KAI Design & Build

KAI Design & Build Announces Restructuring, New Leadership Roles

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New branding, website and logo to unveil in February

KAI Design & Build, an integrated architectural, engineering and construction services firm providing design and construction solutions across the country for nearly 40 years, has announced a corporate restructuring and will now be known as KAI Enterprises. KAI Enterprises, which will simply go by KAI publicly, will serve as the parent company of four new subsidiaries—KAI Design, KAI Engineering, KAI Build and KAI 360 Construction Services (KAI 360 CS). As part of the restructure, KAI will launch a new branding effort in February that includes a new corporate brand identity, logo and tagline as well as a new website.

The name change and restructure reflects KAI’s broader commitment to its clients and the AEC industry and unifies the company’s operations under a new core focus and set of core values.

CEO Michael Kennedy, Jr. officially launched the new structure in October 2018, with Darren L. James, AIA, transitioning to President of KAI Enterprises. James, a shareholder within the company since 2010, was formerly the President and COO of KAI Texas.

“This is a new day for service delivery in the design and construction industry,” said James. “The continued evolution towards better and greater communication enhances the work environment for our staff and provides a more comprehensive experience for our clients. We believe in long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with our clients and our restructuring is our investment in continuous improvement, evolution and reinvention to better serve our clients, staff and community.”

In 2017, Michael Kennedy, Sr., founder and chairman of KAI Design & Build, retired and sold his company shares to his son, Michael B. Kennedy, Jr. The younger Kennedy decided at that time to restructure KAI and create new entities for each of the company’s business lines under the umbrella of a new holding company.

KAI is now poised through its four distinct business units to serve its clients with national resources from its headquarters in St. Louis and offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Omaha and San Antonio.

“As a shareholder of the KAI family of companies, it is my intention to strategically place the parent company and each business unit in the most advantageous position for growth, stability and profitability, regardless of the external economic climate,” said James. “As the President of KAI Enterprises, it is my role to create opportunities that sustain our business unit’s individual goals, and nurture and grow our staff with exciting projects with a purpose to transform the communities we touch.”

The four new entities and respective leadership under the restructuring include:

  • KAI Design – The architectural and interior design side of the business is now exclusively channeled through KAI Design. These services were previously offered through KAI Texas, but under the new structure, KAI Design will focus on providing design services at all KAI office locations throughout the U.S. KAI Design is led by President Matt Westphal, who also heads up KAI Engineering.
  • KAI Engineering – KAI Engineering is an industry leader in BIM technology, and its engineering professionals have decades of combined experience in project leadership, design execution and advanced engineering concepts on a wide variety of building types. Through the recent acquisition of Atlanta-based Dorsey Engineering, KAI expanded its reach, enabling greater opportunities in a prime engineering-focused role to owners, architects, federal and state government agencies, and design-build contractors nationwide. KAI Engineering is led by Matt Westphal, who holds a dual leadership position as President of KAI Design and KAI Engineering.
  • KAI Build – KAI Build provides design-build services, general contracting, construction management and a full suite of preconstruction services. The company, led by President Brian W. Arnold, recently elevated their presence in the construction market through the acquisition of reputable St. Louis-based Volk Construction Company, which brought more than 50 years of diverse expertise in the public and private sectors. Additionally, Marcus Moomey, AIA, DBIA, has been promoted to the new position of Director of Design-Build to lead this division of KAI Build.
  • KAI 360 CS – KAI’s Program and Construction Management group is now named KAI 360 Construction Services (KAI 360 CS) because of its ability to provide “full circle” expertise to plan, structure and deliver projects to meet clients’ budgets, schedules, quality and operational requirements, and to lead a project or program from concept to turnover. KAI 360 CS is led by President Bruce Wood.

“The new structure allows stronger flexibility to add investors, shareholders and M&A activity to align better with KAI’s strategic goals,” said KAI Enterprises CEO Kennedy, Jr.

