Mitchell Kurtz, AIA, LEEDAP
Principal
Experience
Mitchell Kurtz has design experience with theaters, performing arts facilities, galleries, multi-family housing, residential and commercial properties. As the principal of the firm founded in 1986, Mr. Kurtz is intimately involved in the design, management and quality control of all projects in the office. His architectural experience has resulted in a broad knowledge of design and technical issues, particularly in theaters and public buildings.Prior to his architectural training, Mr. Kurtz had a long career in theater production and design for resident theaters and touring companies including McCarter Theater, Williamstown Theater Festival, Hartford Stage Company, Phoenix Theater, LaMama ETC and the New York Pro Musica Antiqua.
Education
Mr. Kurtz has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from New York University, a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the City College School of Architecture and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale University School of Drama. He has served on the faculty of Yale University and Princeton University. His articles on theater design have appeared in Theater Crafts magazine and he has been a featured speaker on arts facilities planning at the New York State Council on the Arts’ Building For The Arts seminars, the Non-Profit Facilities Fund, and the Cultural Facilities Fund.
Registration
Mr. Kurtz is registered to practice architecture in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona and Rhode Island and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards for reciprocal registration in other states. He is also a US Green Building Council LEED accredited professional.
Affiliations
Mr. Kurtz is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Municipal Arts Society, the Architectural League, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the US Green Building Council, the Professional Circle of the Landmarks Conservancy and the League of Historic American Theaters. Mr. Kurtz served as a member of the New York State Council on the Arts Advisory Panels for the Architecture, Planning, & Design Program and the Capital Funding Initiatives Program. He has served as a member of the Real Estate Advisory Board of the Alliance of Resident Theaters of New York (ART/NY) and as a member of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Accessibility Advisory Panel. Mitchell has served as a panelist for Hospital Audience’s Accessibility for the Arts Program and as a panelist for CFF’s Conferences on Building for the Arts.
Teaching
Mr. Kurtz served as Adjunct Professor of Stage Design at Princeton University from 1975-1977. He was a Visiting Lecturer at the Yale School of Drama, Department of Theater Design and Production from 1980-1983.
Publications
Blumenthal, R. “Playwrights Horizons is gaining more seats and studio space.” New York Times. 31 July 2001.
Feature on the Arts Bank, Philadelphia. Architectural Record. February 1995.
Article on the Arts Bank Theater Crafts.
Article on New York Theater Workshop. Theater Crafts.
Article on SoHo Repertory Theater. Theater Crafts.
Feature section on the Theater of the Open Eye. Will it Make a Theater?; Guide to Making Theaters. American Council on the Arts. 1993.
“New Uses for Old Buildings” American Planning Association.
Feature on the Arts Bank (Philadelphia). American Theater Magazine. October 1993.
Kaiser, S.B. “Bratton Brilliance. An historic landmark once used as a meeting hall is transformed into a stunning, $4 million award winning venue.” Stage Directions. October 2002. Cover, 30–34
“USITT Architecture Honor Awards” USITT. Summer 2002. Cover, 25–31.
Awards
2001 Architectural Design, AIA/NYC Chapter: Bratton Theater.
2001 Architectural Design, AIA/ Buffalo Chapter: Bratton Theater.
2001 United States Institute of Theater Technology, Honor Award: Bratton Theater.
2010 AIA NYS Institutional Award of Merit: 92nd Street YM/YWHA Camp.
Paul Maguda, Architect, LEEDAP
Senior Project Architect
Experience
Mr. Maguda has worked on the designs of the New York Theatre Workshop Scenery Studios, the Fordham University Studio Theater and Infrastructure Modernization, Hartford Stage Renovation and Additions, the LaMama Annex Exterior and Interior Renovation, the HB Master Plan, the LaMama E.T.C. Master Plan. and the new Chautauqua Amphitheater. He is the head of our construction administration group and has managed construction for the New York Theatre Workshop Scenery Shop, Fordham, La Mama, Pratt Institute and Chautauqua. At his previous employer, Mr. Maguda worked on high end residential developments, MTA subway station renovations, and master planning projects in Long Island and Dubai, UAE.
Education
Mr. Maguda holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University’s School of Architecture.
Registration
Mr. Maguda is a registered architect in New York and is an accredited LEED professional.
Kunal Ghevaria
Senior Project Designer
Experience
Mr. Ghevaria has worked on the designs of the Lucille Lortel Theatre, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Pratt Institute’s Photography department, on interior renovations for the 92nd Street Y, and a private residence on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. He has also worked on large scale shows and events for The Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera, The Public Theater, ARS Nova, St. Ann’s Warehouse, and Spyscape.
He is currently working on the new Headquarters offices for The Jewish Board for Family and Children’s Services in Midtown Manhattan.
As the head of the design group, he brings an enthusiasm for new design methods and tools to the practice, ensuring that the firm stays current with industry practices and trends.
At his previous employers, Mr. Ghevaria has worked on published and built offices, schools, and mixed-use commercial projects.
Education
Mr. Ghevaria holds a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai.
Affiliations
Mr. Ghevaria is a member of the Architectural League of New York.
Teaching
Mr. Ghevaria has taught Architectural Design at the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai, and has been a guest critic at Columbia University’s GSAPP and the NJIT School of Architecture.