Kleinberg of MKDA provides total project oversight on the firm's interior projects

Jeffrey Kleinberg is partner and head of operations at corporate space planning and interior design firm MKDA, where he has spent over four decades working side-by-side with his father and brother to grow the family-owned and operated company from a niche firm to an interiors powerhouse with a respected multi-sector practice. A natural born draftsman and designer, Kleinberg got his start in interior design at an exceptionally young age. At just nine years old, he would accompany his father - MKDA founder Milo Kleinberg - on job sites and to millworkers' shops, where he would collect scraps of wood to use in the design of complex boxes and other treasures. Kleinberg began apprenticing under his father at the age of 16, and quickly learned the fundamentals of corporate interior design and the family business. After officially joining MKDA in 1976 - upon completing a bachelor of Architecture degree from the New York Institute of Technology - he immediately began designing interiors on behalf of clients. Kleinberg quickly became one of New York's most notable fashion showroom designers. Over the years, he has applied his intimate understanding of how clothing lines are shown, as well as the unique spatial requirements of showrooms, to create exciting fashion showroom environments for GIII, Calvin Klein, Marcraft, Tawil Associates, Kahn Lucus Lancaster, Isabella and Lafayette 148, among others. His unique two-step approach to designing interiors has worked well, enabling the designer to create some of the most innovative designs with the most efficient layouts. First, he plans a layout based on the client's specific space requirements. Then, he visualizes the entire space in 3D, incorporating elements such as walls and ceilings in order to reach the overall design perspective. Kleinberg takes the same methodical, detailed approach to the operational oversight he provides at MKDA. In fact, shortly after he joined the firm, he immediately began looking for ways to modernize the firm's operations. In just a few short years, he was computerizing work methods and design criteria as well as the firm's telecommunications and resource library. He continues to spearhead the firm's state-of-the-art approach to design and management to this day. "Jeff can see both the big picture and the smallest details, which is an exceptional skill to have as an interior designer," said his brother. "His ability to improve operations at MKDA translates into his exceptional ability to assist companies in aligning their real estate with their business, operational and budgetary objectives." "It's an intimate process to plan a work environment right down to determining the exact location of the water cooler," he says. "Once a design perspective is established, the details define the work environment and can have a profound impact on worker productivity, operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. At the end of the day, however, my objective is to create natural and pleasant environments that people enjoy." And he does, according to client Howard Kahn of Kahn Lucas. "I feel just as good stepping off the elevator and into our office environment today as I did when it was first created. I could not imagine that I would derive such pleasure from being in an office." These days, Kleinberg continues to provide total project oversight from pre-lease to move-in on design projects in a wide variety sectors, including the retail and non-profit sectors, among others. Noted for a calm manner and an honest work ethic, Kleinberg is also adept at meeting the needs of commercial building owners and brokers, helping these real estate professionals lease space and drive deals forward. Kleinberg recently tapped each of his unique skills to conceptualize the design for MKDA's new office. He designed the space as a showroom where clients could view a variety of layouts, fixtures, materials and furnishings, including many of the latest sustainable elements and systems, while keeping the space light and airy. In addition, he designed a collaborative work environment that would allow MKDA designers, project managers and architects to gather comfortably while hashing out creative solutions for the firm's clientele. Currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Kleinberg is quick to point out that MKDA's continued success is due in large to the complementary skills that he and his brother bring to the firm. "Michael tends toward the business end of things, while I tend toward the design side, our bread and butter, and operations, our nuts and bolts." In his spare time, Kleinberg is a collector of classic scale model cars, as well as New York World's Fair and Walt Disney memorabilia, among other items. Professionally, he is a member of International Interior Design Association (IIDA). In addition, he has assisted in the redesign of a Scarsdale, N.Y. synagogue and the Rosenthal JCC Theatre in Westchester, N.Y. As a volunteer educator, he has lectured students of all ages about the art and the business of interior space planning and design. "At the end of the day, our profession enjoys giving back to the community," he said. "We are in the privileged position to expedite lease transactions, to enhance workspaces and to improve the work lives of many members of our community, which is ultimately very satisfying."