KAI Enterprises is a national design and build firm providing delivery-oriented building solutions with a diverse portfolio of experience, in-house multi-discipline professionals, and expertise in both design and construction delivery. To learn more about KAI, visit www.kai-db.com.

KAI Design & Build, HBD Construction, Inc. to Build New 136-room Fairfield Inn & Suites in Downtown St. Louis

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The KAI Design & Build/HBD Construction, Inc. team has been selected to build one of the first new hotels in downtown St. Louis in years – Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new hotel was held on Oct. 18 at the corner of 22nd and Market streets, the former site of iconic Harry’s Restaurant & Bar.

“We are truly excited to be a part of this dynamic project and the revitalization of such a landmark site in the Downtown-West area of St. Louis City,” said KAI President Michael Kennedy, Jr.

St. Louis-based Equis Hotels is the developer on the $20 million hotel and parking garage project, with Chiodini Architects of St. Louis providing its design and Peak Construction Group serving as the construction manager. KAI Design & Build/HBD Construction is the general contractor.

“HBD is very excited to be starting its third project for Equis and its second project with joint venture partner KAI and team. The project will be an important amenity to the downtown St. Louis area, which continues positive growth,” said Michael Perry, President of HBD Construction.

The new hotel will feature 136 rooms and suites, 2,000 square feet of meeting rooms, a lobby lounge and bar, complimentary Wi-Fi, free breakfast, fitness center, outdoor patio, business center and shuttle service within a 2-mile radius of the property. With easy access to downtown St. Louis businesses and attractions, the modern Marriott-branded hotel will be suitable for business and leisure travelers and is expected to open in early 2020.

The Fairfield by Marriott hotel will revitalize a highly-visible lot in the western portion of downtown St. Louis and create an important addition to the region’s hospitality offerings.

“Equis’ new Fairfield by Marriott hotel is unique as it truly is the first, ground up Marriott select service hotel to be built in the City of St. Louis’ downtown market in decades,” said Equis Hotels Chief Executive Officer and Founder Michael Mullenix. “This hotel will now capture the traditional Marriott hotel customer seeking a true, ground-up Marriott select service hotel brand downtown. It will provide a quality offering so that guests do not have to travel outside of downtown to satisfy their lodging needs. Our new Fairfield by Marriott hotel will not only serve the existing hotel demand generators in the city, but it will definitely accommodate the exciting growth now taking place in the City of St. Louis, including the new $600 million Saint Louis University hospital project and the new $1.6 billion National Geo-Spatial Intelligence or NGA headquarters campus currently under construction just a mile north of our site.”

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.

HBD Construction, Inc. is a diverse, full-service general contracting and construction management firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information about HBD Construction, Inc., visit www.hbdgc.com or call 314-781-8000.

Hastings + Chivetta, KAI Design & Build Redo Busy Grand Blvd Crossings to Increase Safety

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By KERRY SMITH, EDITOR, ST. LOUIS CONSTRUCTION NEWS & REVIEW MAGAZINE

Architect Hastings + Chivetta and General Contractor KAI Design & Build are seeing the results of their recent redesign and construction of the Grand and West Pine Boulevards streetscape to enhance pedestrian safety at Saint Louis University.

Making it safely for pedestrians to cross and making the entire crossway accessible were key project priorities. KAI Design & Build Director of Field Operations Steve Kizer said the newly rebuilt streetscape runs along Grand Boulevard northbound and southbound from Lindell Boulevard two blocks south to Laclede Avenue.

“It’s not unusual for 300 to 400 pedestrians to be crossing at any of these points along Grand at peak times such as 9am and 3pm,” Kizer said.

HCA President Chris Chivetta said the fast-track project, which began right after Saint Louis University’s commencement ceremonies in May and was completed just three months later, is part of the university’s overall master plan that HCA is in the process of updating.

“The newly redesigned, rebuilt crossing features a wider median that can more safely accommodate pedestrians waiting for the light to change at these busy intersections,” Chivetta said. “The project scope also includes additional lighting, improved traffic signals and bollards situated along the media and sidewalks to prevent cars from encroaching into pedestrian areas.”

