This year—our 65th in New York—we anticipate navigating commercial office challenges. The commercial office market, especially in the Northeast, faces unique challenges with many vacancies. The American Institute of Architects’ January 2024 AIA Consensus Construction Forecast, which tracks insights from leading construction forecasters from around the country, noted an anticipated modest 4% gain in construction spending in nonresidential buildings.

We see this as an opportunity to innovate and revitalize commercial spaces. Collaborating closely with landlords, we aim to transform vacant offices into dynamic, modern work environments that meet the evolving needs of businesses and employees.

MKDA CEO Michael Kleinberg

With the news on 2024 non-residential construction spending, we will seek to broaden our reach to capture more of the hospitality market share. We will build on our strong presence in Miami to expand our current market share in not only hospitality, but also the multifamily and retail sectors as well as our core competencies in commercial office. Our proven track record in these areas positions us as a leader in shaping Miami’s diverse and vibrant architecture and design landscape. 

In Stamford, we plan to similarly commit to diversification this year.  Its strong and growing commercial office work has been complemented by its growth in the hospitality, residential and retail sectors. 

We are continuing to grow in our newest market, Washington, DC, by completing strategic and well-designed commercial office assignments for leading financial and law firm clients, including national corporate accounts, and Class A commercial building owners. 

Recognizing the growing demand in the healthcare sector, MKDA is strategically positioning itself to capture more of the healthcare market share, including medical offices, clinics, labs, hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Our expertise in creating functional, innovative spaces will contribute to the advancement of these healthcare facilities.

In 2024, our design capabilities will be elevated by embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies. This technological integration will enhance creativity and ensure efficiency and innovation at every stage. However, we plan to balance AI tools with traditional methods, which we believe are crucial in architecture and design.

Data will be a cornerstone in our design approach. By leveraging analytics, we will gain valuable insights into user behavior, space utilization, and market trends. This data-informed strategy will enable us to deliver designs that anticipate and exceed our clients’ expectations.

Reflecting a global concern for environmental responsibility, we will strengthen our commitment to sustainable design practices. As new buildings are increasingly developed with net zero building technology that reduces energy consumption, our interiors will follow suit. We aim to prioritize environmental sustainability and well-being initiatives in both our designs (such as eco-friendly materials and systems) and process (such as material repurposing and utilizing material buy-back programs).

We will embrace the global richness of perspectives to prioritize the importance of understanding and integrating diverse perspectives in designs to create inclusive and supportive work environments that resonate with diverse populations.

Lastly, whether crafting workplace environments, residential havens, or retail spaces, a touch of hospitality will infuse each and every one of our designs. Creating immersive, inviting user experiences will define our approach, establishing new benchmarks in user-centric design.

As we navigate the complexities and opportunities of 2024, MKDA stands poised to lead, innovate, and leave an enduring mark on the many sectors that we service. Here’s to a year of unprecedented achievements, collaborative successes, and the realization of our shared vision.