Employee Spotlight: Steve Kenat, Director of Community Development

Steve Kenat believes great architecture should do more than shape buildings–it should strengthen communities, create opportunity, and ultimately improve people’s lives.

An experienced architect, designer, and relationship builder, Steve has spent most of his career leading transformational work throughout Cincinnati’s urban neighborhoods; he is particularly passionate about projects that drive meaningful change, whether that’s through neighborhood revitalization, mission-driven development, or initiatives that promote equity and accessibility. It should come as no surprise, then, that Steve’s fingerprints can be found on buildings all over town, from the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Cincinnati Union Terminal to the Ronald McDonald House and United Way.

At SHP, Steve plays a key role in leading community-based projects, balancing thoughtful design with long-term community value. He enjoys working closely with clients and stakeholders to understand their goals and identify the right design solution that serves them best. Steve also brings expertise in sustainability, innovative construction methods, and creative project financing strategies that help clients maximize resources and bring ambitious ideas to life.

For Steve, architecture is ultimately about people—and creating places that help communities thrive for generations to come. “My personal and professional approach is mirrored in SHP’s ethos: Simply Helping People,” he says. “I’ve built my career around this servant leadership mindset, and it feels good to go to work every day at a firm that believes—and behaves—in the same way.”