Slowing down vehicles as they approach the campus to facilitate a safer central campus core was a chief goal of the project, according to Chivetta.

More about those new bollards: Kizer said they’re designed, built and secured to be able to withstand a severe blow from an oncoming vehicle.

“Each of the bollards contains a steel tube measuring 10 inches in diameter and one inch thick,” said Kizer. “They’re installed into a concrete pad that is attached to a 10-inch I-beam that is perpendicular to the steel tube and embedded into the concrete. These bollards are built to withstand a 50-mile-an-hour vehicular impact.”

To create space for the wider median, the third northbound traffic lane was eliminated.

In addition to safety-specific improvements, the streetscape project included landscape design and aesthetic improvements.

Kizer credited civil engineer Stock & Associates for its project expertise.

“This streetscape project was fast-paced and involved a lot of people working on-site at one time,” Kizer said. “The architect, general contractor, engineer and top-quality subcontractors all pulled together and made this happen as a team.”

An unforeseen element during construction, Kizer said, was discovering a network of trolley tracks in the excavation area. Workers had to physically remove the track infrastructure before work could commence.

The new streetscape also has visual and audio instructions to indicate when it is safe for pedestrians to cross. The improvements are features of a brand-new signalization system that was installed as part of the project. Also, within the project’s scope, existing asphalt was milled and replaced, and new stamped concrete pavers were installed.

KAI Design & Build to Construct Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson, MO

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Inspiring groundbreaking ceremony held on Sept. 13

The sun was shining and so were the spirits of all who gathered to break ground on Sept. 13 for the new Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis Teen Center of Excellence in Ferguson, MO. The event marked a time of renewal for the area which gained national attention in 2014 for violent protests following the fatal police shooting of teen Michael Brown.

The $12.4 million Teen Center of Excellence, under construction at 9200 West Florissant, will offer afterschool and summer programs to youth ages 12-18 in the North St. Louis County area.

KAI Design & Build has been selected as the general contractor for the project, which is expected to open in time for the 2019-20 school year and is one of the first of its kind in the country. The architect on the project is Arcturis of St. Louis, MO.

“KAI is ready to build this facility for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis. This is a much-needed community asset in North St. Louis County,” said KAI Design & Build President Michael Kennedy, Jr. “It wouldn’t have been possible without a region that is committed to creating positive change in Ferguson. I am really proud of what the private and corporate community is doing to make this facility a reality.”

The 26,856-square-foot, three-level center will provide a safe place for area youth to gather and participate in a variety of activities. Designs for the facility include a nutrition education center, gym, teen lounge, outdoor garden, auditorium, music and art studio, office space, intellectual commons, innovation center, and outdoor basketball and activity court.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis has a 50-plus-year track record of success in the St. Louis region as a youth services provider and will implement nationally acclaimed programs at the new Teen Center similar to those offered in the ten locations it presently operates (seven of which are located in North County). Programming will include an emphasis on health and wellness (such as yoga, healthy habits, open gym), education and workforce development (such as college tours, ACT/SAT prep, tutoring), STEAM (such as coding, app creation, robotics) and leadership and civic engagement (such as fine and performing arts, community service, applied arts).

“Building a Boys & Girls Club in the Ferguson area will produce positive outcomes in a community that has been subsumed with difficult realities and negative images. Adding a successful youth focused organization into Ferguson like Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, which has a long track record of success, can bolster young people’s attitudes and give them a sense of hope. A new club will enrich our children’s lives and the city by helping its youth build strong character, graduate from high school with a plan for life, and become productive citizens,” said Dr. Flint Fowler, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis President.

