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 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. With collective expertise spanning new construction, historic preservation, and complex renovation projects, they helped shape Keast & Hood’s reputation for excellence and mentorship. 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.
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.
