About Us
Legacy
Since 1953, Keast & Hood has been entrusted with structural challenges that span eras and scales, from stabilizing centuries-old timber trusses to shaping the framework of contemporary architecture. Our legacy is built on both preserving the past and supporting the future, with projects that anchor communities of all types.
Our origin
Our origin traces to William H. Gravell & Associates in Philadelphia. Following Gravell's passing in 1952, his associate Raymond Hood Jr. carried the practice forward and invited Sheldon Keast, the recently retired Chief Inspector of the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections, to join as partner. Alongside early collaborators Daniel DiBona, Nicholas Gianopulos, Thomas Leidigh, and Carl Baumert Jr., the firm established a foundation of technical rigor and collaborative ingenuity that shaped its early identity.
By the 1960s, Gianopulos, Leidigh, and Baumert led the firm into a period of growth and nationally recognized work. During this time, Keast & Hood worked alongside architectural pioneers including Louis Kahn and Robert Venturi on celebrated projects such as the Richards Medical Research Laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania and Venturi's Vanna Venturi House. Our early partnerships with the National Park Service also helped define best practices in preservation engineering, a field we continue to influence today.
The firm's evolution has been marked by continuity in leadership and a deep respect for generational knowledge transfer. Longtime senior principals Frederick C. Baumert, Constantine (Dean) Doukakis, and Thomas J. Normile have been instrumental in carrying forward the firm's legacy over the last several decades. Their retirements in 2024 and 2025 marked a moment of gratitude and reflection for their many contributions to the built environment and to the generations of engineers they've mentored.
Leadership today
In 2022, leadership transitioned to principals Denise L. Richards and John R. Davis. Both bring decades of experience rooted in the firm's core values. Denise, who has worked on notable projects such as the Statue of Liberty and One uCity Square, is known for her commitment to sustainable structural design, project leadership, and thoughtful collaboration. John, with a portfolio that includes Museum of the American Revolution and Union League of Philadelphia, is recognized for his inventive problem-solving, technical fluency, and deep dedication to project partners and design teams.
Together, Denise and John carry forward a culture of mentorship, curiosity, and collaborative design that honors Keast & Hood's legacy while embracing the future. The firm remains grounded in its history and energized by the evolving challenges and opportunities of today's built environment.
Landmarks in our history
Seventy years, milestone by milestone
1953
The firm's legacy originates from the highly acclaimed practice of William H. Gravell & Associates.
1957
Sheldon A. Keast, Raymond A. Hood, Daniel DiBona, Nicholas L. Gianopulos, and Thomas J. Leidigh form the new corporation “Keast & Hood Co.”
1962
Richards Medical Research Laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania, designed by Louis I. Kahn, is completed. A plane crash kills partners Hood and DiBona.
1963
Carl A. Baumert Jr. joins the firm as a shareholder.
1964
The Vanna Venturi House is completed, marking the beginning of Keast & Hood's long partnership with VSBA Architects and Planners.
1971
The Class of 1945 Library at Phillips Exeter Academy by Louis I. Kahn is completed and awarded an AIA Twenty-Five Year Award in 1997.
1976
Keast & Hood collaborates on the design of Franklin Court, resulting in the Ghost Structure and Market Street Buildings reconstruction.
1983
The National Assembly Building of Bangladesh is completed. Keast & Hood worked with Louis Kahn on the project until 1966.
1989
Academy of Music emergency repairs are completed in 17 days, saving the landmark building's roof from collapse.
1991
Restoration of the Frank Furness masterpiece at the University of Pennsylvania's Fisher Fine Arts Library restores its Victorian splendor.
1995
Constantine G. (Dean) Doukakis and Frederick C. Baumert purchase the firm from Gianopulos, Leidigh and C. Baumert, Jr.
1998
Thomas J. Normile becomes a Principal and shareholder.
2000
Creating the Frist Campus Center for Princeton University included the adaptive reuse and renovation of Palmer Hall.
2002
Huntsman Hall for the Wharton School is completed with Kohn Pedersen Fox & Associates.
2004
Keast & Hood receives the Board of Directors Award for Contribution to Historic Preservation.
2008
Keast & Hood provided structural engineering for the phased exterior restoration of Philadelphia's City Hall.
2009
Keast & Hood designed three temporary, reusable structures for the 2009, 2013, and 2017 presidential inaugurations.
2010
The Baptist Temple (Temple University's namesake) is adaptively repurposed into a 1,200-seat performing arts venue.
2013
The Statue of Liberty reopens to visitors on July 4, 2013 after Hurricane Sandy.
2016
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple is completed.
2018
Keast & Hood receives the inaugural Dragon Exemplar Award from Drexel University's CMAC.
2020
The first phase of the Penn Museum's Coxe and Harrison renovations conclude.
2022
Denise Richards and John Davis become Partners; Keast & Hood becomes a certified Women's Business Enterprise.
