KOVA, a leader in integrated, whole-project building material solutions, welcomes Gray Dougherty, AIA, LEED PA, Assoc. DBIA, as Director of Architecture. Gray will lead KOVA’s “Connect” team to collaboratively identify, develop, and deliver innovative products in the expanding category.

“Gray brings deep expertise in design and construction and diverse experience in both research and operations to KOVA,” says Vice President Dan Sullivan, AIA, NCARB. “He has a unique perspective when it comes to how to effectively evolve the industry through innovative products and improved processes,  and believes that this evolution is critical to a more efficient, flexible, high-performance future for the built environment. He’s a great addition to the KOVA team.”

Gray is a connector of ideas, people and solutions. With a passion for research, he will collaborate with his teams to develop innovative product solutions that are more cost effective and efficient, while simultaneously addressing the climate crisis through responsible building and construction processes. With a track record of leadership in community engagement, Gray believes that design has the opportunity to more meaningfully integrate the contributions of all project stakeholders in building better for the future, and sees great opportunity in KOVA’s delivery model to better facilitate that input and impact. Dedicated to developing a deeper understanding of componentized architecture and the product design process, he will take a hands-on approach from day one assisting with bringing KOVA’s groundbreaking, soon-to-launch system, Modwall, to market.

“The idea that speed, cost, and quality can’t all be improved simultaneously is outmoded, and KOVA is at the forefront of showcasing that point,” remarks Gray. “I find the AEC industry to be an immensely rewarding and creative area of professional focus, and I look forward to advancing new building systems and strategies as I take on architectural product research and development at KOVA.”

Having grown up in a family of architects who inspired him to seek out the intersection of analytical and design thinking, Gray seeks inspiration in as many different forms as possible, whether it’s walking through cities, reading and watching films, or immersing himself in nature on his snowboard or boat. His extensive professional background most recently includes co-leading a studio at Gensler focused on higher education architecture and growing the government practice across Northern California, Oregon, and Washington.

Gray earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Finance from Princeton University. He then went on to earn his Master’s of Architecture from University of California, Berkeley. As KOVA continues to grow and develop as a building solutions leader in the AEC industry, Gray will work alongside the dedicated team to amplify KOVA’s innovative efforts in the market.