AHEAD – the Awards for Hospitality Experience and Design – has announced David Rockwell as the recipient of the AHEAD Americas 2019 Outstanding Contribution Award. Rockwell was awarded the accolade on 18 June 2019 at Faena Forum in Miami. The award was presented by Jorges Perez, founder, CEO and Chairman of Related Group.
Long before turning his attention to architecture, David Rockwell, FAIA, harboured a fascination with immersive environments. From a young age he was highly engaged in theatre, often being cast in productions by his mother; a vaudeville dancer and choreographer. Through his unique lens, David founded Rockwell Group; a 250-person, cross-disciplinary architecture and design firm based in New York.
Led by Rockwell and partners Shawn Sullivan and Greg Keffer, the firm merges architecture, theatre, craftsmanship, and technology to create unique narratives. Current and recently completed hotel projects include Equinox Hotel Hudson Yards (New York), Moxy Chelsea (New York), Nobu Hotel Barcelona, Gran Hotel Ingles (Madrid), and Vidanta Los Cabos. Other notable work includes: The Shed's Bloomberg Building in New York (Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Lead Architect and Rockwell Group, Collaborating Architect), Union Square Cafe, Nobu hotels and restaurants worldwide, EDITION New York, NeueHouse (New York and Los Angeles), and W Hotels (New York, Nashville, Paris, Madrid, Singapore, Suzhou, Marbella and Vieques).
Each year this prestigious award recognises celebrated industry figures and their contribution to the hotel industry. Previous recipients of the award have included Alan Faena, Andrew Zobler of Sydell Group, Adrian Zecha, Ian Schrager, and Barry Sternlicht.
