Mr. Praful Kulkarni
Praful [pruh-full] M. Kulkarni
Chairman, Design Build Institute of America DBIA
Founder/President/CEO, gkkworks
Praful M. Kulkarni, FAIA, DBIA, PhD (HC) is a visionary leader at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and construction. Currently serving asPrincipal and Director of Integrated Services at CannonDesign, Praful brings decades of expertise in progressive project delivery and integrated design-build strategies. He founded gkkworks in 1991, pioneering a “Master Builder” approach that redefined collaboration in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. Under his leadership, gkkworks earned national recognition as a Top 100 Design and Construction Management firm before merging with CannonDesign in 2018, expanding its global reach and integrated services capabilities.
Praful’s academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Architecture from IIT Kharagpur, a Master of Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technologyand an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University. His commitment to education and innovation has shaped transformative projects include healthcare, education, civic, and infrastructure sectors.
An influential AEC industry advocate, Praful served as the National Chair of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and currently sits on the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) National Board, championing alternate delivery methods. Praful’s leadership has driven US wide legislative reforms, including California’s SB 706, empowering public agencies to adopt Progressive Design-Build delivery. Recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Praful continues to inspire through his thought leadership and his groundbreaking projects.
Additionally, Praful is the past Chair of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation(LAEDC), and he currently serves on its Governance Committee. He is also a Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation and the American Institute ofArchitects (AIA).