DEMO | Demonstration through Practice
Competence, clear communication and the ability to solve new problems are all critical elements of a successful process. Every project requires thousands of conversations, but ultimately, we are left with projects that speak for themselves.
DEMO | Making Better Buildings
Our different experiences and expertise offer an ideal balance of design and detailing. We care as much about what is behind a wall as to what that wall looks like on the surface. We strive for sustainability because we believe that what is good for the environment is good for each one of us. As Certified Passive House Designers, we aim to create healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient buildings that improve the lives of their inhabitants and all those surrounding them.
DEMO | Design for People
Sometimes being too close to a problem can create a loss of perspective. For some architects, this often means forgetting about the very people that a building serves. We believe good design is the collection of decisions which have been carefully considered. Any design that does not put people first is never the right solution.
Meet Our Team
Daniel Kidd
Originally from Northern Utah, Daniel made his way to New York in 2006 after an undergraduate class trip to see the architecture of New York City. He instantly knew he had to move there by finishing his studies and earning a Master’s Degree from Columbia University.
Before founding DEMO, Daniel worked closely with Bjarke Ingels in Copenhagen and New York as a Project Leader at BIG and Co-Instructure at Harvard GSD and Parsons. He started at SO-IL with the winning entry of the PS1 MOMA Summer Installation “Pole Dance.” He most recently worked in the Interior Design office of A+I.
Daniel believes every failure is an opportunity for growth. In 2000, he was a high school dropout. Six years later, he graduated Summa Cum Laude at the top of his class and was the commencement speaker at his graduation ceremony.
He has taught design studios at Harvard University, Columbia University, Syracuse University, Parsons School of Design, and the Royal Danish Academy of Art. He is currently teaching design at CUNY City Tech University.
Alessandro Ronfini
Born and raised in Italy, Alessandro earned his master’s degree in Architecture at IAUV University in Venice with a specialty in Construction Technology.
After graduating, he moved to Copenhagen, where he initially worked at 3XN, contributing to the design of several competitions in Europe and the Middle East, and then BIG, Bjarke Ingels Group, where he was part of the team conceiving a new residential building in the West side of NYC: VIA W57. While working on the construction of this project, Alessandro joined Enclos, a company specializing in the design and construction of custom facade systems. With Enclos, he worked on several large projects, including the Chase Center in San Francisco, 220 Central Park West, and the Raiders Arena in Las Vegas,
With ten years of experience in design and construction, Alessandro decided to join Daniel and start DEMO to find a way to combine their interest in architecture and technology and design beautiful, energy-efficient and long-lasting buildings.
Alessandro is a Licensed Architect in NYS and Italy and a Certified Passive House Designer. He taught Design and Building Technology at the USC School of Architecture and CUNY CityTech University. He is an active member of the Passive House community and has been lecturing on building technology and sustainable technologies at several events and conferences throughout the US.
Catalina Rivera
Growing up between Caracas and Santiago, she earned a Master of Architecture degree from La Sapienza University in Rome.
Her career began in Italy in museum exhibition design before transitioning to historic high-end residential and interior architecture. Her work experience in Paris with LAN led her to contribute to the Grand Palais competition and engage in large social housing projects in Paris, Bordeaux, Rennes, and Nantes. Later, she joined BIG in New York, working on notable large-scale projects, including the Audemars Piguet Hotel, the Oakland A's Stadium, and the interiors of Galeries Lafayette at Champs Elysees. With A+I, she acquired additional experience in workplace design, projects such as the headquarters of Peloton in Hudson Yards, and leading the original concept of ‘Le Truc,’ the NY-based creative hub of the multinational ad agency Publicis Groupe.
Taylor Lowery
Originally from California, Taylor is a UC Berkeley graduate with a BA in Architecture. She has worked for high end residential firms in the Bay Area designing homes in San Francisco and Los Altos. In New York City, Taylor worked on luxury retail design projects, including brands like Prada, while also gaining experience in apartment renovations and restaraunts. She traveled to New York from California in a van that she designed and built. Taylor is actively pursuing licensure in New York City.