Our Firm

Founded in 1960 by the late Keeva J. Kekst, ka architects has evolved into one of the profession's most highly recognized national firms, specializing in the creation of solutions to meet the needs of the commercial real-estate development community. Operating out of a central downtown location in Cleveland, Ohio, ka has served developers in residential, office, hospitality, entertainment, educational, and retail projects in forty-one states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada. As commercial developers have ventured into other opportunities such as health care and higher education facilities, ka has expanded its offerings as well. When some corporate clients saw the advantage to work with an architect that clearly understood business the way a developer's architect does, their new corporate facilities became part of ka's portfolio as well.

With in-house expertise in interior architecture, environmental graphic design, and landscape architecture, ka has been able to provide its clientele with coordinated single source total solutions to meet their needs, often with accelerated schedules, and never with unlimited budgets.

As one of a select few firms performing architectural services for the J C Penney Company and for Macy's, ka is in an enviable position to know in advance what the future may bring in the retail development world. ka has been instrumental in making the appropriate introductions of land owners to developers, developers to major retailers, and retail developers to developers in other market sectors when the marriage facilitates the development of mixed use ventures.

In fifty years of practice ka has completed successful projects in adaptive reuse of existing structures, historic preservation, and sustainable solutions including LEED Certified buildings. As fully qualified professionals in ADA requirements, ka has been commissioned to perform compliance audits and to offer recommendations to meet these regulations. As consultants to several financial lenders and insurance underwriters, ka has offered peer review on the work of our colleagues. And, with such a vast knowledge of commercial development properties, ka has been requested to help owners with their due diligence investigations in advance of proposed acquisitions.

ka is not only committed to its clients but to the improvement of our profession and our staff. In 2009, ka received the prestigious Firm Award from the AIA for its Intern Development Program. According to the AIA, the IDP is a profession wide, comprehensive training program focused on the professional development of architectural interns. Through a series of required activities and mentoring, IDP enables participants to acquire knowledge, understanding, and the skills that are the foundation for the successful practice of architecture.

At whatever state of the development process ka is engaged, from the earliest master planning to the eventual site planning; from the schematic architectural plan, lease diagram, or blocking and stacking analysis to the final design of the architectural façade, interior finishes and furnishings; ka thoroughly enjoys working with its clients as a team mate that is there to offer the most creative options for the team's consideration.

Our history is one of performing multiple commissions for repeat clients, as a testament to our ability to satisfy their needs.