DAVID RUFF
Founder & Principal
david@nava.nyc
David is the founding principal of NAVA and heads both the Architecture and Development divisions of the company. David leads a team of architects and designers committed to creating the extraordinary, investigating bold and innovative ideas and creating the visionary aesthetics that distinguishes NAVA projects.
David leads the development division of NAVA, overseeing asset acquisition, zoning and financial analytics, financing and investor relations. Through the early and rigorous integration of architectural and financial modeling and design, NAVA capitalizes on opportunities that support our mission and build our investor’s trust and loyalty.
Prior to founding NAVA, David was President of Design Laboratories LLC, an international architecture and design firm with projects in the US, Europe, India and China. David has taught graduate architecture studios at the Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design in New York City. David holds a BSE in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and studied graduate architecture at Princeton University and Columbia University where he earned his Master of Architecture. He is an accomplished violinist having attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, and proudly serves on the Board of Trustees of the Becket Chimney Corners YMCA in Massachusetts. David is a registered architect and a member of the American Institute of Architects and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
MEG KALINOWSKI
Director of Operations & Design
meg@nava.nyc
Meg Kalinowski is the Studio Director of NAVA, bringing over 15 years of expertise in design leadership, strategy, and project execution. She has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams across the country and abroad to develop impactful projects that integrate best practices in sustainability, ecological resilience, and community-driven design.
A dedicated educator, Meg has served as a guest critic at institutions across the New York City area including Columbia University GSAPP, Parsons School of Design, CUNY City Tech and the NYCSID. She has taught architectural and urban design courses at CCNY Spitzer School of Architecture, NYIT, Rutgers University's Bloustein School of Policy and Planning, and is currently teaching at Pratt Institute School of Architecture. Meg is also an Urban Design Forum Forefront Fellow, in partnership with NYC’s Housing Preservation and Development, jointly exploring ways to build a more age-friendly New York City.
Meg holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Design from the Spitzer School of Architecture at CCNY, CUNY. Prior to joining NAVA, Meg worked at RMJM and Architecture + Information, where she contributed to a wide range of projects at the intersection of architecture, strategy, and design innovation. Meg is a registered architect in the state of New York and a member of the American Institute of Architects.
ANABELLA ACEVEDO PEÑA
Project Designer - Planning
anabella@nava.nyc
Anabella is the Project Designer of NAVA, with more than 7 years of experience in architectural, urban planning and design projects across diverse scales and typologies. She has worked in Latin America and the US, participating in a wide variety of projects, ranging from minimal design to urbanism interventions.
Anabella holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Urban Design from the Spitzer School of Architecture at The City University of New York (CUNY), and a Bachelor of Architecture at Universidad Simón Bolívar in Caracas. Early in her career, Anabella worked at the NGO Fundación Espacio, where she leaded tactical urbanism interventions in both planned and informal settlements (slums) on the CCScity450 project, supported by the Department of State of the US Embassy. Simultaneously, she refined her design skills at Minima Design Studio (today Sebastiani Studio), mastering contemporary design principles and advocating for the use of BIM standards as an innovation to the firm.
Passionate about urban development, she is currently working on publications about urban planning, such as “The Power of Air” and “Hybrid Districts”. She has been featured by the New School’s Observatory of Latin America with her research “Slumniverse”, and there’s also an upcoming publication of Bogota Bazuca, an experimental cartography that explores innovative conventions and visualizations.
ROBERT RUSSELL
Director of Site Operations
robert@nava.nyc
With over 30 years in the construction industry, Robert Russell brings deep expertise, steady leadership, and a builder’s instinct to his role as Director of Site Operations at NAVA. He oversees day-to-day jobsite activity, ensuring every project is delivered with precision, care, and efficiency—from preconstruction through final completion.
Robert’s background includes owning and operating his own general contracting business, managing crews and construction scopes across a wide range of project types. In New York City, he has led major buildouts and infrastructure upgrades for clients including Hines Corporation, the Howard Hughes Foundation, Empire State Realty, Chase Bank, and the Community Development Trust.
His work spans a wide range of scopes—from new elevator cores and structural steel installation to full interior fit-outs and ADA-compliant upgrades. A career highlight remains his leadership on the renovation of the historic Church of the Ascension in Greenpoint, which included basement excavation, new mechanical systems, sanctuary reconfiguration, and thoughtful material detailing throughout.
Robert is known for his ability to manage complex teams, align construction with design vision, and maintain safe, collaborative worksites. He excels at coordinating trades, troubleshooting on the fly, and ensuring that the built work meets both performance expectations and aesthetic intent