Founding Principal
Charles Kahn’s desire to connect with people drives everything he does in architecture. He relishes brainstorming and problem-solving with the Studio KDA team, and creating projects that inspire people to come together and develop community – whether that be in the form of a restaurant, outdoor plaza, or housing project. An outspoken advocate on issues of housing development, Charles is a former Chairman of the Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board, current member of the Berkeley Planning Commission, and member of the Urban Land Institute. He also hosts a periodic “Developer’s Roundtable” to educate the local development community on issues of interest.
When he isn’t at Studio KDA, Charles can be found reading, playing the piano, going out to dancing, dinner, or the theatre, and spending time with family, friends, his wife Laurie, and their three dogs. He holds a B.A. from Harvard and a Master of Architecture from U.C. Berkeley