Darrell S. “Rocky” Rockefeller, CEO, President and Senior Partner of Rockefeller Kempel Architects, has been named the American Institute of Architects (AIA) California’s 2024-2025 Vice President of Professional Practice. This position ensues a variety of responsibilities, including identifying emerging issues affecting the practice of architecture, coordinating state-level programs, serving as chair of the Professional Practice Advisory Committee (PPAC) and more.

Darrell S. “Rocky” Rockefeller currently serves as the CEO, President and Senior Partner of Rockefeller Kempel Architects. Rocky is a well-respected member of the architectural and academic community, having held teaching positions at both UCLA and Cal Poly Pomona’s Interior Architecture Master’s Degree Programs where he gives the same attention to detail and high performance as in his client work. He has focused his 39-year career on creating innovative, exceptional built environments for residential, commercial, hospitality, and mixed-use clients.

His passion for design runs from the earliest stages of conceptual development through the final days of construction, resulting in work that is both beautifully conceived and of the highest technical rigor. Rocky’s design leadership is strengthened by his ability as a strong project manager and rapt listener, ensuring that each design has a focus on character, purpose, and place, with an eye for sustainable strategies. Rocky’s dedication to realizing client and community aspirations and goals is what continually drives him to new heights of design.

This position was announced on November 3, 2023. Rocky will begin serving his two-year term on January 1, 2024.