On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Steve Knight spoke at the Jewish Museum of Florida for the 16th World Congress on Art Deco lecture series.

In his lecture, Knight discusses the life and work of Edgard Sforzina. A French-American designer, he came to the U.S. in the 1920s, where he and his family later settled in Mount Vernon, New York.

Formally trained in France, Sforzina worked for many firms in interior and industrial design before his arrival in the U.S., embracing the Art Deco style.

Some of his most notable works in the U.S. include the interior design of the Cincinnati Union Terminal as well as the residence of composer George Gershwin.

Steve Knight is a Principal with David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc. based in Washington, DC. Originally from Massachusetts and raised in North Carolina, Steve received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of North Carolina, and a Master of Architecture from North Carolina State University.

While well-versed in a variety of building types, Steve primarily focuses on the firm’s performing arts and higher education projects. Outside of professional practice, Steve is active in preservation advocacy, serving as President of the Art Deco Society of Washington and Board Member for the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies. He enjoys conducting local walking tours and lecturing on Art Deco architecture and design. Steve lives with his wife Karen in a restored bungalow in Silver Spring, Maryland.

In his dual roles as a Principal with David M. Schwarz Architects and as President of the Art Deco Society of Washington, Steve has amassed quite a bit of public speaking experience. In professional practice, he regularly gives presentations to industry groups, clients, and communities. In his role with the Art Deco Society, Steve has conducted several walking tours and in-person as well as virtual presentations on Art Deco design and history.

As President of the Art Deco Society of Washington, Steve served on the 4-member Sforzina Project Committee that was responsible for cataloging over 700 items, developing a 16-panel traveling exhibit, and producing a 300-page catalog highlighting Sforzina’s brief but prolific career in the United States from 1923 to 1941.

The 16th World Congress on Art Deco was made possible with the support of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, the State of Florida, the International Coalition of Art Deco Societies, and the Art Deco Society of the Palm Beaches.