User:Jisher/KKE Architects, Inc.
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[edit] Overview
About KKE Architects, Inc.
"After 36 years in the business, award-winning KKE Architects, Inc. has grown to become one of the top architectural firms in the country." "KKE’s professional staff of over 160 offers a unique blend of expertise across a broad range of market segments encompassing Retail/Lifestyle, Live Entertainment, Housing, Government, Hospitality, Aging, Education and Private Development. Ideally suited for mixed-use developments, KKE applies its broad expertise to the delivery of "reality grounded" solutions in the disciplines of architecture, interior design and planning services."[1]
KKE currently has offices located in Minneapolis, MN. (headquarters), Irvine and Pasadena, CA.
[edit] History
1956 Jerry Korsunsky & Ron Krank meet:[2] Jerry Korsunsky and Ron Krank met each other at the University of Minnesota. Korsunsky was a registered architect with the physical plant department, and Krank was hired to work for that department part-time while completing his second year of school.
1959 Korsunsky & Krank work together again:[2] By chance, Korsunsky and Krank met up a second time at Ellerbe Architects. They joked that the coincidence must mean they should become partners in their own firm some day.
1960 Krank gets key experience:[2] Ron Krank started working for Victor Gruen Associates, the creators of the regional mall concept. That’s where Krank acquired his shopping mall experience.
1968 Korsunsky Krank Architects form:[2] After going their separate ways for a few years, Korsunsky and Krank decided it was time to form a partnership. Korsunsky Krank Architects’ strategic vision was to focus on specific markets areas to insure the stability of the firm. Their three main markets were skilled nursing facilities (Korsunsky’s strength), retail/shopping center projects and multi-family housing (Krank’s strengths). Korsunsky selects the nursing home market: Korsunsky wanted to become an expert in a market area. After much research, he decided nursing homes would be that market. Korsunsky came up with an idea for a nursing home project, but he didn’t have someone to build it for. So he took his idea, sketched out the design, chose an appropriate site and found someone to develop it. That project marked the firm’s entrance into the aging market.
1973: Erickson joins the firm[2] While working on the Point of France Condominiums, the firm needed a key project manager. Ron Erickson answered an ad for the position. Korsunsky and Krank liked that Erickson was artistic (he showed the two men his water colors) and had great energy and enthusiasm. They were immediately sold and hired Erickson. They also knew that Erickson was the kind of person that could have a significant role in the company one day.
1977 Korsunsky Krank Erickson Architects begins:[2] Erickson became a partner in the firm. Korsunsky Krank Erickson Architects, Inc. was on its way.
1980 Interior design begins:[2] KKE’s Interior Design group was added to compliment our architectural services. Corporate retail and commercial development begin: Krank used good timing and instincts to build his portion of the company’s portfolio. Krank was invited to interview with a developer to design a new retail shopping center. After looking at site plans submitted for the project, Krank immediately pulled out a roll of bum wad to sketch a redesign. Krank’s site plan made it possible for the developer to sell an outlot portion of the property where unnecessary parking spaces were previously sketched and earn the developer an additional $160,000. That incident is indicative of the firm’s goal of bringing added value to a client’s project.
1986 KKE office moves:[2] After outgrowing six offices, KKE moved to Minneapolis’ Warehouse District at 300 First Avenue North. Computers enter the office: An evolution also began in 1986. KKE received the Shopko account. One requirement was computer drafting, so KKE started using computers for design and drafting (CAD).
1987 KKE pursues education projects:[2] As KKE expanded, they ventured into a new market: the public sector. They began pursuing public schools projects, which was a productive move. KKE adds six shareholders: In preparation for the next leaders of KKE, 1987 brought the addition of six shareholders to the original three partners. The new shareholders were: Joel Anderson, Dave Broesder, David Frank (now deceased), Tom Gerster, Greg Hollenkamp and Bob Mayeron.
1988 A new project leads to a government business unit:[2] KKE interviewed for and was selected to design the Stearns County Government Center. This was the firm’s first government project.
1989 Mall of America marks a transition:[2] A transformational event occurred when KKE was selected to work with HGA on the Mall of America. This project marked the transition to a large firm. At the conclusion of the $650 million Mall of America project, KKE hit a peak of about 100 employees. Now the company had the experience needed to be capable to take on even larger projects.
1991 Korsunsky retires:[2] Jerry Korsunsky retired in 1991, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in the firm’s history.
1993 KKE celebrates milestone:[2] KKE celebrated its 25th year in practice in 1993. To commemorate the milestone, they purchased a 1968 Volkswagen van. Local artist Alex Boies, who created the Mall of America logo, created the van’s special design to capture KKE’s culture and a bit of youthful exuberance from times past. The clients and staff were invited to use the van.
1996 Mission statement formalizes KKE’s values: The founders of KKE always knew the firm’s values. The firm was built on excellent client services, looking at projects through clients’ eyes, creating the best possible design and developing long-term relationships. In 1996, KKE developed a mission statement to formally articulate those values. KKE gets recognized in international magazine: KKE ranked as one of the Top 10 international design firms in retail architecture by World Architecture (Dec96/Jan97).
1997 KKE Charitable Foundation starts:[2] The KKE Charitable Foundation was started to build on the values in the mission statement. KKE responds to its staff’s sense of community by supporting their valued causes through the foundation’s charitable acts and donations.
1998 VW bugs arrive:[2] KKE celebrated its 30th anniversary in style with two Volkswagen bugs, named Mov’n and Groov’n. The bugs, just like the van, were decorated in the 60s theme. New shareholders, ownership transition plan announced: New shareholders were also added in 1998. They included: Jack Amdal, Kevin Halbach and Lee Meyer. In addition, KKE’s ownership transition plan was created.
1999 KKE adds shareholders:[2] Four new shareholders were added in 1999. They were Don Curwick, John Gould, Mohammed Lawal and Greg Woollums.
2000 Two added to shareholders:[2] Quin Scott and Todd Young were selected as shareholders. KKE receives recognition: In Engineering News Record’s analysis of national architectural firms, KKE was ranked in the top 50 (non A/E firms). In CityBusiness, a weekly Twin Cities metro area newspaper, KKE was ranked number three in billings for architectural firms. CityBusiness also named KKE one of the Twin Cities’ 50 Fastest Growing Private Companies.
2001 Geographic expansion:[2] KKE expanded the practice by adding an office in Newport Beach. The new office’s initial market focus was retail development, with the intent to expand our other studios into this geographic area as well. Ron Krank’s retirement: KKE celebrated Ron’s retirement and 33 years of design at KKE.
2002 Vision Award & Zweig White recognition:[2] As part of Ron Krank’s enduring legacy, KKE created the Ron Krank Vision Award, given to a graduate student at the University of Minnesota School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. KKE was recognized by industry consulting firm Zweig White with placement among the top 100 A/E/P firms. HRE market unit begins: KKE leveraged current clients, markets and new geographical strengths for a Hospitality, Recreation and Entertainment market unit. Two more shareholders added: Brian Arial and Randy Lindemann were selected as KKE’s newest shareholders.
2003 Focus on expanding the vision:[2] The year began with a focus on the mission “expanding the vision” as the core of updated marketing plans and lead directly to the strategic planning process in the spring. Along with the mission, KKE took aim at providing the client “more than they ever thought possible.” Business strength: As a client base was being built and strengthened in Newport Beach, a second California office was opened in Pasadena to provide greater access to the area.
2005 Further expansion: KKE acquires the award-winning Californian/ Nevada architectural firm HFTA (Howard F. Thompson & Associates). The acquisitions marks a significant expansion into the Las Vegas commercial sector.