About KAI Design & Build

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. Since its inception in 1980, KAI has been instrumental in reshaping the urban environment through its expertise in housing, K-12 schools, transit facilities, collegiate structures, commercial buildings, sports and recreational facilities, government/justice centers and healthcare buildings. Beginning as an architectural design firm, KAI added mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering to give clients a full package of in-house disciplines for their projects. Today, KAI continues with its original core service of design and has quickly grown its construction management group since 1997. Additionally, KAI is a leader in Building Information Modeling (BIM), applying the skill set to architectural, engineering and construction projects firm-wide. KAI’s affiliate locations include Atlanta, Omaha, Dallas and San Antonio. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.

 

KAI Design & Build Finds Inspiration for Alberici Office Renovation Through Client’s Own Steel Fabrication Expertise, Industrial Brand

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When Alberici Corporation, a major North American construction company, moved to its LEED Platinum corporate headquarters in 2004, two of their subsidiaries—Hillsdale Fabricators and Kienlen Constructors—remained at the Hillsdale, MO office five miles away. KAI’s Architecture and Interior Design teams were recently contracted by Alberici to completely renovate the outdated second floor of the Hillsdale office to provide better workspace for Hillsdale and Kienlen employees.

The office space was riddled with unused space, outdated finishes and no consistent flow. The space also did not adequately represent the company’s brand or expertise, and the employees were dispersed throughout several floors.

“The client requested an open floor plan to consolidate all of their employees onto one floor, with a centralized break room and a refined, industrial design,” said KAI Interior Designer Asha Perez. “Branding for the space was particularly important to the client, who wanted to exhibit their own steel fabrication expertise throughout the new interior.”

KAI’s design team worked closely with the client to develop their vision for the space, which included several collaborative design-build, custom-crafted furniture pieces that showcased the client’s skills.

“The design intended to demonstrate, as well as utilize the on-site capabilities of the structural steel fabricators,” said Perez. “We employed other interior design elements to develop that refined industrial design motif while also complimenting the exposed, existing concrete structure that the client desired for the space.”

The inspiration for the materials used in the design came from the client themselves. The KAI team walked through the client’s on-site steel fabrication facility and yard to gain inspiration and appreciation for the work that they do. Throughout the yard, they saw heavy steel, steel scraps, machinery and employees at work, which helped the team start to put the schematic design into context.

The renovated space features an “unfinished look” with sealed concrete floors and exposed ceilings and columns. Gray tones in the porcelain floor tiles communicate a similar design language, reflecting the warmth of the tones in the concrete throughout. Reclaimed wood was selected for use on the walls to wrap the elevator, while defining that as an alternate interior exit and entry point to and from the first floor. The wood was also used on the reception desk to add more textural interest to the space. The interior façade of the reception area features concrete-look panels with reveals and form-tie details, drawing inspiration from Japanese architect Tadau Ando.

KAI also redesigned the main front entry stairway replacing the existing terrazzo. Minerit heavy duty fiber cement board panels were used on the stairway entry walls. Recessed steel channels were designed for the handrails along each side and returns at the bottom and top of the stair landings. Limestone was used for the stair treads and steel for the risers.

KAI and the client collaborated on the design of a 25-foot-long, nearly-5,000-pound trapezoidal-shaped conference room table made of steel with wood trim, a steel and concrete prep table weighing over three tons, steel partitions around the perimeter of the break room and concrete-top, bar-height tables, wrapping existing columns in the break room; all of which were custom built by Hillsdale Fabricators. Due to the weight and size of the custom furniture, cranes had to be used to place the pieces in their new spaces.

“It was important to show how these elements were constructed, so the joinery and details are purposely exposed,” said Perez. “This allowed the client to showcase the kind of specialized work they do.”

A random mix of light, medium and dark-gray, large format hexagon-shaped floor tiles (21″ x 24″) by Ottomo Ceramics were installed in the break room. Wood flooring was also used in the break room meticulously forming a flush, seamless transition to the edge of the hexagon-shaped floor tile to create an irregular edge design.

The centralized break room is defined by steel partitions with opaque glass above. Butcher block walnut wood benching, wood top tables and a standing height wood ledge along the perimeter in the bistro were all designed to accommodate varying sit and stand postures of users in the space.

