KSS Architects, the award-winning architecture and planning firm with a deep footprint in New Jersey, on Tuesday announced the promotion of Alicia Heinsen to partner.
The move marks a full-circle milestone for Heinsen, who first joined the Princeton-based firm as an intern 17 years ago. Since then, she has become a formidable force in the industry, overseeing the design and delivery of over 10 million square feet of space across the commercial, industrial, and workplace sectors.
Heinsen’s promotion comes on the heels of a portfolio that balances massive industrial scale with high-level sustainability. Her notable projects include:
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Arsenal Trade Center: A three-building, LEED Gold-certified industrial hub in Parlin.
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Russo Development Headquarters: Leading a 50,000-square-foot high-end interior fit-out for the prominent developer.
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Next-Gen Data Centers: Managing the firm’s first enterprise data center, which is currently targeting LEED Platinum status—a rare feat for high-power-demand infrastructure.
“Alicia embodies the values of ingenuity, empathy, and teamwork that define KSS,” Scot Murdoch, partner at KSS Architects said. “She is a team player to the core, and her passion for design is matched by her unwavering dedication to her clients and the communities we serve.”
Beyond her project work, Heinsen is a central figure in the Garden State’s architectural community. She currently serves as the Executive Board Secretary for the ACE Mentor Program of New Jersey, where she has spent years guiding students at Hightstown and Trenton Central High Schools toward careers in architecture, construction and engineering.
Her commitment to the next generation is reflected in her work on fundraising committees that support annual student scholarships of up to $30,000.
Heinsen’s rise within KSS has been punctuated by numerous industry accolades. She was previously named AIA New Jersey’s Intern Architect of the Year in 2015 and has more recently been recognized as an NJBIZ Forty Under 40 Leader (2025) and an ENR Top Young Professional (2026).
“Having started my journey here as an intern nearly two decades ago, this milestone is especially meaningful,” Heinsen said. “KSS has always been a place that values growth, curiosity, and teamwork, and I’m proud to continue building on that legacy.”
A graduate of the University of Florida and a registered architect in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Heinsen will continue to lead multidisciplinary teams from KSS’s Princeton office, driving the firm’s project delivery systems and sustainable design initiatives.
