Alex Loyer Hughes AIA, Founding Partner
Principal
Alex Loyer Hughes AIA is Co-Founder and Principal of KURV Architecture. He is licensed and registered in the states of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida and Washington D.C.. He is a Certified Passive House Consultant and is an NCARB Nationally Certified Professional.
His role includes leading client relationships while overseeing overall project development and execution. Alex has broad experience guiding projects successfully through complex city and municipal approval processes; including the NYC ULURP , NYC Department of Buildings, NYC Landmarks and Preservation Commission, Various Community Board Approvals including Planing and Zoning Boards hearings, including the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals the NYC Office of Environmental Protection..
Over the course of Alex’s 25-year career he has designed and completed several mid and high rise buildings in Manhattan. He has won design awards and competitions for international hospitality and retail projects, and has successfully completed complex building use conversions and renovations, and has designed and overseen over fifty high-end residential and commercial projects in New York City. He is equally skilled at conceiving urban design solutions for large scale projects as he is developing intricate, customized interior and industrial design scale details for millwork, metal work and fabrication.
His broad and multifarious background has helped him form a unique approach to design and a deep understanding of what is required in order to see a project of any scale through to it’s successful completion.
Alex has previously taught at Columbia University, the Pratt Institute and has served as a visiting critic at numerous schools including the University of Pennsylvania and the Parsons New School for Design. He received a Bachelor of Architecture with Maximum Distinction from Universidad Finis Terra in Santiago, Chile, a Diploma in Digital Design from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University in the City of New York.
Prior to founding Kurv Architecture along with business partner Karim Rashid, Alex was Director and Vice President of Interior Design for Karim's design studio, worked as International Retail Architect for renowned Fashion Designer Ralph Lauren, and was Architect and 3D Specialist at Peter Marino Architect in New York City. In Chile, Alex worked with notable Architects, Felipe Assadi, Mathiaas Klotz, Federico Sanchez Villaseca as well as Elton Leniz Aquitectos.
Alex is currently a student mentor at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University.
Alex Loyer Hughes AIA:
Alexander Loyer Hughes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, CPHD Principal Architect & Founder
Alexander Loyer Hughes is a prominent American architect and the co-founder and principal of KURV Architecture D.P.C., a New York City-based architectural firm. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, he specializes in residential high-rises, high-end commercial retail, luxury interior design, and climate-resilient architecture
Alex Loyer Hughes AIA is a licensed, nationally certified architect and designer based in New York City. With over two decades of professional experience spanning high-density residential high-rises, passive house developments, commercial spaces, and luxury interiors, Alex combines technical expertise, sustainable building science, and forward-thinking design.
The "AIA" post-nominal designates his status as a licensed member of the American Institute of Architects.
Professional Background & Early Career
Alex's architectural career includes international experience in Chile, where he worked as intern and freelance renderer under acclaimed chilean architects Felix De Amesti, Felipe Assadi, Federico Sanchez, Mirene Elton, Mauricio Leniz and Mathias Klotz.
Before founding KURV, Hughes served as Director and Vice President of Interior Design for Karim Rashid's studio (2012–2018). His earlier career includes roles as an international retail architect for designer Ralph Lauren and as architect and lead visualizer within the high-end luxury studio of Peter Marino Architect in New York City.
From 2012 to 2018, Alex served as Director and Vice President of Interior Design for the internationally renowned industrial designer Karim Rashid. During his tenure, he led global retail, hospitality, office, and residential design projects. In September 2015, Alex and Karim co-founded KURV Architecture D.P.C. at Rashid's West 54th Street studio in Manhattan as an integrated design and development firm. In 2018, Alex acquired full ownership of the practice, continuing to direct the firm's architectural portfolio.
Alex Loyer Hughes AIA’s full portfolio of personal work from 1999 to 2026 can be found here:
KURV Architecture & Practice Leadership
As Principal of KURV Architecture (and Alexander Hughes Architect PLLC), Alex leads a practice focused on high-performance architecture, interiors, urban planning, and complex design execution across the Tri-State area, Washington D.C., Florida, California as well as several international locations.
His work emphasizes sustainability, modern manufacturing techniques, and building science:
Urban High-Rise & Affordable Housing: Completed multiple all-electric, ground-up high-rise buildings in Manhattan and designed high-performance, mixed-use affordable housing developments in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
Historic Preservation & Passive House Design: Led deep energy retrofits and passive house upgrades for landmarked structures, including an 1844 townhouse on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood and a historic townhouse on the Upper East Side.
Multi-Family & Commercial Development: Designed dozens of high-performance mid-rise residential, commercial, and hospitality properties across the Eastern Seaboard.
Academic Engagement & Licensure
In addition to leading his practice, Alex was engaged with architectural education, including serving as a studio instructor at Columbia University’s GSAPP and Visiting Professor at Pratt Institute.
Professional Registrations: Licensed Architect in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Chile.
Certifications: Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), NCARB Nationally Certified, LEED Accredited Professional, Certified Passive House Designer (PHI CPHD), emphasizing sustainable building science and energy efficiency.
Education:
Columbia University (GSAPP): Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design (M.S.AAD).
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: Diploma in Digital Design.
Universidad Finis Terrae (Santiago, Chile): Bachelor of Architecture.