KAI worked closely with Lighting Associates to find linear and large hexagon-shaped light fixtures that mimic the layout and floor pattern in the break room. Energy efficient light fixtures that incorporate down- and up-lighting were specified to brighten the existing, dark, exposed concrete ceilings. These types of fixtures were used throughout the interior, including the conference rooms, which also feature industrial, black metal pendant light fixtures.

Acoustics was another important design element, considering the hard surfaces throughout the space. KAI created white noise with speakers in the ceilings, dropped acoustical ceiling tiles in the conference rooms, and carpet in the open office and workstation areas and conference rooms.

In keeping with Alberici’s brand, red was tastefully used in the design, but not overdone. Carpet used in the open office areas and conference rooms was selected from Mohawk Group’s Street Thread collection, which features bold red, black and gray geometric patterns. Carpet used in the reception area was a mix of Merge, Intertwine and Magnify from Mannington. Red and gray also highlight the workstation desk drawers.

The client wanted a bright, open office layout. KAI achieved this by furnishing the space with low partition Herman Miller Canvas workstations, integrating clear glass panels within the workstation partitions; conference rooms surrounded by butt glazed glass partitions and redesigning the space by eliminating the existing walls from the perimeter of the interior to allow in natural daylight.

KAI utilized BIM technology on the project to provide the client with an Enscape walk-through of the Revit model at the design development completion state. This ability to display the design through a virtual walk-through was key to achieving a quick review and approval of the design.

About KAI Design & Build

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.

KAI Design & Build Hosts Informative Panel Discussion on Infusing Art into Corporate Design Projects

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The Interior Design Team at KAI Design & Build, in conjunction with ARCH Design Artwork & Framing, held a panel-style discussion, Art in Design – Session 1, on May 30 at the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being in an effort to bridge the gap between the artist studio and corporate decision-makers.

How do we evoke an emotional response in the physical space? Art is emotion reflected on the walls. Art is personal and evokes emotion. Art can convey a company’s values and build on the architecture. Art can express ownership of a space and the activities that take place around it. Art can make employees more productive, and even encourage customers to buy. Art in design has numerous benefits, according to the panel.

The free event provided the local art community with a platform for discussion and networking with the St. Louis region’s corporate decision-makers and presented fresh ideas on the importance of infusing local art into design projects. The event also showcased the unique architectural design and artwork featured in the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being located at 1000 North Vandeventer in the Grand Center Arts District of St. Louis City. KAI designed and built the facility, which was completed in December 2017.

“As artists, we have found it more difficult to break into conversations with companies regarding budgets for design projects, frankly because artists are generally more focused on their work’s inspiration than negotiating contracts,” said Kennedy Yanko, a New York-based artist and Art Director at KAI. “Our goal through this panel discussion was to open the dialogue between the local art community and corporations so that both parties can experience all of the benefits that art in interior design has to offer.”

KAI President Michael Kennedy, Jr. moderated the panel discussion, which included the following panelists:

