WHO WE ARE
We help our clients realize their goal of building equitably and sustainably to improve the quality of life for everyone. Established in 1982, MGDK Architects is a full-service architecture and design studio focused on thoughtful, research-based design. Based in New York City, we work regionally throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
As a signatory of the #architectsdeclare movement, MGDK Architects is committed to improving the quality of life for everyone by addressing challenges presented by climate change, loss of biodiversity, and social inequity in the built environment. As a gay-owned business, we seek to empower other underrepresented and marginalized communities through strategic partnerships and patronage. Our focus on barrier-free, accessible design allows us to consider welcoming environments for all bodies and abilities from concept through construction. Our passion for the natural world inspires us to create buildings which provide rather than consume. Our belief that housing is a human right - and that affordable housing is an asset rather than a liability for positive economic growth - drives us to seek out new opportunities for development.
MGDK Architects is an NGLCC Certified LGBT Business Enterprise® (Certified LGBTBE®) and is a vocal advocate in support of diversity and inclusion everywhere we can. We are proud to have maintained a utilization rate of over 50% for women and minority-owned vendors and consultants since 2018.
DAVID KUYKENDALL | AIA, LEED AP
PRINCIPAL
David's obsession with how things fit together started with Legos and never really stopped. That curiosity took him from the Fay Jones School of Architecture to studios in Copenhagen and Rome, and eventually to multinational design firms in Dubai and Kuwait, before he landed in New York in 2008. Now Principal and Owner of MGDK, he is drawn to prefab construction, adaptive reuse, and urban design projects where design ambition meets real-world constraint. A LEED Accredited Professional, David believes the built environment should work for people and the planet equally. He stays connected to the next generation of designers as a guest critic at Pratt Institute, The New School, and the Spitzer School of Architecture.
CERTIFICATIONS:
Registered Architect (NY, NJ, CT, PA, MA, RI & AR)
NCARB
LEED Accredited Professional
American Institute of Architects
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Architecture, Fay Jones School of Architecture, University of Arkansas
Minor Emphasis: History Theory and Urbanism
DAVID ANDERSON, AIA
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
David has over 10 years of experience managing complex commercial projects as well as high-end residential construction. His abilities are complimented by his knowledge of building code and landmarks regulations, along with his ability to navigate a project from concept to completion within the constraints of the local municipalities.
CERTIFICATIONS:
Registered Architect (NY)
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Architecture, Pratt Institute
ALYSSE AUSTIN
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Alysse had over 8 years of professional experience working in law and finance before making the career switch to art and architecture. She concentrated in Environmental Studies, focusing on globalization and land use. Her studies led her to a human rights NGO in Phnom Penh, where she researched Cambodian land reform in the context of state-sponsored evictions and corporate development. Her interests include writing, cycling and rock climbing.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts, Brown University
TERESA RUSSO
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Teresa completed her studies with a strong concentration in sustainability and environmental responsibility. Studying in New York City and Rome, she formed a particular interest in the development of cities throughout history. Her more experimental work has explored everything from bending-active surface geometry to landscape projects that mitigate the impacts of flooding. These projects highlight her desire to seek out alternative methods and more sustainable materials in architectural design.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Architecture, Pratt Institute
Jhon Henry Urgiles Barrera
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER
Henry’s work emerges from an ongoing exploration of how architecture can express material, cultural, and human values. His background in luxury jewelry design introduced him to ideas of precision, craft, and intimacy at a smaller scale; principles he now translates into the built environment. This intersection of disciplines has shaped a design approach that is both reflective and grounded, one that seeks to engage communities with sensitivity and respect.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Architecture, New York Institute of Technology
Begüm Nar
ARCHITECTURAL INTERN
Begüm is a licensed architect in Turkey and a Master of Architecture (Advanced Standing) student at Pratt Institute in New York. She works at the intersection of bio-architecture, advanced design technologies, and community-centered systems. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from MEF University, where she received Honorable Mention in the ArchiPrix Turkey Graduation Project Competition. She has professional experience in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, contributing to projects that blend innovative design with contextual sensitivity. Her work approaches architecture as a living, adaptive system informed by ecological intelligence, material research, and digital innovation. Outside of her studies, she enjoys windsurfing, traveling, and spending time by the sea, drawing inspiration from coastal landscapes.
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Architecture, MEF University
M.Arch Candidate May 2026, Pratt Institute
EMMET
SNACK INSPECTOR
Need we say more?