David Rockwell

David Rockwell (1956–) is a prominent American architect, interior designer, and set designer, and the founder of the Rockwell Group. The son of a vaudeville performer who involved him in her shows from an early age, Rockwell grew up with a strong connection to the theatrical world—a passion he carried into adulthood, combining his architectural practice with set design for major Broadway productions. In this role, he was nominated six times for the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design—an accolade often considered the equivalent of an Oscar in the theater world—winning in 2016 for the musical She Loves Me. He has also worked on the Academy Awards ceremony itself, designing the set for the event on three occasions (2009, 2010, and 2021). As an interior designer, he has specialized primarily in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. He has designed several of the trendiest venues in New York and beyond, including numerous locations worldwide for the luxury sushi restaurant chain Nobu. One of his most celebrated projects, however, belongs to a completely different field: infrastructure. In 1999, he led the renovation of Grand Central Terminal—the largest railway station in the world—a project that earned him the Presidential Design Award. His work as a product designer has been less frequent, carried out mainly in collaboration with Italian brands such as Leucos, Paola Lenti, and Gessi.