A woman with long black hair, wearing a black top and sunglasses, smiles in an outdoor setting with green foliage in the background.

Naveem Ahbab

Associate Principal, New York

Shaped by a multicultural upbringing spanning multiple continents, Naveem developed an early and lasting sensitivity to how people experience the spaces around them. That global perspective—and the curiosity it inspired—has been the through line of her career ever since.

Throughout her work, Naveem has brought a rare combination of empathy and rigor to a wide range of corporate and commercial projects, from large-scale and complex to boutique and refined. She has led projects for clients such as Vornado, RITHM, and Tishman Speyer, earning a reputation for her ability to listen deeply, ask the right questions, and distill competing needs into one clear, purposeful vision. For her, great design is not just about what a space looks like—it is about how it feels to be inside it.

Say hello to Naveem
FUN FACTS

Naveem grew up in Japan and Bangladesh before moving to the Northeast—first to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and then New York City, where she lives now. She loves to cook dishes inspired by her travels, reinterpreting flavors she’s experienced around the world.

Two children sitting on a rocky shore, facing the ocean under a cloudy sky, with gentle waves lapping at the rocks.
Naveem's view on safari in Sri Lanka with her family.
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Naveem is most energized by the collaborative process: the conversations, the iterations, and the moments when a client’s needs and a design team’s instincts converge into something unexpected and aligned. She leads with empathy, draws on the psychology of space, and believes that the best outcomes are always built on trust. Her work is grounded in the conviction that thoughtful design, at any scale, has the power to shape how people connect, collaborate, and move through the world.

Elevator lobby at The Penn District featuring textured walls, wooden ceiling, and seating area visible through glass doors. Person walking by.
Vornado, PENN 1 Experience Center
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