MKDA celebrated its 60th anniversary on Tuesday, December 3rd at Cafe Centro. The event attracted over 200 people, consisting of clients, brokers, vendors and a large number of employees from each of the four firms.
Milo Kleinberg founded the firm in 1959 and what was once a one-man interior design shop has transformed into the innovative national architecture and interior design firm it is today. Milo built the company from the ground-up and earned the nickname “King of the Garment Center” for his work on countless fashion showrooms. This helped solidify MKDA’s reputation as a workplace leader and allowed it to build lasting relations with many brokers and owners.
“It’s really phenomenal that my father had the ambition to establish his own design company, among a sea of competitors, and then single-handedly turned it into a flourishing firm. Without his inspiring legacy and hard work, MKDA would not have been able to transform into the successful national brand that it is today and that’s really what we are celebrating here tonight,” said MKDA President Michael Kleinberg.
The firm, an early pioneer in areas that are common practices in the industry today, was the brainchild behind the integration of project management into the interior design business model, embraced CAD technology in its infancy, and was among the first to provide owners with services that include prebuilt programs and marketing centers.
With projects from coast to coast, MKDA designs strategic workplaces and advises leading building owners on development opportunities and how to brand and market their assets. The firm through its architecture studio has completed impactful high-profile hospitality, commercial, retail and mixed-use properties across the Southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean.
In addition, over MKDA’s 60 years, it has managed to establish three exciting satellite offices. The Stamford office was founded in 2006 and is run by the Executive Managing Director, Julia Lindh, RA. In 2013, MKDA opened a dynamic architectural studio with Amanda Hertzler, NCIDQ, IIDA, at the forefront. Most recently, in September 2019, MKDA established an office in Washington DC where Executive Managing Director Kristín Aldan Gudmundsdóttir, Intl. Assoc. AIA leads the team.
“The DC team is so excited to be here tonight celebrating MKDA’s 60th anniversary. We look forward to building the MKDA brand and hope to replicate the remarkable success that has been achieved in the New York, Stamford and Miami studios,” shared Kristín Aldan Gudmundsdóttir.
At the end of the night, guests received signed copies of Milo Kleinberg’s memoir titled Milo Kleinberg and MKDA: Six Decades in Design, which recounts Milo’s journey from Vienna, to his life in the US and his establishment of MKDA.
MKDA Partner Jeffrey Kleinberg commented,“We really appreciate everyone who joined us tonight for our milestone 60th Anniversary Celebration and partook in the festivities. Looking forward, we have the next generation joining, and lots of wonderful new talent. The future is bright for all of us and we are excited to see what the upcoming years will bring for MKDA.”
