Wesley C. Kean, AIA

Wesley C. Kean, AIA

Growing up in a blue-collar, trades-oriented family in New Hampshire, Kean was seemingly preordained for architecture. The son of a builder and the brother of a mason, he spent much of his free time operating the lathe in his woodshop while his peers pursued sports. At 17, he headed south to Florida to study architecture at University of Miami and, save for a year studying in Rome, has remained there since receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Through his firm KoDA, short for Kean Office for Design + Architecture, which he established in 2015, he has forged a reputation for work that highlights the critical relationship between research, community, service, and practice. He leads a team of architects and designers who have emerged as experts in connecting architecture with nature and discovering radical solutions to sea-level rise and other critical environmental concerns. His dedication is evident in projects such as Tight Urbanism, a pro bono analysis he provided for Miami Beach that highlights strategies that could mitigate the challenges prompted by climate change by leveraging the potential of the city’s network of alleys. In addition, his views on how Metabolist ideas might address Miami’s sea-level rise vulnerability were published in Florida/Caribbean Architect magazine.

As both an architect and an urbanist, Kean is compelled to serve his community, and in 2019, he was the only architect appointed to Miami Beach’s 11-member Next Generation Council. Created by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, the council provides individuals between the ages of 18 and 36 a platform to participate in governance. He has been an important voice advocating for topics related to the city’s arts, transportation, and entrepreneurship. He and his peers also provide solutions for the challenges facing the city, such as housing affordability and the climate crisis. Kean also serves on his planning and zoning board and supports organizations like the Miami Music Project, which empowers underserved young people through music education.

Kean has been an active member of AIA Miami and has eagerly assumed numerous leadership roles on the chapter’s board and committees. Through its annual golf tournament, he has helped raise significant funds to support architecture students in his community. As co-chair of the event, he has provided countless volunteer hours and access to his expansive network to drum up donations and register players. Last year, due in large part to Kean’s leadership, the sold-out event saw a 247% increase in revenue.

A multifaceted designer, leader, and firm owner, Kean’s commitment to research benefits the profession and his community. His unparalleled energy and vision will no doubt continue to positively shape the built environment.