  • Cbabi Bayoc, St. Louis-based artist and illustrator. Bayoc is an artist who has always known and lived his calling to create art which reflects his love of music and family. Bayoc created a mural at the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being that features influential children of the civil rights movement and young people throughout the world who have championed children’s rights.
  • Kennedy Yanko, New York-based artist and Art Director at KAI. Yanko is a painter-sculptor based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. She works in wood, metal, marble and acrylic, exposing dualities of juxtaposing these elements. Her multi-media genre showcases materials’ natural tendencies and encourages their innate modes of expression.
  • Asha PerezInterior Designer at KAI. Perez is a progressive design professional with current experience working with an interdisciplinary firm. Fueled by an industry she calls an “art-form,” she is innovative and passionate about everything design — color, texture, furniture, lighting and art — having the ability to breathe life into any space.
  • Bill McCuen, Design Director at KAI. Over his 35-year career, McCuen has led design efforts for a broad array of projects from an embassy in Yemen to a world headquarters for the Defense Logistics Agency, from one-room schools in Afghanistan to the master plan for Riverplace – the civic heart of Greenville South Carolina. He has consistently focused on contextually sensitive and sustainable design and urban development.
  • Levi Buck, Director of Business Development at ARCH Design Artwork & Framing. Buck has been involved in hundreds of artwork programs throughout his time with ARCH, spanning acute care facilities, corporate environments, hospitality and senior living. He has served as project manager on complex projects, including Dignity Health System’s Built Environment Improvement Program, consisting of over 3,000 pieces of artwork.
  • Connie Wetmore, Senior Art Consultant at ARCH Design Artwork & Framing. Wetmore has been contributing to the design and management of high-end art programs in hospitality, healthcare, corporate and residential spaces since 2001. She excels in conceptualizing unique, client-driven designs and installations. Clients depend on her knowledge for specific art placement and exceptional eye for color to communicate their vision.

Topics discussed by the panel included:

  • How to budget for interior design and art
  • Why companies should invest in art for their spaces
  • The importance of art in interior design
  • Determining what art is appropriate for what space
  • How to select an artist for a project
  • The importance of including art in public spaces
  • Connecting with the local art community on projects

The audience also toured the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being and attended presentations by McCuen and Bayoc on their inspirations behind the building’s design and unique artwork.

For more information about Art in Design – Session 1 and future sessions, contact Asha Perez at aperez@kai-db.com or 314-241-8188.

About KAI Design & Build

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. Since its inception in 1980, KAI has been instrumental in reshaping the urban environment through its expertise in housing, K-12 schools, transit facilities, collegiate structures, commercial buildings, sports and recreational facilities, government/justice centers and healthcare buildings. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.

KAI Design & Build Completes Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being in St. Louis City’s Grand Center Arts District

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Interactive programming and design process helped KAI meet client’s tight deadline 

KAI Design & Build has completed construction of St. Louis’ new $8.5 million Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being — a 21,272-square-foot facility providing meeting and office space for child advocates, civic leaders and community organizers dedicated to enhancing the well-being of at-risk children.

In March, KAI Design & Build received a 2018 Building St. Louis Award for the project. The awards program, sponsored by the St. Louis Business Journal, recognizes commercial real estate projects that have created a positive community impact in the areas of investment, jobs created or potential benefit to a surrounding area.

Located at 1000 North Vandeventer in the Grand Center Arts District of St. Louis City, the facility was completed within just 7.5 months in December 2017. Since time was of the essence on the project, as the Deaconess Foundation’s lease at its previous office space was set to expire on December 31, 2017, the organization chose to implement the project using the design-build delivery method with the added advantage of an interactive programming and design process provided by minority-owned KAI Design & Build.

The Deaconess Center is the Foundation’s first new construction in almost two decades. The design and construction of the building reflected Deaconess’ religious legacy as well as its commitment to social causes by exceeding the city’s minority participation goals. The project achieved 36% Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and 3% Women Business Enterprises (WBE) participation. Elizabeth Noonan, an economic development professional and United Church of Christ member, served as the Project Manager and minority-owned Kwame Building Group was the Construction Manager.

In order to keep the project on schedule, KAI selected tilt-up concrete construction for the building’s exterior facade to assure the fastest possible building erection, as well as used vibrated stone piers to drastically reduce the owner’s site remediation cost and schedule impact.

The completed Deaconess Center provides meeting rooms, a chapel, and a large conference space for up to 125 people, as well as administrative offices for the Deaconess Foundation, Vision for Children at Risk, and Neighborhood Houses — a United Church of Christ ministry that supports low-income children and families of the inner core of St. Louis City. The facility’s design incorporates many elements that appeal to children, such as bright colors, eye-catching graphics and furniture, and garden spaces.

