FIRM SPOTLIGHT | KGD Architecture

Manoj Dalaya, FAIA, LEED® AP, AICP, CCCA, CCS

Principal and Co-President, KGD Architecture

 

DCNOMA proudly honors Manoj Dalaya, FAIA, and KGD Architecture—an award-winning firm known for advancing thoughtful, innovative design that strengthens community, fosters connection, and promotes environmental stewardship.

KGD Architecture: Shaping Environments, Empowering Communities

Kishimoto.Gordon.Dalaya PC (dba KGD Architecture and simply KGD) – a full-service design firm – was established in McLean, Virginia in 1995. The firm operated as Kishimoto.Gordon until 2003 before assuming its current name. Over the years, KGD Architecture has maintained a professional standard of design in their complex demanding project types, receiving over 60 design awards.

The firm’s contributions go beyond the legacy of award-winning, complex project teams they have designed to date; they extend to supporting local communities, academia, and much more. Specifically, KGD Architecture is a full-service design firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Arlington, Virginia; Boston, Massachusetts; and Bangkok, Thailand. Their services include architecture, interior design, and master planning.

For nearly 30 years, KGD has received various accolades for design excellence and environmental stewardship for its work addressing the pressing needs of several key communities and client verticals: Affordable Housing, Multifamily Residential, High Security, Corporate and Commercial Offices, Hospitality, Mixed-use Developments, Adaptive Re-use/Conversion Developments, Educational, Institutional, and Science & Technology.

In addition to having firm principals and market sector leaders who specialize in supporting these client verticals and others, KGD Architecture is comprised of professionals who are registered architects, certified planners, interior designers (including those who focus on workplace strategy and lifestyle environments), and certified sustainable/wellness experts. Most notably, KGD Architecture brings diverse perspectives to complex projects, creating spaces that articulate each client’s values, history, brand, and culture. Their places are designed to enhance performance, purpose, function, and wellbeing. Furthermore, KGD Architecture is minority-owned and a certified CBE business enterprise with the District of Columbia.

Statistically, with nearly 30 years in practice, KGD Architecture has 50+ team members, and the firm as designed 10 million+ square feet of office space and 9,500+ residential units. Plus, their designs have affected $1.5 billion+ in housing project financing throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with the most notable and recent example of The Exchange at Spring Hill Station for True Ground Housing Partners (formerly APAH) which received the Washington Business Journal 2023 Best Financing Deal Award and the Northern Virginia NAIOP 2024 Sale Multifamily Residential Award of Excellence.

Other recent awards include:

  • Best Mixed-use Community and Multifamily Community of the Year — Centro Arlington (NAHB)

  • Award of Excellence in Best of Buildings: Build-to-Suit Non-institutional — Institute for Defense Analyses Headquarters (NAIOP Northern Virginia)

  • Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing — Queens Court (ULI Americas)

  • Best Large Affordable Housing Project — Queens Court (HAND)

  • Award of Merit in Conceptual/Unbuilt Architecture — The Fortitude at Delta Towers (AIA Northern Virginia)

  • Real Estate Trends Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing — Columbia Hills (ULI Washington)

The leadership of founding principals Ben Kishimoto, Chris Gordon, and Manoj Dalaya coupled with their fellow firm principals – Tom Donaghy and Henry Mahns – continues to drive the firm's commitment to delivering environments that both perform and inspire—ensuring KGD’s enduring legacy of impact and innovation.

Legacy of Leadership and Vision

Through Manoj Dalaya’s leadership and global perspective, KGD Architecture exemplifies how intentional, culturally sensitive, and human-focused design can shape resilient, vibrant, and inclusive communities. His journey—from the dynamic urban landscapes of India to shaping the future of architecture in the United States—reflects a deep commitment to the power of architecture to build community, foster belonging, and inspire change.

From India to D.C.: Manoj Dalaya’s Human-Centered Design Legacy

Born and raised in India, Manoj Dalaya’s early exposure to the layered urbanism and rich architectural traditions of South Asia shaped his design philosophy. Experiencing firsthand how vibrant cities could foster both cultural pride and community resilience, Manoj developed a lifelong belief that architecture must serve as a bridge—connecting people to place, history, and each other. This foundational perspective continues to guide his approach today: blending artistic intention with disciplined strategy to create environments that are both functional and deeply meaningful.

As one of the founding principals and Co-President of KGD Architecture, Manoj brings a unique sensibility to every project—balancing logic, planning, and collaboration with a deep commitment to artistry. He leads complex work that transcends industries and styles, designing spaces that are resource-efficient while enhancing the well-being and productivity of their users. His portfolio spans master plans for mixed-use developments, corporate campuses, multifamily residential projects, adaptive reuse, and corporate interiors—all unified by a human-centered focus.

In 2003, the firm evolved into Kishimoto.Gordon.Dalaya PC with the addition of Manoj as an equal shareholder and principal. He joined founding principals Tsutomu Ben Kishimoto, AIA and Christopher Lee Gordon, AIA, NCARB, who originally established the practice as Kishimoto.Gordon PC in 1995. Their collaborative leadership has been instrumental in building KGD Architecture’s strong foundation, fostering a practice deeply committed to design excellence, sustainability, and community impact.

Manoj’s contributions to the profession have been recognized widely, including receiving the 2023 AIA Northern Virginia Award of Honor (the chapter’s highest recognition of contributing members), the 2021 AIA Northern Virginia Distinguished Leadership Award, and the 2018 AIA Virginia Distinguished Achievement Award. He served as the President of the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter in 2021 and currently serves nationally on the AIA Documents Committee. Locally, Manoj lends his expertise to the Rosslyn Urban Design Committee and the Fairfax County Development Process Advisory Committee, helping to guide the future of urban development throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

A passionate advocate for mentorship, Manoj actively shares his knowledge with students in both architecture and real estate programs at local universities, empowering the next generation of designers to lead with technical excellence and cultural empathy.

He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree with highest honors from the University of Bombay, a Master of Architecture from Miami University, and a Master of Business Administration from George Mason University. He is a registered architect in Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia.

DCNOMA is proud to spotlight Manoj Dalaya during Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month in recognition of his unwavering dedication to inclusive design, cross-cultural leadership, and mentorship. His contributions reflect the powerful impact of API architects who shape the built environment with intentionality, equity, and care—values at the heart of our mission.