The Deaconess Center is expected to host more than 6,000 citizens a year in more than 250 meetings focused on children’s issues. Meeting rooms will be available at no charge to initiatives focused on improving public policy for children. Forty to fifty people are expected to work at The Center, with many re-locating from various Deaconess Foundation offices throughout the St. Louis area.

“Through our funding, advocacy and this facility, we want to cultivate a movement for child well-being in St. Louis,” said Deaconess President and Chief Executive Rev. Starsky Wilson in a press release. “Movements need activated individuals, creative ideas and institutional expressions. This will be a place where they all come together for kids.”

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.

KAI Design & Build Selected Preferred Midwest Vendor for Rigid Global Buildings Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings

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KAI Design & Build has partnered with Rigid Global Buildings as the metal building manufacturer’s preferred vendor for the Midwest Region.

Founded in 1990, Rigid Global Buildings is one of the leading pre-engineered metal building manufacturers in the industry. With over 100 degreed engineers in-house, their engineering expertise provides innovative and economical structural solutions to complex buildings, while complying with local codes and standards.

As a preferred vendor, KAI offers a complete line of Rigid metal buildings that can be custom-designed for any industry type, including:

  • Commercial – With the flexibility of design and interior build-out to meet any need.
  • Industrial – Versatile options for warehouse or manufacturing facilities.
  • Government/Municipal – Meet strict guidelines for quality assurance and flexible design.
  • Agricultural – Custom design for barns, riding arenas, or storage.
  • Aviation/Hangars – Ideal for large, clear span areas such as airplane hangars.
  • Religious – Durable, flexible options for religious facilities, churches, family life centers.
  • Education/Sports Complexes – Ideal for gyms, classrooms and administrative offices.
  • Healthcare – Fast turnaround and full customization ideal for healthcare facilities.

“As an award-winning design-build firm, the KAI staff of architects, engineers, interior designers and construction managers work closely with clients from start to finish to customize and construct the ideal metal building to meet their specific needs,” said KAI President Michael Kennedy, Jr. “By offering complete design-build services under one roof, we are able to offer our customers better team collaboration, improved project processes and ultimately more value for their capital improvement investments.”

Our metal building systems offer value on any low-rise commercial building need, including:

  • Lower construction cost
  • Quick turnaround
  • Design flexibility
  • Structural stability
  • Sustainability
  • Energy Efficiency

“From retail space to a light industrial center to a busy community center, Rigid Global Buildings provides aesthetically-pleasing, cost-efficient metal buildings that KAI can easily customize with any architectural exterior and interior space, plus construct quickly and easily on-site,” said Kennedy.

For more information about KAI’s partnership with Rigid Global Buildings, visit www.kaipreengineered.com.

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.

KAI Design & Build Completes Conversion of Four Former St. Louis Metro Area Rothman Furniture Stores into Art Van Furniture

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KAI Design & Build has completed the renovation of four former Rothman Furniture stores in the St. Louis Metro area into Art Van Furniture. The stores are located in Bridgeton, O’Fallon and South St. Louis County in Missouri and in Fairview Heights in Illinois.

“The KAI team did beyond an amazing job on this project. From high expectations to short timelines, we really started KAI off behind schedule before they even got onsite. Everything was completed on time, per spec and within budget. Our team couldn’t be happier,” said Jay Steinback, President & CEO at Art Van of St. Louis.

Steinback commissioned KAI as the general contractor to renovate and convert the existing facilities into newly franchised showroom spaces, to be completed in January 2018. The existing stores required updated lighting and finishes, new offices and the salvaging of as much sales floor space as possible, at a total construction cost of $3.5 million.

Because the existing stores were still occupied while planning for the new Art Van Furniture stores was underway, KAI utilized a significant amount of pre-planning, phasing and early budgeting to accelerate the project schedules and complete the four-store remodel in roughly four weeks.

“Daily coordination was key for this project, along with maintaining open lines of communication. Any time work is being completed in phases while the space is occupied, whether its retail or commercial space or a healthcare environment, communication is always one of the keys to the success of the project,” said KAI Senior Project Manager Jeremy Lammers.

The UP Companies (UPCO), which includes Power UP Electrical Contractors and Square UP Builders, provided carpentry, drywall and electrical services on the project.

“It’s not every day that a minority firm is provided an opportunity to construct a major retailer’s locations; especially four at the same time,” said KAI President Michael Kennedy, Jr. “I would ask everyone who believes in diversity to support Art Van Furniture, which has an amazing, diverse staff and gives opportunities to diverse business owners. In a time where stores are getting black-listed by minority communities for racism in their ads or how their staff treats their customers, we should celebrate Jay Steinback and Art Van for doing great things for the community.”

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.

Construction Complete on Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center

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As February marks Black History Month, minority-owned KAI Design & Build reflects on one of its most meaningful recent projects – the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center in Atlanta, GA.

Opened in October 2017, the $24 million facility, designed by KAI Design & Build in partnership with architectural firm Perkins+Will, features a striking likeness of Martin Luther King, Jr. on its facade as it stands as a cornerstone for the local community.

“The design for this new recreation and aquatic facility sought to represent an inclusive public amenity that is truly welcoming to all,” said KAI President Michael B. Kennedy, Jr. “I am humbled to have been a part of such a historic project. My hope is that this facility will be half as great as the man it represents.”

MLK’s daughter, Dr. Bernice King, spoke at the opening ceremony, noting that her father was an avid swimmer, but that her mother had never learned to swim. She expressed gratitude for the new facility, which she said gives young people an opportunity to enjoy swimming, just as her father did.

KAI worked with the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation to design a state-of-the-art, public facility that would promote community involvement and inclusion. The center is located at 110 Hilliard Street between the King Memorial MARTA station and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District. The original Martin Luther King, Jr. Natatorium, which opened in 1979, closed in 2012 due to structural issues.

In addition to being the lead architect on the project, KAI provided design-build MEP engineering criteria and design team project management on the new, two-story recreation and aquatic center, located just blocks from the original natatorium. The new pool was part of a $250 million Renew Atlanta Bond approved by voters in 2015.

The new, 63,000-square-foot facility includes a four-lane, 25-yard lap pool; leisure pool; fitness and weight room; climbing wall; multipurpose gymnasium; elevated walking/jogging track; recreation classrooms and locker rooms. Community and administrative elements include a multi-use event space with a warming kitchen to accommodate 200 people, a senior center, lounge area, computer lab, workroom, staff offices, storage, outdoor terrace and a substation for the Atlanta Police Department.

The building’s design also maximizes access from multiple directions for public transportation and the parking lots. The light-filled central lobby extends upward to connect the main floor and mezzanine. The centerpiece of the facility’s design is the glass-enclosed natatorium with a direct visual connection to the central lobby and onto an outdoor plaza for community activities. KAI designed the center to achieve a LEED Silver certification for energy efficiency.

For more information about the Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center, visit https://www.atlantaga.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/office-of-recreation.

About KAI Design & Build

KAI Design & Build is a national 100+ person design and build firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. A renowned leader in the industry, KAI provides design and build integrated project delivery solutions through collaboration, technology, processes and expertise. Since its inception in 1980, KAI has been instrumental in reshaping the urban environment through its expertise in housing, K-12 schools, transit facilities, collegiate structures, commercial buildings, sports and recreational facilities, government/justice centers and healthcare buildings. Beginning as an architectural design firm, KAI added mechanical/electrical/plumbing engineering to give clients a full package of in-house disciplines for their projects. Today, KAI continues with its original core service of design and has quickly grown its construction management group since 1997. Additionally, KAI is a leader in Building Information Modeling (BIM), applying the skill set to architectural, engineering and construction projects firm-wide. KAI’s affiliate locations include Atlanta, Omaha, Dallas and San Antonio. For more information about KAI Design & Build, visit www.kai-db.com or call 314-241-8188.